Hello Family! Well another week has gone by. The time flies by here. Im doing really good here. We spent the morning today cleaning the appartment. Our appartment is the mission hotel. Every time missionaries come to the mission or are going home or are in quito for meetings, they stay at our house. So tomorrow there is a group of new elders comming, 21 in total so we cleaned the house really good this morning so that the president is happy with us when he brings the newbies over. My comp slept in till about 8.30 so i got most of the stuff done by the time he got up, but he helped out alot anyways. We had a talk last night, we went throughout the day at church and everything without him saying a word to me so finally i just had it and just asked him why he cant talk to me. He simply answered by telling me it is just how he is, he cant change it. He doesnt have anything interesting to talk to me about so hes not gonna talk to me. So really im not quite sure what to do. Im just gonna keep plugging along until it gets worked out or something. Dont worry about me though, im keeping my spirits up and working and studying hard. We are hurting a bit in the area as far as investigators goes. The members have not given any references since we got here and door contacts are not working. We have a few investigators that we are working with that were listening to the missionaries before, but they arent really progressing much. I just hope that the members start helping out a little more with references.
The weather has been better this week. It is Carnival right now, basically a week long holiday where everyone throws water, flour, eggs, silly string stuff, all on each other. Im not quite sure what else they do but ya. So today and tomorrow we have to stay the evenings in the appartment to avoid everything. I dont really have much to say this week, not much has happened. I read through all of the book of mosiah the last couple of days. WOW! That is a great book. King Benjamin was the man. Everytime i read through the book of mormon I ALWAYS pick up and understand more! It is such a true promise that no matter how many times you have read through the book of mormon, the spirit will ALWAYS teach you new truths that you had not seen before. The more i learn and read the more my testimony becomes unshakeable. I have no doubt that the book of mormon is true, it is the word of god. Everyday I just sit and think why on earth i have been so blessed. I have the greatest family in the world, the best friends i could ever wish for, and most of all i have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. What more could i ask for? I just hope that everyone of you back home knows how much i love this gospel and how much i love my mission, difficult or not this passed almost five months has changed my life. I never realized before the mission just how much I could learn and grow. I love it out here. Dont anybody worry about me. Be safe! Choose The Right!
Elder Morris
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Hello Everyone!
I am doing well down here. I have a bit of a cold, it has been raining for 2 days nonstop. So its been pretty cold with all the rain and clouds, like 60 degrees! BRRRRR! haha. I have been doing good though. My comp and I had a little.... confrentation, sunday afternoon. He just doesnt really have much patience and he said a few things to me heavy on the sarcasm so I finally told him to get some patience and help out in the companionship. Needless to say there hasnt been a whole lot of talking in between us. BUT he is changing little things, little favors and such. So no worries there. I just figure little by little he will learn to live with me. I dont think I could have delt with all of thie before the mission. I cant beleive how much patience I have gained from being out here. We went bowling today for p-day, there was 8 of us elders there. It was fun, $3 for unlimited bowling, pool, and pingpong.
The main problem with our two sectors is that the sacrament meetings for the two start at the same time, so we are having to juggle them around quite a bit. But we went to the sacrament meeting of the ward on the hill side, Santa Anita, and we got like 5 family references from members. That was really good. We may have 3 baptisms in the next week or to, just waiting for the couple to get married! haha, The lady is Edit and she is living with a member and they have two little boys, her husband was baptised like 20 years ago but they cant find his name on the records, so when the two of them get the judges signature and get married we will baptise the two of them and the younger brother of the wife. He lives with his sisters family and just a week or so ago he started listening to the lessons and he is enjoying it! So that´ll be good. So the work here is moving alot, its a bit slow, the elders that were here before didnt leave us with really any investigators or anything but oh well! Its getting better day by day.
I havent been bitten by any dogs yet. So on the buses down here, every couple of blocks people get on to sell little things, they start out by giving their little speach in the front of everyone, they they will hand out what ever they have to sell, then go passed everyone again to either collect money of the product, or collect the product. So today a guy got on the bus and started talking all about the Love of God and was quoting a bunch of scriptures, then we walked around handing out a little scripted prayer for everyone to give thanks to God. When he got to me he got a different look on his face as he saw my nametag. Then he said (in spanish) ,So Elder, you know who José Smith was?! and of course I answered yes, then he rambled off a bunch of insults at me and about the church and Joseph Smith. I just smiled at him and when he was done I told him have a nice day. Then afterwards I was thinking about it and the thought came to my mind, does he think that those insults to me and my church demonstrate at all that Love of God that he was preaching to everyone? That is one thing about being here in the big city of Quito, the people are not as accepting and nice. Making contacs is really hard because there are hardly any real houses here. almost all are appartment buildings, alot of them in gated communities that we arent allowed into, but those that are in the road are nearly impossible to contact at. All of them are gated in so you have to ring a buzzer on the road where they ask by intercom who it is. When you say the missonaries, they sometimes just dont answer back. So we work mostly off of references. But its all good. I am really enjopying it here and learning TONS!
