Prayers please...

Well some things never change…..Sister Morris emailed us this picture this morning. The klutz still lives on! Those of you who know Sister Morris, this should come as no surprise.

When we asked what happened she said “I fell out of our car....my backpack was at my feet and it caught my leg as I was getting out. I twisted my knee, Sister Boman and I both heard a pop, and I fell hard on the gravel driveway....oh man did that hurt!!!! Dr. says I tore the ligament that connects your thumb to your muscles in the wrist, so I have a hard cast on that which will stay on for 3 weeks. The ER Doctor thinks I might have torn and/or stretched out my MCL and PCL in my knee. I go to an Orthopedic Specialist tomorrow for a MRI. Don't worry, I am fine. This happened on Thursday and I have been confined to bed since then.”

We asked her to come up with a better story than she fell out of the car and she said “I know!!! I was telling everyone that I wrestled a gator in the Patomic River and round house Chuck Norris kicked it too fast.         (Hahahaha)  I'm on crutches, and confined to the apartment until tomorrow.  Based on what the Orthopedic Specialist says tomorrow will depend on whether or not I will be sent home. If it's torn, or requires a lot of recuperation, I will be headed home. So PLEASE ASK EVERYONE TO PRAY that it is not torn and will heal fast so I can stay in Maryland!!!”

Please pray for her, that her knee injury can heal with simple therapy as she does not want to come home to recuperate.…..Thank you!!

Read My Fingers!

OH MY GOOD GOLLY GRACIOUS!!!! I HAVE THE BIGGEST ANNOUNCEMENT EVER!!!!!!! There are now 2 language speaking missionaries in the Morris family!! President Richards called us out of the blue this week and asked us to start language study every morning!!! Wanna guess what it is???

 AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE!

You heard it here first folks. This language is so stinking hard, and I am really overwhelmed. BUT, I am ready to conquer ASL! As we have started learning I feel like I am so behind, and everyone signs so fast, and I lose their fingers. It's really hard and now I feel like I know a little bit of what Bubba feels like speaking Spanish!! Haha

Well, life is great! We have seen a lot of success here in Hancock, and I'm so excited about it all! On Sunday night we went to dinner at a members house, and we had hamburgers and milkshakes and homemade fries....yummmmm :) We showed them the Mormon message, "Good Things to Come", by Elder Holland. (One of my personal favorites) During the clip (set back in the 1960's), Sister H points out how back in those days moms wouldn't put their children in car seats, and would just carry them in their laps. This was something I had never noticed in the video before and thought, huh. That's interesting! I didn't think anything more about it, and we headed on our way to visit some less-active members

The less-active member, has taken a direct flight to MIRACLE LAND! So, we have been over to her house about 6 times over the course I have been here and have just been building the relationship of trust with her. At this point she loves us like her own, and feeds us all the time. We love her, but we can't find a way to bring up coming back to church with her! So we pray and we pray, and nada. I have no idea what to say to her. So we head to her house after praying our hearts out and guess what? She's not even home. At this point I just wanted to give up. So we get in the car and punch in another address into Sis. Boman's GPS and we go on our way. Long story short the GPS takes us on this weird route and ends up making us turn around a mile down the road. We were so frustrated!!! This day could just not get worse! So we follow the GPS and sure enough it takes us right past her house not 2 minutes after we had already been there, and guess who is home? Our favorite lady! The spirit slapped me in the face as if to say, "Don't doubt me, ya dummy!!!"

So we go in and are sitting there, and I keep looking for ways to creep in the gospel, but don't find an opening. I'm getting discouraged when all of the sudden something she says catches my attention. Now stay with me here because this is about as far out in left field as it gets, but she says something about how back in the day moms wouldn't put their children in car seats, and would just carry them on their laps. All of the sudden I realize where I had seen that before, and BOOM!!!! I WHIPPED THAT LITTLE DVD PLAYER OUT OF MY VERA BRADLEY BACKPACK LIKE IT WAS NOBODY'S BUSINESS. I said, "Ya know, someone just pointed out to me that same thing in this video...." BAM! Towards the end of the video, Elder Holland says, "Some blessings come soon, some come later, and some don't come till heaven. But for those who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come." As tears roll down her cheeks, she turns to us and says, "I miss those days. I miss coming to church." BAM! Holy Ghost smack down #2. Man, isn't this gospel so amazing?!!? How blessed am I to be a part of it?

