Hey everyone!
I'm doing very well down here. Dad mentioned to me that there was a big earthquake down in Chile today. Nothing has happened at all here. We are all well. My comp got an exchange on Sunday evening. They didn't want us to keep travelling to Quito every other day like we were, so they sent him to a zone in Quito. His back infection isn´t getting any better yet either. They are starting a medication treatment for him this week, but if it doesn´t help out, then he gets released and they will have his family work it out in a hospital there in the states. So the mission is going to do a special fast for him this afternoon and tomorrow. My new comp is Elder Taylor, my old comp from the MTC. We are having alot of fun and enjoying working here. This week was a fairly eventful week for us. In the zone yesterday we had 8 baptisms, and about 10 more scheduled for next weekend. My comp and I committed ourselves to all the missionaries in the zone that whenever they had baptisms that we would come to the services and help them out with everything. So yesterday afternoon was a bit of a busy day for us. Running through town from one baptism to another I had to dodge a car one or twice, one of the times I rolled my ankle, so for the next baptisms we took a taxi to the church house! haha. Also on our way to some visits thursday night we were walking down the road and I got my first dogbite on the mission. It was a little mut, border collie looking dog, a skinny, angry one! And apparently I got too close to his light pole so he came at me from behind and bit my ankle. But it didn't really do anything. Put a couple of tooth holes in my pant leg, and just scratched me. It was the first time I have been bitten by a dog on my mission. I thought I was going to go the whole mission without being bitten. Oh well, this Monday I will hit my 17 month mark, pretty good period of time without being bitten. Time is absolutely flying by out here. I cant believe it. I really am loving it here though. This morning we did a DEEP cleaning in my apartment and pulled out the desks into the living room area to be able to study in daylight and not just with lights. I'm really excited about that actually. haha. Simple pleasures in life, just like new socks! Speaking of which, Dad you asked me in the letter if I could use some more, it would be nice. Maybe 4 pairs of those black gold-toes you sent for x-mas and maybe 2 or 3 pairs of white ankle highs for p-days and service projects. Thank you so much. Speaking of which, this week we had a service project pouring a concrete pad for a house. It was all by hand, mixing, then wheel barrels to haul it around. It makes it so much easier having a mixer like back home, or better yet, just calling the concrete truck! But it was alot of fun for us. I enjoyed getting my hands dirty again and working. I will send a couple of pictures! One last thing, Dad, I would really love it if you could put me in on some deer and bull elk tags for this fall. preferably ones that would start after the first week of October. I'm still not sure about when I will come back home, but I would say that mid October would be a safe bet. I will just have to get that new rifle sighted in when I get back home. WAHOO!! HUNTING SEASON IS MINE THIS YEAR!!! haha Love you all! Have a great week! Thanks for everything!
Elder Matthew Morris

Pictures:
A hillside going to a teaching appointment, full view of all of Otavalo

Getting into a wrestling fight while mixing conrete

Pouring out the mud and water from when my shoe got stuck in the mix

Wheeling a wheel-barrel, supermodel face no?

Studs! Rain jacket Elders! Elder Edginton, Redding California; myself; and Elder Taylor Smithville Tennessee

Hello everyone!
Well yesterday my companion and I had to go to Quito again for one of his doctors appointments. We got there for his appointment and they decided he has a flesh eating bacteria called lishmaniesis, or something like that. And so starting Monday he has to go to the hospital daily for a shot, he gets one shot a day for 3 weeks! So I think that we will see how it goes for him on Monday and then depending on that, he may get transferred to Quito and I will get a new companion! So its been a crazy couple of weeks for us. We have been to Quito about 7 times in the last 2 weeks. I'm definitely tired of bus rides! Oh well though, that's just how it goes sometimes.
Yesterday morning we had a special Zone Meeting here in Otavalo. Recently we had had a problem with some disobedience here in the zone, so with President Sloan´s permission my companion and I held this special meeting yesterday. It turned out GREAT! It was very spiritual and effective. There were a few missionaries that came forward with some things that had been happening recently. So I think that this zone here is going to see alot more baptisms in the coming months. December we had 26 and in January some 15, but I know we are going to do better, and hopefully see about 35 in March! I'm just really excited to be here. There are always the ups and downs, but we just have got to learn to get ourselves up and keep moving forward. Repentance is a hard thing alot of times, but it truly can be a blessing for us in our lives. One of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon is Alma 36, when Alma is telling his son about his conversion experience, how much pain and sorrow he felt because of his sin, but then how much joy and happiness that filled his soul when he repented. Its a great thing that our Father in Heaven has given us. The chance to repent, and move on, bettering ourselves each day. I have learned that it really is a daily fight with alot of things, but little by little we get stronger, our resistance builds up and we can keep moving forward.
This afternoon we have an activity in the church. We are just hoping that the members come and bring some of their friends. If all turns out well we will be able to meet some new people and get some referrals to visit and teach. Well Family, love you all very much! Have a great week this week. I will write next Saturday!!
Elder Matthew Morris

New Email!!

