Hey family!
Sorry but this is going to be short. We have been all day in the offices getting interviews done. Right now we are leaving the offices to go have the last supper with President Sloan and his family. I am doing very well. Time has flown by, but I had a great last week. Some really special experiences that I will have to tell when I get home! Love you all. We will be seeing you very very soon! Love you all very much.
Elder Matthew David Morris
Monday, October 11, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Hey Everyone!
No worries, a few have written me this week asking about the police crisis that we had down here. Everything is blown over now and we are fine. Now that it is passed I will write a little about what happened. The President passed a law cutting yearly bonus´ for the police force, in turn that money cut back on would be donated to help lower class cops build houses. Sounds pleasable right? Well the National Police force as a whole took it as a very bad thing. They had a very VERY negative reaction. All of the cops in Quito "mobbed" to the Presidential building in downtown Quito and began protests. President Correa went to the balcony and began to react as well, in a very immature way. Cops began throwing smoke bombs, one exploding near the face of the President, that's when things got ugly. He was rushed to the hospital, the cops began gaining size, ALL police force in the country left their duty of serving and protecting and began riots. Ya, the very police force began rioting towns, mainly government buildings. While President Correa was in the government hospital, it also was under attack by the cops. According to the constitution, when the national police refuse their sworn duty to serve and protect, the military takes command. So, military forces were sent to protect the hospital where the president was. BAD SITUATION, when the Military and Nation Police start a fight. Both sides had armored vehicles, unlimited up to date arms and ammunition, shields, etc. So, it became an actual war zone in front of the hospital. Meanwhile, all over the country robbery thrived, with no police whatsoever in the streets, all thievery and mischief began. ENTIRE supermarkets were robbed and left barren, yes ENTIRE supermarkets, hundreds of thousands of dollars were stolen in a matter of hours. Back to the hospital, rifles, pistols, shotguns, some heavy calibre "anti-rioting" (very ironic I would say) guns were also firing. While evacuating the president from the hospital, his armoured SUV was unloaded on by a truck full of cops! After the night was over, the president made it out just fine where he was able to safely recuperate, from minor cuts and burns, but there were 6 deaths, among military, police, and civilians. Some 183 injured, some are still in critical condition. There have already been over 120 police officers thrown in jail, a good number of them being generals who will be under prosecution in the next weeks. And I ask myself, all of that for the simple act of not receiving some $200 at the end of the year. Well, I think those who were so angry about the little loss, lost more than that. As far as our side of the situation, the day it happened, we were all locked away in our apartments, for almost 2 entire days. After the calm we were still only allowed to be out until 6 pm, sadly because of that we couldn't attend the priesthood session of General conference. We are all just fine and safe here. Trust me, we are under very good hands.
General Conference was great. In ever session I was able to learn countless lessons, by almost every person. I couldn't say that I really had a favorite this year, they were all extremely spiritual and inspired. The general message that I got from this conference was, "follow the Prophet". I know that President Monson is the acting Prophet of God here on earth. That is such an amazing blessing for us. Friday evening on our way to the house, a woman on the bus was staring at my companion´s and my name tags, the curiosity got to her, so she began to ask some questions. When we mentioned living Prophets of God, with real and modern revelation it stumped her, but after thinking for a moment she became more interested. There are so many people even in our days, that haven't even heard of living prophets, that think that God did his works and has left us on our own in these days. But we know better. We know that God loves us, and that he wont leave us, in fact its the opposite. We have such a great need of Prophets in these days, we are living in troubled and confusing times, but we as members of the church of God have a light. I know it is true, and I have seen how this knowledge, and this gospel has blessed so many people, and families.
Its a very hard reality to accept, when I meet someone, and see their interest in the Gospel, and I think to myself "I will not see this family be baptised" or even, "I may not see them experience their first day at church". Before leaving home, I felt like the world was falling in around me, that I didn't have time to go on all the dates I wanted to, go on all the hunts I wanted to, or buy and shoot all the guns I wanted too. I'm going through that again. I keep thinking to myself, but we haven't contacted that street yet, or ,oh we need to go back and visit that family again. I always liked being able to lay all the stone on a wall by myself and see the outcome, I never like sharing the wall. But its something I'm getting used too. Some plant, and others harvest.
I love you all very much and I am so grateful for the family that I have been given in this life. I know, I'm not burnt out yet, I have lots of time left to work, and I will do so. Have a great week.