This letter is a day late because we had Mission Conference yesterday, and Elder Bruce Carlson of the Seventy came and spoke to our mission. One thing that I really loved from his instruction was how some of us are just being a 'poser' of a disciple of Jesus Christ, and are not really LIVING it. We are not consecrating ourselves to this gospel. So, here comes my challenge to all those who read this. Consecrate something in your life to this gospel. Whether it is something as small as getting your Home Teaching/Visiting Teaching done every month, or something as big as writing a missionary, hint hint. Give up something so that you are a TRUE disciple of Jesus Christ.

As Sister Dibb says, "Learn it, Live it, Love it."

I love you all so much, and I hope to hear about how you are becoming more consecrated in your own lives.

Love,

Sister Morris

Not just any birthday!!

HELLO TO THE BEST SUPPORTERS EVER!!!!

I'm pretty sure the little Hancock Post Office thought that either Madonna or Justin Beiber was living in our apartment this week....or that someone had died. LUCKILY, neither of the sort were going on....it was JUST MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! WHOOOOOO!!!!! You guys are seriously the best thing since sliced apple pie. I got 30 letters in 3 flippin' days! 30 letters?! You heard me right! Ya'll just make my life complete. What I wouldn't do for the good people that I love back home. You are my rock and I love you to the moon and back, don't forget it!!!

You may be asking yourself, " What did Sister Morris do for her birthday?" Well I can tell you what I didn't do. I didn't go rent a nice hotel room. I didn't sleep in. I didn't rent a car.  NO. NADA. NO WAY JOSE. I know, shocking that none of that occurred, whether or not you want to credit that to the mission....YOU DECIDE. But, I can tell you what I did do. I SERVED THE LORD. Just like every other day, I got up at 6:30, and I dedicated myself to the Lord....and a lot of cake. ;)

This week was just full of good times and miracles. I've come to decide that Heavenly Father knows that it's hard to be away from your family, especially on your birthday. So he gives you a bunch of great things to heal the hurt. The first awesome thing was our Sister Conference where we got to see all the sisters in the Maryland Baltimore Mission. For all of you from Centerville you know that means two things. 1.) I GOT TO SEE SISTER TAWNI BARRETT!!!!!! 2.) There was much squealing and hugs.

This is us.....being weirdo’s. If you get it....you get it. If you don't....you don't. ;) It was so great to see her. There is just something about seeing someone who has known you almost your entire life that just heals the heart. It was such an awesome birthday extra. ( SHOUT OUT TO BRITTNEEEYYYYYYY BARREETTTTT!!!!! My birthday buddy!!! Happy Birthday, Girl! So proud of you for deciding to join the ranks! LOVE YOU!)

Then we had our Primary's Halloween Trunk or Treat and Sister Boman and I got matching shirts!! We are pretty dang adorable pumpkins if I do say so myself.

To end off the awesome week I had a few incredible birthday parties with some members of my ward and they treated me like family. I really am so lucky to be here in Hancock and couldn't imagine being anywhere else. For my birthday, the adorable Emily Hendershot made me a sign that says, "The Best is Yet to Come." with an eternity circle. I love the saying because that is exactly right. The best IS yet to come. I cannot wait to see what this next year has in store for me while I serve in the Lord's vineyard.

There are many more miracles that happened this week, but just not enough time to tell them all! I love you all and seriously THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the support on my birthday!

Till next time!

Sister Morris

A big shout out to Kristy Hendershot who fed Sister Morris her favorite meal and cake. Then she played Sister Morris a video from home. 

THANK YOU to everyone who made her Birthday wonderful!! We are truly blessed to have great friends and family!

Sign on the dotted line.......

Well my friends. This weeks email is going to be short....not because my mother takes up all my email time (which she does...but it's seriously the highlight of my week.), but because this week has been the week from the evil one's own home. (That was me trying to get around saying Hell.....but ya know what? It's a place, and sometimes you just have to say it!!!!) So this was the week from H-E-L- (you know the rest.)

Sometimes the Devil just works hard....ya know? Like really hard. And sometimes I just want to kick him in the behind and tell him, "Get out of my hair ya stinkin' HOBO!" Let me tell ya, he's a powerful one......but you know who is even more powerful? The Savior. He know's exactly what you need, when you need it....even when you don't. One of my second mother's, Rosie Bassett, sent me and unexpected letter with a talk from Elder Holland called, "The Miracle of a Mission." I suggest that if any of you know of a missionary out there, SEND IT TO THEM. It's AMAZING. I wish I could just quote the whole thing, but I just want to tell you of one part that really hit me. 