Hey everyone! This is my new e-mail for whenever you want to write me now! enjoy!
mmorris@myldsmail.net

Elder Matthew Morris

Hey Family!
This week was a great week for us. We had to go to Quito a couple of my times for doctors appointments with my companion, but hes doing alot better. Sorry that we didn't write home Saturday. Mission wide we have preparation day today. This week is Carnaval week in South America, so they have had alot of parties and crazy waterfights going on. Yesterday on divisions with a Californian Elder we got drenched head to toe with water. Then the members that live below their apartment were waiting for us to leave this morning with water buckets, foam spray, water balloons, etc. So basically we got drowned with water. Its kinda a fun 2 week holiday that they have. Today is the last day of it though. We also on the divisions helped out a little old lady who had two bulls fighting in the street, we grabbed onto the ropes and wrangled them good. We got a picture that I will try to send home next week.
This week really was a super great week for me. I am just loving my time here in Otavalo. Just now, the people in here in the computer show put on a CD to listen to, and I without even thinking of it just started humming all of the tunes, then realized I haven't ever heard these songs in the mission. It then dawned on me it is a CD that Jared used to listen to when he got home from Chile, Maná is the group. Kinda funny. Anywho, ya so this week was a great week for us here. We got to meet a few new families that we are teaching now. One cool experience that I had was on one of the bus rides from Quito last Monday. We in the mission have a rule to always have a copy of the Book of Mormon in our hands, ready to give away. So my companion and I also made the goal of contacting 5 new people everyday before lunch. So with all of this in mind, last week as we got onto a bus, there were a few empty seats down the isle. But I felt that one seat in particular I felt I should sit down. So as I sat down, I had a horrible feeling come over me, and I could hear in my mind, "hide that book! don't show anyone that book! be ashamed to have that!" and I felt soo odd, and I began to reach down to put the Book of Mormon in my backpack, then I stopped myself and asked, "why would I do that?" and as I pulled my hand back up, still with the book in my hand, the lady across the isle from me asked, "are you selling those books?" I was shocked, it probably took me a good 5 seconds to respond. We then got into conversation about what the Book of Mormon is, and about the restoration of the church. It was just one of the many experiences that I have had in the last couple of weeks here. I know that the Lord is in the work, but Satan is as well. I'm just very glad that I kept the book in my hand, and was not ashamed for who I am. President Sloan always encourages us to do there little things, because when we are open about our religion, the "chose" ones to receive the gospel will literally show themselves. I love my mission so very much and I would not rather be anywhere else. I think I may start counting the days in hopes that it really does make the time go by slower. Every time a week goes by, I look at the date and it truly makes me sad to think of how little time I have left here.
After all of the letters I received this week, I also realized how great of a family I have. Thank you all so very much. I love you all so greatly! I am about the most blessed person ever. I couldn't ask for more. Thank you all for everything. Sorry about the delay this week for preparation day, but better late than never. Have a great week!
Elder Matthew Morris

Hello Family!
We had a really good zone conference this week. Interviews went very well, and the capacitation I had to give turned out well as well. I got a new companion this week, it was a random change. My new companion is Elder Ellis from Salt Lake. He was also one of my zone leaders for about 3 months while I was in Esmealdas. He is a really good missionary. I have alot of respect for him. He has a great reputation in the mission. In the last 5 weeks I have travelled to Quito 7 times, and this next week we have to make at least 2 more trips for doctors appointment for my companion. He has an infection in his back and his foot that they have operated on. They think they are spider bites that just got infected. So we have to make some return visits to get them checked on. Oh well, it will just make us strengthen ourselves more to use that time we have much more wisely.
Today for preparation day we don't have anything special planned. We are just going to go to otavalo and wonder around a bit looking at some of the artist stuff that they sell here. I'm doing very well and really enjoying it here. I am learning ALOT here as zone leader. I'm so very grateful for my opportunity to serve here in this mission, and even more grateful for the opportunity to be a leader here. I just love it.
The other day I got to thinking about the fact that February is over, then I realized, Mark and Kyle are going to be done in 2 months! I cant believe how fast the time is going by. I'm just grateful for the time Ive had here, and I'm going to take advantage of every day that I still have left! Love you all, thank you for everything.
Elder Matthew Morris