Elder Matthew David Morris-
No worries, a few have written me this week asking about the police crisis that we had down here. Everything is blown over now and we are fine. Now that it is passed I will write a little about what happened. The President passed a law cutting yearly bonus´ for the police force, in turn that money cut back on would be donated to help lower class cops build houses. Sounds pleasable right? Well the National Police force as a whole took it as a very bad thing. They had a very VERY negative reaction. All of the cops in Quito "mobbed" to the Presidential building in downtown Quito and began protests. President Correa went to the balcony and began to react as well, in a very immature way. Cops began throwing smoke bombs, one exploding near the face of the President, that's when things got ugly. He was rushed to the hospital, the cops began gaining size, ALL police force in the country left their duty of serving and protecting and began riots. Ya, the very police force began rioting towns, mainly government buildings. While President Correa was in the government hospital, it also was under attack by the cops. According to the constitution, when the national police refuse their sworn duty to serve and protect, the military takes command. So, military forces were sent to protect the hospital where the president was. BAD SITUATION, when the Military and Nation Police start a fight. Both sides had armored vehicles, unlimited up to date arms and ammunition, shields, etc. So, it became an actual war zone in front of the hospital. Meanwhile, all over the country robbery thrived, with no police whatsoever in the streets, all thievery and mischief began. ENTIRE supermarkets were robbed and left barren, yes ENTIRE supermarkets, hundreds of thousands of dollars were stolen in a matter of hours. Back to the hospital, rifles, pistols, shotguns, some heavy calibre "anti-rioting" (very ironic I would say) guns were also firing. While evacuating the president from the hospital, his armoured SUV was unloaded on by a truck full of cops! After the night was over, the president made it out just fine where he was able to safely recuperate, from minor cuts and burns, but there were 6 deaths, among military, police, and civilians. Some 183 injured, some are still in critical condition. There have already been over 120 police officers thrown in jail, a good number of them being generals who will be under prosecution in the next weeks. And I ask myself, all of that for the simple act of not receiving some $200 at the end of the year. Well, I think those who were so angry about the little loss, lost more than that. As far as our side of the situation, the day it happened, we were all locked away in our apartments, for almost 2 entire days. After the calm we were still only allowed to be out until 6 pm, sadly because of that we couldn't attend the priesthood session of General conference. We are all just fine and safe here. Trust me, we are under very good hands.
General Conference was great. In ever session I was able to learn countless lessons, by almost every person. I couldn't say that I really had a favorite this year, they were all extremely spiritual and inspired. The general message that I got from this conference was, "follow the Prophet". I know that President Monson is the acting Prophet of God here on earth. That is such an amazing blessing for us. Friday evening on our way to the house, a woman on the bus was staring at my companion´s and my name tags, the curiosity got to her, so she began to ask some questions. When we mentioned living Prophets of God, with real and modern revelation it stumped her, but after thinking for a moment she became more interested. There are so many people even in our days, that haven't even heard of living prophets, that think that God did his works and has left us on our own in these days. But we know better. We know that God loves us, and that he wont leave us, in fact its the opposite. We have such a great need of Prophets in these days, we are living in troubled and confusing times, but we as members of the church of God have a light. I know it is true, and I have seen how this knowledge, and this gospel has blessed so many people, and families.
Its a very hard reality to accept, when I meet someone, and see their interest in the Gospel, and I think to myself "I will not see this family be baptised" or even, "I may not see them experience their first day at church". Before leaving home, I felt like the world was falling in around me, that I didn't have time to go on all the dates I wanted to, go on all the hunts I wanted to, or buy and shoot all the guns I wanted too. I'm going through that again. I keep thinking to myself, but we haven't contacted that street yet, or ,oh we need to go back and visit that family again. I always liked being able to lay all the stone on a wall by myself and see the outcome, I never like sharing the wall. But its something I'm getting used too. Some plant, and others harvest.
I love you all very much and I am so grateful for the family that I have been given in this life. I know, I'm not burnt out yet, I have lots of time left to work, and I will do so. Have a great week.
Elder Matthew David Morris-
Monday, September 27, 2010
Hey everyone!