He says, "Remember above all, that this is a spiritual work. It’s the most important thing you can remember all your life. You cannot have a mission and you will not succeed on this mission and you won’t be happy and you won’t lose your homesickness and you won’t get the language and you won’t be acclimatized to the culture until you give over to God and say, “This is Thy work and I’m only the instrument. I’m on the pencil, but you’ve got to do the writing.” That is the most important thing for a missionary to learn ever. Section 50, a verse you all memorize and I hope you remember all your life, “Unto what you were ordained (or in the case of the sisters, unto what you were set apart by somebody who was ordained), to preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter, and if it is not taught that way, it is not God’s way.” If it is not taught that way, it is some other way, and any other way is not of God. You can’t do it your own way. Don’t even try. That’s part of the worry—you don’t have to do it, you can’t do it, you shouldn't do it. Stop worrying that you have to do this. This is God’s work! He will watch you! He will answer your prayers! He has legions of angels and teams of chariots to run to your aid this very hour. He will bless you! This is His work, but you have to do it His way! That’s the contract."

Well dang it, kids! I signed that there contract! I did this to myself....I did the biggest favor of my lifetime and signed myself up for this. Did I know going into it how hard it would be? HECK NO. Would I have done it if I had? Probably not. But am I eternally grateful I did? HECK YES. I have already learned more about myself and this gospel and how I can make my life and others better by combining the two. (gospel=life.....and who said I was bad at math!?!! ;)) I know that by devoting my life to this work for the next 15 months, I am bringing more blessings into the lives of those I love more than I can ever imagine. I also know that by signing that dotted line, I agreed to serve him with all my heart, and that is exactly what I plan on doing. Some wise sister missionary I feel like I don't know very well wrote in her journal the first day on her mission that from that day forward, when it got to hard to stand, that she would kneel. Well, I can tell you that I have spent the past week on my knees, and they are bruised and bloody. I have kept that promise to that young version of me almost 3 months ago. Through the strength of the lord, and the atonement's healing power, my knees have been bandaged, and I am ready for another week in the Lord's vineyard. He has sharpened his pencil, and I am ready to write!!!

I love you all and hope that this message reaches you safe and well. Next week I promise an update on the work!! I know you want to hear about all the amazing people, not silly old me!! 

I LOVE YOU!

Sister Morris

No pictures from Sister Morris this week as her camera was stolen... sad, but she is going to buy a new one today.

A big shout out to everyone for their letters, emails and prayers for Sister Morris. Especially this week, Rose Bassett. She said to tell everyone thank you, it keeps her spirits up and makes her happy, happy, happy. It does take a village to raise a child, even on a mission!!  Thank you!!

You can email her at madison.morris@myldsmail.com

This Saturday, Oct 26th is Sister Morris' 21st birthday!! Hugs**

Just call me Sister Fire Princess......dumb cat!

October 14, 2013

Hello family and friends,

To open my letter I would like to tell you of a story. It goes a little like this. There once was a girl named Sister Morris, who lived in a small town called Hancock. While in Hancock she learned that the natives to the area where easy to spot, and VERY hard to miss. But, there was one person she met while living in Hancock who was not of the ordinary. His name was Bishop Ah-Loe. He came from the land of Samoa, and liked to twirl fire in his spare time. One day he decided to show the missionaries what it would be like to try such a thing. The following happened:

Well everyone, from now on I'm going to need you to call me Sister Fire Princess, PLEASE. No but really. I almost burnt my hair off....it was terrifying. I love my stinkin' mission! Who would have thought I would come here and learn how to twirl fire from my bishop?! Not me! :) I really am having so much fun!

It has been raining here like CRAZY!!!  We are right in the middle of tropical storm Karen and man is she MAD. The rain here is different than Utah rain. Here when it rains, it doesn't stop. AT ALL. It has been raining straight for about  3 1/2 days!! And it's thick rain! And the people here don't know how to drive....it's terrifying. Luckily we know that as long as we are keeping the rules, we will be safe. That keeps us going. I never realized how amazing the priesthood is until I came out on a mission. I mean, I had a testimony of it, and I knew how amazing it COULD be, but I didn't really know how amazing it really is. This week we had to drive over to Berkley Springs, WV to take over an investigator from the elders, as she is a single female. The rain was coming down hard, and the road that you take to go to Berkley is a busy interstate that runs through a wooded area. It's scary enough driving in the daylight in good conditions as you have to watch carefully for deer and watch the cars around you as it is heavily used by trucks. So, to add bad conditions to the mix, I was TERRIFIED. My anxiety got the best of me and I started to cry. Even though we had arrived there safely, I knew the drive back down the mountainside would be even worse.