Hope all is well back home. I am loving it here. oh and by the way, 2 more weeks and im at the 6 month mark! aahhhhh! Time is FLYING by! Love you all! Be safe on the winter roads and all.
Elder Morris
I am doing well down here. I have a bit of a cold, it has been raining for 2 days nonstop. So its been pretty cold with all the rain and clouds, like 60 degrees! BRRRRR! haha. I have been doing good though. My comp and I had a little.... confrentation, sunday afternoon. He just doesnt really have much patience and he said a few things to me heavy on the sarcasm so I finally told him to get some patience and help out in the companionship. Needless to say there hasnt been a whole lot of talking in between us. BUT he is changing little things, little favors and such. So no worries there. I just figure little by little he will learn to live with me. I dont think I could have delt with all of thie before the mission. I cant beleive how much patience I have gained from being out here. We went bowling today for p-day, there was 8 of us elders there. It was fun, $3 for unlimited bowling, pool, and pingpong.
The main problem with our two sectors is that the sacrament meetings for the two start at the same time, so we are having to juggle them around quite a bit. But we went to the sacrament meeting of the ward on the hill side, Santa Anita, and we got like 5 family references from members. That was really good. We may have 3 baptisms in the next week or to, just waiting for the couple to get married! haha, The lady is Edit and she is living with a member and they have two little boys, her husband was baptised like 20 years ago but they cant find his name on the records, so when the two of them get the judges signature and get married we will baptise the two of them and the younger brother of the wife. He lives with his sisters family and just a week or so ago he started listening to the lessons and he is enjoying it! So that´ll be good. So the work here is moving alot, its a bit slow, the elders that were here before didnt leave us with really any investigators or anything but oh well! Its getting better day by day.
I havent been bitten by any dogs yet. So on the buses down here, every couple of blocks people get on to sell little things, they start out by giving their little speach in the front of everyone, they they will hand out what ever they have to sell, then go passed everyone again to either collect money of the product, or collect the product. So today a guy got on the bus and started talking all about the Love of God and was quoting a bunch of scriptures, then we walked around handing out a little scripted prayer for everyone to give thanks to God. When he got to me he got a different look on his face as he saw my nametag. Then he said (in spanish) ,So Elder, you know who José Smith was?! and of course I answered yes, then he rambled off a bunch of insults at me and about the church and Joseph Smith. I just smiled at him and when he was done I told him have a nice day. Then afterwards I was thinking about it and the thought came to my mind, does he think that those insults to me and my church demonstrate at all that Love of God that he was preaching to everyone? That is one thing about being here in the big city of Quito, the people are not as accepting and nice. Making contacs is really hard because there are hardly any real houses here. almost all are appartment buildings, alot of them in gated communities that we arent allowed into, but those that are in the road are nearly impossible to contact at. All of them are gated in so you have to ring a buzzer on the road where they ask by intercom who it is. When you say the missonaries, they sometimes just dont answer back. So we work mostly off of references. But its all good. I am really enjopying it here and learning TONS!
Hope all is well back home. I am loving it here. oh and by the way, 2 more weeks and im at the 6 month mark! aahhhhh! Time is FLYING by! Love you all! Be safe on the winter roads and all.
Elder Morris
Monday, February 9, 2009
Hola Familia!