I hope its not just me, but it seems just like yesterday that I was writing home. Weeks go by too quickly, I never really realized that before. But now that only "weeks" separate us, its dawning on me. We had a good week this week. Some very interesting experiences. The first is by far the funniest. On thursday we did divisions with some missionaries here in the Zone, I went with Elder Zundel. Elder Zundel is from Arizona, I'm sure I have mentioned him before, I have been his zone leader for his entire mission. He got to Otavalo the same week as I did when I became Zone Leader, and he has been in my zones ever since. He is a district leader here in our Zone, and a great friend of mine! So this week on the divisions I went with him. We had some interesting things happen. We ate pizza for dinner in our house. While ordering the pizza a block or so away from the apartment a fight broke out between two group of high school kids on the street corner of the pizza shop. When the fight broke up the two groups went in different directions, the cops showed up only to find one of the groups, when they showed up the started yelling through the megaphone and just started hitting kids in the knees with their bully clubs until they all kneeled down with their hands up. It was crazy! Then friday morning we got ready to leave for the weekly leadership meeting we hold in the stake center. My apartment is on the 3rd story of a house, to get out to the street there is another big gate and door below. As we walked out of the apartment the thought passed through my mind, "the keys", but it passed through my mind as the door closed. So we got locked out of the house. I get a bit irritated that I forgot the keys, but decided well, the neighbor lady has another set, tonight when we get back I will have her open the door for us. So we went down the stairs to the ground level gate, bad news... locked. And the keys were in my apartment. The gate is some 14 feet tall with spikes all across the tops, so no chance in jumping it. So sadly to say we were locked OUT of our apartment and locked IN to the building. We tried desperately to open the windows, door, everything for about half an hour, then lost hopes. None of the neighbors were home to open the door below to let us out, we were trapped. So we called my companion and had him start the meeting without us. We hadn't eaten yet or anything. We ended up staying outside the house for a little over 4 hours....sitting....waiting.... We played "horse", only we had no basketball, we used a balled up bar of laundry soap and a bucket, we also played baseball with a gum wrapper and a broomstick. Ya, and I can say I'm an excellent baseball player with a broomstick. After playing those games I got bored and ended up falling asleep on the washer. In south america basically no one has real washers, so I must explain what a "washer" is here. It is about 3 feet tall and some 6 feet wide with a big opening in the middle to pale out water. there are two slabs on concrete covering it on both sides. So I laied my head on one slab of concrete, my waist was stretched over the opening and my legs across the other slab of concrete. And I in fact slept for about 45 minutes, then it started to rain. So it was a pretty eventful morning for Elder Zundel and I. We finally were saved by a member that works in the Church Offices in Quito, he brought the spare key from the mission offices for us, and hour and 10 minutes drive for him.... oops. haha but it was a funny and unforgettable experience. Today we played soccer with the office missionaries and our zone. It was alot of fun. I want to get into soccer when I get home. I really began to enjoy it. As a mission we had 86 baptisms this weekend so President Sloan to reward us, gave my zone permission to go to a place called "Mindo" its a jungle pueblo here in my sector with alot of touristic sights, waterfalls, exotic birds and animals, etc.
I cant wait for General Conference. I love it so much. I cant wait until I can attend it again. I will be there for next April for sure! We are going to do a big "Stake Open House" all day saturday and sunday to invite people into the conference. We are really excited about it. I will have some pictures to send about it next week. Love you all! Have a great week.
Elder Matthew David Morris
I hope its not just me, but it seems just like yesterday that I was writing home. Weeks go by too quickly, I never really realized that before. But now that only "weeks" separate us, its dawning on me. We had a good week this week. Some very interesting experiences. The first is by far the funniest. On thursday we did divisions with some missionaries here in the Zone, I went with Elder Zundel. Elder Zundel is from Arizona, I'm sure I have mentioned him before, I have been his zone leader for his entire mission. He got to Otavalo the same week as I did when I became Zone Leader, and he has been in my zones ever since. He is a district leader here in our Zone, and a great friend of mine! So this week on the divisions I went with him. We had some interesting things happen. We ate pizza for dinner in our house. While ordering the pizza a block or so away from the apartment a fight broke out between two group of high school kids on the street corner of the pizza shop. When the fight broke up the two groups went in different directions, the cops showed up only to find one of the groups, when they showed up the started yelling through the megaphone and just started hitting kids in the knees with their bully clubs until they all kneeled down with their hands up. It was crazy! Then friday morning we got ready to leave for the weekly leadership meeting we hold in the stake center. My apartment is on the 3rd story of a house, to get out to the street there is another big gate and door below. As we walked out of the apartment the thought passed through my mind, "the keys", but it passed through my mind as the door closed. So we got locked out of the house. I get a bit irritated that I forgot the keys, but decided well, the neighbor lady has another set, tonight when we get back I will have her open the door for us. So we went down the stairs to the ground level gate, bad news... locked. And the keys were in my apartment. The gate is some 14 feet tall with spikes all across the tops, so no chance in jumping it. So sadly to say we were locked OUT of our apartment and locked IN to the building. We tried desperately to open the windows, door, everything for about half an hour, then lost hopes. None of the neighbors were home to open the door below to let us out, we were trapped. So we called my companion and had him start the meeting without us. We hadn't eaten yet or anything. We ended up staying outside the house for a little over 4 hours....sitting....waiting.... We played "horse", only we had no basketball, we used a balled up bar of laundry soap and a bucket, we also played baseball with a gum wrapper and a broomstick. Ya, and I can say I'm an excellent baseball player with a broomstick. After playing those games I got bored and ended up falling asleep on the washer. In south america basically no one has real washers, so I must explain what a "washer" is here. It is about 3 feet tall and some 6 feet wide with a big opening in the middle to pale out water. there are two slabs on concrete covering it on both sides. So I laied my head on one slab of concrete, my waist was stretched over the opening and my legs across the other slab of concrete. And I in fact slept for about 45 minutes, then it started to rain. So it was a pretty eventful morning for Elder Zundel and I. We finally were saved by a member that works in the Church Offices in Quito, he brought the spare key from the mission offices for us, and hour and 10 minutes drive for him.... oops. haha but it was a funny and unforgettable experience. Today we played soccer with the office missionaries and our zone. It was alot of fun. I want to get into soccer when I get home. I really began to enjoy it. As a mission we had 86 baptisms this weekend so President Sloan to reward us, gave my zone permission to go to a place called "Mindo" its a jungle pueblo here in my sector with alot of touristic sights, waterfalls, exotic birds and animals, etc.