Hey Family!
This week was a really good week. We had the Zone Leader council this week in Quito with President. He is back in charge of the mission now. He has an injection insert in his wrist that they use to give him antibiotics every morning and night, but he is able to go to and from the offices now. It was a great meeting and dinner that we had with him. It was very spiritual and uplifting. This upcoming week we have Zone Conference again. So we´ve got to prepare the capacitation again. I'm excited for it this time though. Not so nervous. We are going to do the conference and interviews with President in Quito so that he doesn't have to travel with his medical stuff. That will make four weeks in a row that I have had to travel to Quito. I'm getting a bit used to in now, but hopefully wont have to go for a while longer.
My companion and I are doing well. Last week we had changes in the mission but we are both still here. There were only a couple of changes in the zone. But last Monday we had to wait in the bus station ALL day for the now missionaries. I got my forehead nice and pink. When we left our house it was cloudy and rainy, but getting into Otavalo it was nice and sunny! haha. Oh well. Today we went to a nice grass soccer field where we did a cleaning service project last week. We played some basketball, threw a couple of footballs around and then played an intense game of kickball! It was a blast. It made me miss football alot just tossing the ball around to each other. I think that when I go to BYUI when I'm back home, I will have to play there. That only have like the little league within the student there, but I would love to play again.
This week here in Cotacachi I met a couple that has a house here, they are originally from London, but the most of their life they have lived in Vancuver! And to be honest I cant really spell in English anymore so Dad if I spelt that wrong sorry. But it was pretty neat getting to talk to them. I meet gringos about every day here that are either vacationing or have condos here in Otavalo and Cotacachi. Just today I met a member that is from Mexico, lives in Roy Utah, but is vacationing here for another month or so. Small world!
I'm enjoying my sector alot. I'm getting used to the hills and rocky roads. A couple of Sundays ago for lunch we had something called Librillo. Jared may have heard of it, but I'm going to explain anyways. Well to be honest its really easy to explain. They take raw cow intestines, cut it into little bite size pieces, then put it with some type of sauce, the preference of the cook, then eat it! RAW!! Yup, I'm just going to say, to this day I have not denied a lunch from any member, sadly. It was very, very, very odd. I'm not sure if anyone back home has tried tire tube, but I would imagine that its somewhat similar. Other than that I haven't really eaten anythin weird yet. Alot of potatoes, rice, and peas. Its alot like the food when I was back in Tulcán. The people are great here. All of the members ask me if I'm from Utah. Then I usually get after them and proudly tell them I'm from Idaho! The land of the GREAT potatoes! haha. They always laugh at me. This week I got a package from home. Shoes from dad and Jeanne! WAHOOO!!! I was worried that they might not get here, or maybe just be the wrong size, but they fit me perfect. They will be GREAT trackting shoes for me. I'm actually way excited about them, that and the 3 pairs of new socks that came too. Sorry Jared and Krysten, your package hasn't showed up yet. It could have just gotten lost with the X-mas rush and all, that happened to package I got for x-mas last year, it showed up in mid February with a stamp that said it got lost in El Salvador for a couple of weeks, but it got to me! So theres still hope. Mary thanks for the pictures of little Caleb this week, Cute little guy, just too bad Laura got ahold of those scissors. Don't worry, his hair´ll grow back somewhat normal I imagine. ahah, just kiddin Lou. It looks good. He is a handsome little boy.
Well I hope you all have a great week this week. Love you all and thank you for all of your love and support!
Elder Matthew Morris

Hey Family!
Another stressful week gone by. We have just had a lot of things to do here, like always. I went to Quito to renew my identification that was overdue about 2 months ago. They gave me another year and a half on it, so I'm set for at least one return trip here! Today we were able to do a good service project for one of the companionship's in our zone. Tomorrow we get our changes if there are any, so today as the last preparation day, we went over to an apartment of a couple of Elders and we cleaned and reorganized the entire house. About 8 of us spent around 4 hours cleaning and moving stuff around. Its the storage house for the zone, so there was a lot of cleaning to do! But it was a really good experience. It helped me to see who really are the loving and helping missionaries in the zone. A number of times I had to tell them Great Grama Morris´old phrase about getting the job done right! ¨Once a task is first begun, never leave it ´till its done. Be the task great or small, do it right, or not at all.¨ So I had to step up a few times and let some of them know its just easier to do it all right when we´re doing it, than have to come back again and redo it all! Thank you Dad, for the work ethic that you have taught me. I will never be able to thank you enough. I personally love doing special service projects for others. Especially while on divisions with other missionaries. I have had some great district and zone leaders in my mission. A number of times with them they did little things, even like washing the dishes for me, those moments always made me feel of their love, and dedication. I am convinced that selfless service is the greatest way to show your love to someone. Its something that words cannot even replace.
Tomorrow we have a baptism of a kid who is 9 years old. His parents and brother are all members, but haven't been really active, so he just kinda slipped by the 8 year old mark without getting baptised. So the family recently started coming again and told us he wasn't yet baptised. So we have been able to help out in strengthening the family, and now baptise the son.
All in all I'm really enjoying it here. Being zone leader is a bit rough, but I'm getting used to it. Before I finish the letter I have to wish everyone a happy birthday. No worries, I haven't forgotten about any of them! Zach, Rachel, Gramma, Krysten and anyone else there, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I think about you all and remember you in my prayers. I miss you and love you all! I hope all is well for everyone back home, and that the work situation betters. Thank you all for your letters and support. Love you all!
Elder Matthew David Morris