Well my first week in Quito is over. It is so different here but im getting used to it. I had to give a talk on sunday about missionary work. It is a ward here of about 120 but there were only 86 people there, about the same amount as attended in the branch in Tulcan. But the talk went well. We dont really have many investigators right now, so this week that is what elder Benavides and i will work on. CONTACTING! Wahoo! haha, I dont mind it anymore, we had some extra time after church yesterday so i was like Hey lets go knock some doors, and so we did and we got one appointment out of the half our of it. So about my comp, He is from Mexico and doesnt know really any english, he is from the coast over by the gulf of mex. and so he has a coastal accent that it almost impossible to understand. He is pretty prideful against me and it makes it worse that im gringo. He doesnt really let me talk much at all in lessons but hes slowly getting better with that. He always has to be way in front of me when we are walking anywhere and he doesnt like to talk to me. But im not too worried about it. Probably by the end of this week all will be mostly worked out. Quito is huge city and our sector is the mountainside above the airport. Up in the santa anita sector we cant be walking aroud after dark, most of the people up there are black. And there are TONZ of dogs, dont anyone tell magnum i said this, i would hat for him to take it the wrong way, but i think i really just hate dongs now! We have been chased and almost bittin numerous times, i keep rocks in the bottle pouch of my back pack for quick access! Its not a real safe area, but we are working around it and getting days scheduled so it all works out. Dont worry, we are being safe and i know that the Lord is watching out for us. So my good buddy from the mtc Elder Stieber is the one that took my place in Tulcan and he wrote me today and told me everyone there hates him and thinks they got jipped out when i left and he came! Well he was obviously exaggerating a bit but it makes me feel god anyways. I miss all the people up there. Its just different here in Quito, the people, th accent, food, just everything. The food i have to admit is better here, more flavorful. Thats plus. Oh! It is SOO hot here! The first couple of days i thought i was going to DIE! I have been drinking LOTSof water though. Its probably about 95 when its sunny and then humid. But everyone says its cold here that the coastal area in the mssion is way worse!! So i need to be grateful. I lay in bed at night just sweating, its alot warmer than back home thats for sure. Well i will try to get some pictures sent hom next week. OH! We had lunch yesterday with the elders quorum president and he asked me what i miss most about home, i told him camping and hunting, so he told me hes gonna plan an activity next month for us elders to go with the elders quorum on a hike to see one of the volcanos here! im way excited.
Thank you all and i love you!
Elder Morris
Well my first week in Quito is over. It is so different here but im getting used to it. I had to give a talk on sunday about missionary work. It is a ward here of about 120 but there were only 86 people there, about the same amount as attended in the branch in Tulcan. But the talk went well. We dont really have many investigators right now, so this week that is what elder Benavides and i will work on. CONTACTING! Wahoo! haha, I dont mind it anymore, we had some extra time after church yesterday so i was like Hey lets go knock some doors, and so we did and we got one appointment out of the half our of it. So about my comp, He is from Mexico and doesnt know really any english, he is from the coast over by the gulf of mex. and so he has a coastal accent that it almost impossible to understand. He is pretty prideful against me and it makes it worse that im gringo. He doesnt really let me talk much at all in lessons but hes slowly getting better with that. He always has to be way in front of me when we are walking anywhere and he doesnt like to talk to me. But im not too worried about it. Probably by the end of this week all will be mostly worked out. Quito is huge city and our sector is the mountainside above the airport. Up in the santa anita sector we cant be walking aroud after dark, most of the people up there are black. And there are TONZ of dogs, dont anyone tell magnum i said this, i would hat for him to take it the wrong way, but i think i really just hate dongs now! We have been chased and almost bittin numerous times, i keep rocks in the bottle pouch of my back pack for quick access! Its not a real safe area, but we are working around it and getting days scheduled so it all works out. Dont worry, we are being safe and i know that the Lord is watching out for us. So my good buddy from the mtc Elder Stieber is the one that took my place in Tulcan and he wrote me today and told me everyone there hates him and thinks they got jipped out when i left and he came! Well he was obviously exaggerating a bit but it makes me feel god anyways. I miss all the people up there. Its just different here in Quito, the people, th accent, food, just everything. The food i have to admit is better here, more flavorful. Thats plus. Oh! It is SOO hot here! The first couple of days i thought i was going to DIE! I have been drinking LOTSof water though. Its probably about 95 when its sunny and then humid. But everyone says its cold here that the coastal area in the mssion is way worse!! So i need to be grateful. I lay in bed at night just sweating, its alot warmer than back home thats for sure. Well i will try to get some pictures sent hom next week. OH! We had lunch yesterday with the elders quorum president and he asked me what i miss most about home, i told him camping and hunting, so he told me hes gonna plan an activity next month for us elders to go with the elders quorum on a hike to see one of the volcanos here! im way excited.
Thank you all and i love you!
Elder Morris
Monday, February 2, 2009
Well today was a long day
I recieved news the other day that we were having emergency transfers and I am now in Quito. The BIG city itself. I bore my testimony sunday and had to say goodbyes after church and i just cried. It felt like leaving my family again. It broke my heart to have to leave our investigators too. I love the people in Tulcan and i will really miss them. So this morning I left at about 8 and got here at about 2:30. On the busride we got stopped at checkpoints a few times, and everytime of course they have to ask the gringo questions outside. I dont have my ecuador ID yet only a photocopy of my passport, before, it hasnt been a problem for me, but today i got threatened jail time and being deported a couple of times. A little bit nerve wrecking but they had mercy. So i guess the big news about this exchange is that President Sloan made me Sr companion. here is his words to me in a letter he sent this morning
Elder Morris,
It´s time for you to be a senior companion. You are coming to Quito, to a ward that needs a missionary who sets a good example and knows how to work. You will also help Elder Benivides learn how to work, set goals and exercise faith. You will have two wards to work and you will learn how to juggle the two. Gain the respect and the friendship of the bishops and leaders as quickly as you can. There is renewed interest in the missionary work and they have to be able to count on the missionaries which they haven´t been able to do so. I recently sent home two missionaries who served in San Carlos, so the work has to be picked up. They have references waiting for you. I know you will do well, Elder Morris. I have no doubt of it. Thank you very much for your faithfulness.