I cant wait for General Conference. I love it so much. I cant wait until I can attend it again. I will be there for next April for sure! We are going to do a big "Stake Open House" all day saturday and sunday to invite people into the conference. We are really excited about it. I will have some pictures to send about it next week. Love you all! Have a great week.
Elder Matthew David Morris
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hey Everyone!
Sounds like everyone is doing well back home. Hunting season, more work, good weather, and another nephew! WAHOO!!! I'M GONNA BE HOME FOR THIS ONE!! Congratulations Mary and Greg, and no dad didn't spill the beans about it. This week was a good week for us here in our sector. We almost didn't have anytime at all actually in the sector, but we had 3 baptisms here. We had a few meetings with the Stake Presidency and with all of the bishoprics, giving training meetings, it was fun and hopefully it will make a difference. General Conference is coming up quick so we want to get all of the bishoprics and members ready so the feel excited to bring their friends and family to church during the conference. I will try to send some pictures of the baptisms we had, this computer wont read the memory card to I will have to get on another one. One of the persons that was baptised is Franklin Borja. He and his sister were baptised saturday evening in the stake center. They are from Esmeraldas, but are living here in Quito for work. We met Franklin about a month ago. We just happened to be passing by when one of his cousins said hello to us on the street. He told us that a few months back the missionaries were visiting them and asked if we could enter the house to visit with them a few minutes. We accepted and began to talk briefly with them. Then Franklin entered the room, he had not previously met the missionaries, having recently come from his pueblo in esmeraldas. When we introduced ourselves as missionaries, we asked if he had the opportunity before in listening to the missionaries and or reading from the Book of Mormon. He eyes then got wide and brought into the room his copy of the Book of Mormon, he had found it in the house upon arriving and had been reading from it. He and his sister are now reading through 2 Nephi. They love the Book of Mormon. Yesterday at church I was able to confirm Franklin as a member of the Church. It was a very special experience for me, he has already shared with us his great desire to in some moment go back to where he lives on the coast and share with his family and those of his pueblo about the Book of Mormon. He lives in a little place called Olmedo where only a couple hundred people live, the only church known to them is the Catholic. I am certain that he will be a lifetime member of the church, dedicated to the work of the Lord.
Tuesday morning of this week we had a service project for the another person that was baptised on friday evening. The lady Patricia is currently trying to open up a little restaurant, so she asked us our help to clean up the place that she is renting now. So we got there and were able to sand the walls, paint them, do some plumbing work in the new kitchen, and I got to build a block sink and table area! It was a blast! Starting out the first coarse of block, kneeling there on the concrete floor the openly thing I could think of were those famous words of dad "on my knees all dang day laying block" and then that sigh.........hahahaha... It was a lot of fun. Service projects are my favorite! It always funny to see the reaction of the missionaries and the members as they see the gringo outwork all of them. They always are pretty surprised about the construction skills and experience that I have.
Well, love you all. I hope everyone has a great week. Thank you always for your letters and your support.