As the lesson drew to a close, we left the house and headed to the cars. My heart was pounding and right as we started to get in the car, Elder Mathews turned to me and asked me if I needed a priesthood blessing. For this? I am just being stupid! It's all in my mind! But I knew that I needed it. So I said yes, and was given one of the most amazing blessings of my life. I thought I needed a blessing to calm my anxiety, but Heavenly Father knew what I needed, even when I didn't. He blessed me that I might know how much my Heavenly Father was proud of me and of the work I was doing. That I would be blessed with the strength I needed to finish out my mission, and that if I relied on the Lord, I would change more lives than I could count. My Father in Heaven KNEW what I needed. Even when I didn't. 

I love this gospel and the amazing blessings it brings. I know that through Joseph Smith the true Church was restored, and that the priesthood that Christ held and healed with, is again on the earth today. I testify that through your faith and trust in the Lord, you can do ANYTHING.

I love you all, and hope you have an amazing week! Until we meet again. :) 

Sister Morris, Fire Princess

Favorite Moment:

Story Form: Yesterday we went and saw a less-active couple that we haven't seen in a while. We sat down and really got them to open up and left feeling like CHAMPS. They walked us out and watched us leave to make sure we got out safe. As I was backing up the car, I all of the sudden hear a strange sound and feel a bump. I see them start running towards the car and to my horror I realized, I RAN OVER THEIR CAT!!!!! Well, so much for that so called "progress." Heaven forgive me.

(For those worried about the cat, (Dad I know that doesn't include you), I only ran over it's tail. It's fine. DUMB thing.)

                                                  My new dress find...5 bucks! Still got it!

 

Transfer I don't need no stinkin Transfer!

Hello Friends and Family!!

Well butter me up and call me happy, I AM STAYING IN HANCOCK WITH SISTER BOMAN!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Ok, I mean we totally hate each other...right? Like seriously, can't you tell? Oh man, I love her to death! I am so stinking happy I get to stay in Hancock and see the work progress! I couldn't ask for more!

This week was full of adventures and of course, the spiritual feast from conference just topped it off and made it a week to remember. You may be asking yourself, "Sister Morris. How do you keep mission work light and fun?" Well kids, let me answer your question. There is a simple solution to this perilous conundrum. Have a companion that is an air-head. What do you mean by this? I mean one that instead of taking 3 regular Tylenol’s, she takes 3 Tylenol PM's at 7:00am. Yes, this makes for a giant adventure. Here is just a small portion of what will ensue:

1.) You driving when you not supposed to because you fear for your life.

2.) Your companion sleeps through most of your appointments.

3.) Having to explain to everyone why it seems that your companion is drugged up on high levels of illegal substances.

It's a BLAST. No but really, it was hilarious, and luckily as you have already seen, I like her a tiny bit so it was easy to put up with. :)

Conference was seriously the best thing ever. I can't explain the difference between conference at home and conference on a mission. It's like Christmas out here! I loved hearing from the prophets and the amazing messages they give us. Here are my highlights (hard to choose since I have 8 pages full...):

1.) Elder Bednar:

"We may ask for the relief from burdens, but he may increase our ability to withstand it."

This was personal revelation for me as those first few weeks on the mission were some of the hardest of my life. Many times when I was on my knees, I asked my Heavenly Father to take away the pains and worries...but instead he made me stronger. Now when I face those again, I will know that I can withstand anything with the Lord by my side.

Elder Holland (ok ok ok. He's totally my favorite. My love for him has blossomed since I have been out here.):

"Our pursuit of godliness will be tried again and again. Never lose faith in your father in heaven who loves you’re more than you know. His love is there whether you deserve it or not. It is simply THERE."

In closing of this blog post, I just want to remind you all that God's love is never conditional. Like President Monson said, it is there whether you deserve it or not. He loves you and cares more for you than you will ever know. As you go on this week, try a little harder to feel that love as you serve others. Pray for the opportunity to do missionary work, and spread that message of love to those who don't have it.

LOTS OF LOVE!

Sister Morris

Funny Moment:

At an investigators house while Sister Boman is drugged up:

*Sister Boman's knee buckles*

Sister Boman: "Man down, MAN DOWN!!!"

Sister Morris: "Oh stop being so dramatic. My sympathy for you has lessened as you continue to act like an idiot."

Sister Boman: "I'll just lay here then."

It took us about 10 minutes to stop laughing.

                                     Maddie's blowing Michelle a kiss for her birthday!!!!!!