Un abrazo,
President Sloan
So the story in this area is that the last two missionaries here got sent home for a sexual activity with a member and the sector got closed for a little while. This happened i think about the time i got to tulcan. So Elder Benivides and I are now reopening the one sector along with the sector next to it that was still open. My companion has 6 months here and i only have 2. So I am pretty overwhelmed by this right now and a bit nervous but i know for a surety that i will have the Lords help. So because of what happened the members no longer help the missionaries. So we are going to have to work alot on that. Its sad how many elders in the past year in this mission have been sent home and even a few have lost their memberships. The trust gets broken so quickly and is so hard to get back. Thats what we were working on so hard for in Tulcan. For a few years Tulcan was the sector of the iniquos or wicked elders. The members had no trust. But the companionships of elders that were thier before me started to make the change and now the members love the missionaries. But about my sector. It is on the hillside above the airprt here in town. Its not too big of an area but there are TONS of people here. One good thing is the first couple days we spent in ecuador were here in quito and it was actually in my new house thatwe slept and my sector that we practiced a bit in so i remember a couple of the roads and how to get to the house. Quito is a HUGE city but i know i will figure my way around in a week or two.It is really good to hear all of the good news from back home. The baby boy, Cole Matthew Morris, yea, GREAT name. i support it. So congrats on that Jared and Krysten. I cant wait till he is born. And Lauras mystery baby too. I dont have alot of time here but just know im doing good and im loving it here! Keep up the faith back home! Youre all in my prayers.
Elder Morris
I recieved news the other day that we were having emergency transfers and I am now in Quito. The BIG city itself. I bore my testimony sunday and had to say goodbyes after church and i just cried. It felt like leaving my family again. It broke my heart to have to leave our investigators too. I love the people in Tulcan and i will really miss them. So this morning I left at about 8 and got here at about 2:30. On the busride we got stopped at checkpoints a few times, and everytime of course they have to ask the gringo questions outside. I dont have my ecuador ID yet only a photocopy of my passport, before, it hasnt been a problem for me, but today i got threatened jail time and being deported a couple of times. A little bit nerve wrecking but they had mercy. So i guess the big news about this exchange is that President Sloan made me Sr companion. here is his words to me in a letter he sent this morning
Elder Morris,
It´s time for you to be a senior companion. You are coming to Quito, to a ward that needs a missionary who sets a good example and knows how to work. You will also help Elder Benivides learn how to work, set goals and exercise faith. You will have two wards to work and you will learn how to juggle the two. Gain the respect and the friendship of the bishops and leaders as quickly as you can. There is renewed interest in the missionary work and they have to be able to count on the missionaries which they haven´t been able to do so. I recently sent home two missionaries who served in San Carlos, so the work has to be picked up. They have references waiting for you. I know you will do well, Elder Morris. I have no doubt of it. Thank you very much for your faithfulness.
Un abrazo,
President Sloan
So the story in this area is that the last two missionaries here got sent home for a sexual activity with a member and the sector got closed for a little while. This happened i think about the time i got to tulcan. So Elder Benivides and I are now reopening the one sector along with the sector next to it that was still open. My companion has 6 months here and i only have 2. So I am pretty overwhelmed by this right now and a bit nervous but i know for a surety that i will have the Lords help. So because of what happened the members no longer help the missionaries. So we are going to have to work alot on that. Its sad how many elders in the past year in this mission have been sent home and even a few have lost their memberships. The trust gets broken so quickly and is so hard to get back. Thats what we were working on so hard for in Tulcan. For a few years Tulcan was the sector of the iniquos or wicked elders. The members had no trust. But the companionships of elders that were thier before me started to make the change and now the members love the missionaries. But about my sector. It is on the hillside above the airprt here in town. Its not too big of an area but there are TONS of people here. One good thing is the first couple days we spent in ecuador were here in quito and it was actually in my new house thatwe slept and my sector that we practiced a bit in so i remember a couple of the roads and how to get to the house. Quito is a HUGE city but i know i will figure my way around in a week or two.It is really good to hear all of the good news from back home. The baby boy, Cole Matthew Morris, yea, GREAT name. i support it. So congrats on that Jared and Krysten. I cant wait till he is born. And Lauras mystery baby too. I dont have alot of time here but just know im doing good and im loving it here! Keep up the faith back home! Youre all in my prayers.
Elder Morris
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