Elder Matthew Morris
Sounds like everyone is doing well back home. Hunting season, more work, good weather, and another nephew! WAHOO!!! I'M GONNA BE HOME FOR THIS ONE!! Congratulations Mary and Greg, and no dad didn't spill the beans about it. This week was a good week for us here in our sector. We almost didn't have anytime at all actually in the sector, but we had 3 baptisms here. We had a few meetings with the Stake Presidency and with all of the bishoprics, giving training meetings, it was fun and hopefully it will make a difference. General Conference is coming up quick so we want to get all of the bishoprics and members ready so the feel excited to bring their friends and family to church during the conference. I will try to send some pictures of the baptisms we had, this computer wont read the memory card to I will have to get on another one. One of the persons that was baptised is Franklin Borja. He and his sister were baptised saturday evening in the stake center. They are from Esmeraldas, but are living here in Quito for work. We met Franklin about a month ago. We just happened to be passing by when one of his cousins said hello to us on the street. He told us that a few months back the missionaries were visiting them and asked if we could enter the house to visit with them a few minutes. We accepted and began to talk briefly with them. Then Franklin entered the room, he had not previously met the missionaries, having recently come from his pueblo in esmeraldas. When we introduced ourselves as missionaries, we asked if he had the opportunity before in listening to the missionaries and or reading from the Book of Mormon. He eyes then got wide and brought into the room his copy of the Book of Mormon, he had found it in the house upon arriving and had been reading from it. He and his sister are now reading through 2 Nephi. They love the Book of Mormon. Yesterday at church I was able to confirm Franklin as a member of the Church. It was a very special experience for me, he has already shared with us his great desire to in some moment go back to where he lives on the coast and share with his family and those of his pueblo about the Book of Mormon. He lives in a little place called Olmedo where only a couple hundred people live, the only church known to them is the Catholic. I am certain that he will be a lifetime member of the church, dedicated to the work of the Lord.
Tuesday morning of this week we had a service project for the another person that was baptised on friday evening. The lady Patricia is currently trying to open up a little restaurant, so she asked us our help to clean up the place that she is renting now. So we got there and were able to sand the walls, paint them, do some plumbing work in the new kitchen, and I got to build a block sink and table area! It was a blast! Starting out the first coarse of block, kneeling there on the concrete floor the openly thing I could think of were those famous words of dad "on my knees all dang day laying block" and then that sigh.........hahahaha... It was a lot of fun. Service projects are my favorite! It always funny to see the reaction of the missionaries and the members as they see the gringo outwork all of them. They always are pretty surprised about the construction skills and experience that I have.
Well, love you all. I hope everyone has a great week. Thank you always for your letters and your support.
Elder Matthew Morris
Monday, September 13, 2010
Hey everyone,
How is everyone doing? Thank you all for your letters. I'm glad to hear that everyone is fine and happy. Sounds like the weather isn´t very warm now. I wish I could say the same thing about the weather here. Always pretty hot. Oh well, I'm in Ecuador, and my sector is literally on the equator, what more can you expect but sunny dry days?
This week was a good week for us. This evening we are going on divisions so that our district leader can do some baptismal interviews for us. Everyone seems to keep telling me to keep working hard and doing what I need to do, no worries. I know why I'm here, and I love it here. I'm certainly not going to waste any time that Ϩhave left. The best part of this week was saturday evening. We got a phone call on our cell phone, I answered, it was Elder Warr who is currently serving in Cotacachi. Well, if you will remember, back in March-ish I wrote about a lesson we had on the volcano side, in the dark, teaching and translating into Kichwa for a family, well they got baptised this week. So Elder Warr called me to congratulate me. It sure cheered me up to hear that. One day while working on a stone job at the base of the R mountain, as I returned after lunch break I found Zach laying stone on my part of the wall. Well, I wasn´t very happy and I think I kinda lost my temper about it, Zach smiled and just said "get used to it bud, in the mission you will plant a lot of seeds, but you wont get to finish the job or harvest the fruit." Well to be honest, in that moment I didn´t want to hear his parables, and I think it just irritated me more! haha, but now I better understand what he was saying. It has happened to me a number of times now here in the mission field, but either way, whether I'm there or not, I'm just happy those people continued listening, and decided to do whats right.
I wish I could tell you all of my stories in my letters, but I don´t have the apt words to describe my feelings for this work. I absolutely love it. I will have a lot of photos and a lot of stories to tell once I'm home. I love you all, thank you so very much for your letters. I cant wait to see you all again, and to meet some of the additions to the family!
Elder Matthew Morris
One last thing that I forgot to write. This week I received by email my acceptance letter to BYU-I! I'M GOING TO COLLEGE! haha, I will get assigned to a track in the next 3 weeks. Pray that I make it for winter/spring. love you all!
Elder Morris
How is everyone doing? Thank you all for your letters. I'm glad to hear that everyone is fine and happy. Sounds like the weather isn´t very warm now. I wish I could say the same thing about the weather here. Always pretty hot. Oh well, I'm in Ecuador, and my sector is literally on the equator, what more can you expect but sunny dry days?
This week was a good week for us. This evening we are going on divisions so that our district leader can do some baptismal interviews for us. Everyone seems to keep telling me to keep working hard and doing what I need to do, no worries. I know why I'm here, and I love it here. I'm certainly not going to waste any time that Ϩhave left. The best part of this week was saturday evening. We got a phone call on our cell phone, I answered, it was Elder Warr who is currently serving in Cotacachi. Well, if you will remember, back in March-ish I wrote about a lesson we had on the volcano side, in the dark, teaching and translating into Kichwa for a family, well they got baptised this week. So Elder Warr called me to congratulate me. It sure cheered me up to hear that. One day while working on a stone job at the base of the R mountain, as I returned after lunch break I found Zach laying stone on my part of the wall. Well, I wasn´t very happy and I think I kinda lost my temper about it, Zach smiled and just said "get used to it bud, in the mission you will plant a lot of seeds, but you wont get to finish the job or harvest the fruit." Well to be honest, in that moment I didn´t want to hear his parables, and I think it just irritated me more! haha, but now I better understand what he was saying. It has happened to me a number of times now here in the mission field, but either way, whether I'm there or not, I'm just happy those people continued listening, and decided to do whats right.
I wish I could tell you all of my stories in my letters, but I don´t have the apt words to describe my feelings for this work. I absolutely love it. I will have a lot of photos and a lot of stories to tell once I'm home. I love you all, thank you so very much for your letters. I cant wait to see you all again, and to meet some of the additions to the family!
Elder Matthew Morris
One last thing that I forgot to write. This week I received by email my acceptance letter to BYU-I! I'M GOING TO COLLEGE! haha, I will get assigned to a track in the next 3 weeks. Pray that I make it for winter/spring. love you all!
Elder Morris
Monday, September 6, 2010
Hey everyone!
Thank you all for your letters and pictures! Looks like labor day weekend was a blast back home. I didn't even remember that it was labor day. Time just goes by to quick, I was still thinking it was still August. Yes, I did have a good birthday here. The only thing special we did was go to Pizza Hut for lunch. We got a meat lovers with cheese crust, and a chicken bbq pizza, with a big bottle of sprite. It was really good, I will send some pictures. All in all we had a really good week. Even some of the members here remembered it was my birthday and called me, one family had some cake for me, the moms birthday in that family is Sept 4th.
We had a few special things happen this week in the sector. Friday, after lunch, we were on a bus coming back to my sector, and a couple got on the bus that I recognized. They saw me and smiled, I knew they were members, but I couldn't remember where from. Well, as missionaries, we aren't really timid to talk to people. So I went over and started to say hi, turns out they are members in Atacames, in Esmeraldas. I didn't serve in their branch, but as district leader there last year I did a number of baptismal interviews and baptisms as well. So, we got to talking about the members there, turns out that they recently changed the branch presidency there. Pascual Mejia, who I baptised September 12th 2009 is now 1st counselor in the branch presidency! And his wife, is in the relief society presidency! They have plans on going to the temple with their kids this month. When they hit their year mark, along with being sealed in the temple, and their oldest son who I also baptised that same day is going to turn in his mission papers. So hearing that filled me with COMPLETE joy, probably the best part of my birthday was hearing that. Another experience was one we had yesterday. We showed up early before church for a meeting with the bishopric and the ward mission leader. When we finished the meeting we walked into the sacrament room to sit in the benches. We before sitting down began to shake hands and say hi to everyone that was there. There was one lady that I didn't recognize though, I figured she was a member visiting from another ward (unwise, I know.) So we went throughout the meetings, and during the second hour a member escorted this lady to our class for investigators and new converts. She wasn't a member. So we sat with her and shared our scriptures and such. After the class we got her direction and in the afternoon we went to visit Ximena in her house. She lives with her husband Manuel, and their little boy Matthew, who yesterday turned 3 years old. So asking how they found the church, she told us a very interesting story. Over 5 months ago they were living in another part of Quito. They had some neighbors that were members of the church, they shared with their neighbors their concern to have a happier family and happier lives. Well, as any good member should do, the neighbors said "if you want a happy family, go to the church of Jesus Christ". Having past some 5 or more months, Ximena and her husband decided they needed to do something different, the words of their neighbors kept sounding in their minds. So they went searching, after about a week of looking daily for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they found our chapel, and yesterday Ximena was the first person in the sacrament meeting, sitting patiently. I honestly don't know how they found the church, its in a business area, about 15 minutes walk, then 10 minutes in bus from where Manuel and Ximena live. But, they found it, nonetheless. They loved how they felt in the church. After the short lesson we shared with them, we left a copy a the Book of Mormon with them, and Ximena offered her first prayer in her life, thanking Heavenly Father for having finally found the happiness she has been searching for.
We are so extremely blessed to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. I know, that as a missionary when we do all that we can, even if we don't find those who the Lord is preparing, they will find us, they are led by the light of Christ, and many times, the words of peace and hope that maybe someone in the past planted in their hearts. This week Gramma Morris wrote in her letter to the Elders of Hibbard 2nd, that it is so important for us missionaries to at least "plant" in the hearts of the people seeds, and principles of the gospel. I know that is true. I love being a missionary. There are great moments, laughs and fun times shared with new friends among the missionaries, but that has no comparison to the feelings one feels when he knows he has been guided by the spirit, and someone is blessed and helped because he followed that impression.
Elder Matthew Morris
Thank you all for your letters and pictures! Looks like labor day weekend was a blast back home. I didn't even remember that it was labor day. Time just goes by to quick, I was still thinking it was still August. Yes, I did have a good birthday here. The only thing special we did was go to Pizza Hut for lunch. We got a meat lovers with cheese crust, and a chicken bbq pizza, with a big bottle of sprite. It was really good, I will send some pictures. All in all we had a really good week. Even some of the members here remembered it was my birthday and called me, one family had some cake for me, the moms birthday in that family is Sept 4th.
We had a few special things happen this week in the sector. Friday, after lunch, we were on a bus coming back to my sector, and a couple got on the bus that I recognized. They saw me and smiled, I knew they were members, but I couldn't remember where from. Well, as missionaries, we aren't really timid to talk to people. So I went over and started to say hi, turns out they are members in Atacames, in Esmeraldas. I didn't serve in their branch, but as district leader there last year I did a number of baptismal interviews and baptisms as well. So, we got to talking about the members there, turns out that they recently changed the branch presidency there. Pascual Mejia, who I baptised September 12th 2009 is now 1st counselor in the branch presidency! And his wife, is in the relief society presidency! They have plans on going to the temple with their kids this month. When they hit their year mark, along with being sealed in the temple, and their oldest son who I also baptised that same day is going to turn in his mission papers. So hearing that filled me with COMPLETE joy, probably the best part of my birthday was hearing that. Another experience was one we had yesterday. We showed up early before church for a meeting with the bishopric and the ward mission leader. When we finished the meeting we walked into the sacrament room to sit in the benches. We before sitting down began to shake hands and say hi to everyone that was there. There was one lady that I didn't recognize though, I figured she was a member visiting from another ward (unwise, I know.) So we went throughout the meetings, and during the second hour a member escorted this lady to our class for investigators and new converts. She wasn't a member. So we sat with her and shared our scriptures and such. After the class we got her direction and in the afternoon we went to visit Ximena in her house. She lives with her husband Manuel, and their little boy Matthew, who yesterday turned 3 years old. So asking how they found the church, she told us a very interesting story. Over 5 months ago they were living in another part of Quito. They had some neighbors that were members of the church, they shared with their neighbors their concern to have a happier family and happier lives. Well, as any good member should do, the neighbors said "if you want a happy family, go to the church of Jesus Christ". Having past some 5 or more months, Ximena and her husband decided they needed to do something different, the words of their neighbors kept sounding in their minds. So they went searching, after about a week of looking daily for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they found our chapel, and yesterday Ximena was the first person in the sacrament meeting, sitting patiently. I honestly don't know how they found the church, its in a business area, about 15 minutes walk, then 10 minutes in bus from where Manuel and Ximena live. But, they found it, nonetheless. They loved how they felt in the church. After the short lesson we shared with them, we left a copy a the Book of Mormon with them, and Ximena offered her first prayer in her life, thanking Heavenly Father for having finally found the happiness she has been searching for.We are so extremely blessed to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. I know, that as a missionary when we do all that we can, even if we don't find those who the Lord is preparing, they will find us, they are led by the light of Christ, and many times, the words of peace and hope that maybe someone in the past planted in their hearts. This week Gramma Morris wrote in her letter to the Elders of Hibbard 2nd, that it is so important for us missionaries to at least "plant" in the hearts of the people seeds, and principles of the gospel. I know that is true. I love being a missionary. There are great moments, laughs and fun times shared with new friends among the missionaries, but that has no comparison to the feelings one feels when he knows he has been guided by the spirit, and someone is blessed and helped because he followed that impression.
Elder Matthew Morris
"Moon walking"
Monday, August 30, 2010
Hey Everyone!
I hope everyone is doing well back home! I than you all for the letters and the pictures. Idaho is SUCH a beautiful place, sorry Mary, Rachel, and Laura, I cant really share the same words about Utah and California. haha. Well, fall is near the trees will start to change colors, and before you know it, I'm home! Pretty odd to think, I left in 2008 when the trees started changing colors. I'm sure things have changed a lot back home. It will be a big change of culture and everything for me. Dad wrote me this week and let me know that the bishopric already assigned me a Sunday to talk in church, only 3 days after I get home! I dont know what they were thinking. I don´t think I will be used to speaking in English yet, even worse talking about the gospel in English, Spanish church grammar is the only one I know now! Its only a handful of weeks away. He also mentioned that Rachel will be up to visit when I get home. I got a very special feeling in my heart when I heard that. It has been some years now since all of us kids have been together at once. It will be good to all be together. I thank my Heavenly Father every night for the wonderful family I was given. From the amazing grandparents, all the way down to all the little nieces and nephews that are running around now! I love my Family! Even the great cousins I have, UNITED!
Well this week we had transfers in the mission. I'm still in the same sector, my new companion is Elder Zambrano, from Guyaquil Ecuador. We have been buds ever since I was back in Esmeraldas last year. I always hoped to be his companion, I think we will have a lot of fun here in the sector before I go home. All of the missionaries here keep asking me if I'm "tronky" yet. Well to tell the truth, I feel like its time ya to head home and see the family, but its going to hurt a lot to leave the mission. This week I had a dream that I was in my last interview with President Sloan, only days away from going home, and he asked me if I had any last requests. I instantly told him, "let me stay2 more months!", well he got a big smile on his face and pulled out his phone to call you all to let you know I wasn't going home yet. Well, all I remember is that everyone back home was a bit upset with me not wanting to come home. ha ha. No worries, I have already asked about extending more time, but I'm already going to be near to hitting 25 months here, and that's the max. So sadly President cant extend me longer time even if he wanted to. I'm very happy to everyone again. I miss the snow a lot. Before coming here I was told the Ecuador has 2 seasons, spring and summer, well I have come to realize, that's not true. We here in Ecuador have hot, and hotter. Those are the two seasons. There isn't much difference in the two, was is really sunny, and the latter is a bit sunnier.
Love you all, I hope you all have a great week this week! Happy Birthday little Hadley! 1 year!!!!! Love you all, hope to hear from you next week.
Elder Matthew Morris
I hope everyone is doing well back home! I than you all for the letters and the pictures. Idaho is SUCH a beautiful place, sorry Mary, Rachel, and Laura, I cant really share the same words about Utah and California. haha. Well, fall is near the trees will start to change colors, and before you know it, I'm home! Pretty odd to think, I left in 2008 when the trees started changing colors. I'm sure things have changed a lot back home. It will be a big change of culture and everything for me. Dad wrote me this week and let me know that the bishopric already assigned me a Sunday to talk in church, only 3 days after I get home! I dont know what they were thinking. I don´t think I will be used to speaking in English yet, even worse talking about the gospel in English, Spanish church grammar is the only one I know now! Its only a handful of weeks away. He also mentioned that Rachel will be up to visit when I get home. I got a very special feeling in my heart when I heard that. It has been some years now since all of us kids have been together at once. It will be good to all be together. I thank my Heavenly Father every night for the wonderful family I was given. From the amazing grandparents, all the way down to all the little nieces and nephews that are running around now! I love my Family! Even the great cousins I have, UNITED!
Well this week we had transfers in the mission. I'm still in the same sector, my new companion is Elder Zambrano, from Guyaquil Ecuador. We have been buds ever since I was back in Esmeraldas last year. I always hoped to be his companion, I think we will have a lot of fun here in the sector before I go home. All of the missionaries here keep asking me if I'm "tronky" yet. Well to tell the truth, I feel like its time ya to head home and see the family, but its going to hurt a lot to leave the mission. This week I had a dream that I was in my last interview with President Sloan, only days away from going home, and he asked me if I had any last requests. I instantly told him, "let me stay2 more months!", well he got a big smile on his face and pulled out his phone to call you all to let you know I wasn't going home yet. Well, all I remember is that everyone back home was a bit upset with me not wanting to come home. ha ha. No worries, I have already asked about extending more time, but I'm already going to be near to hitting 25 months here, and that's the max. So sadly President cant extend me longer time even if he wanted to. I'm very happy to everyone again. I miss the snow a lot. Before coming here I was told the Ecuador has 2 seasons, spring and summer, well I have come to realize, that's not true. We here in Ecuador have hot, and hotter. Those are the two seasons. There isn't much difference in the two, was is really sunny, and the latter is a bit sunnier.
Love you all, I hope you all have a great week this week! Happy Birthday little Hadley! 1 year!!!!! Love you all, hope to hear from you next week.
Elder Matthew Morris
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
