HEALTHY EATING CONTEST WINNERS!

HCOTB. That's the Healthiest Companionship on the Block. It's a contest with rules like you should eat smaller meals, fresh fruits and veggies, no eating after 7:00 pm and watch your carbs. So when some particular sisters win the contest, what is the perfect reward? Lunch out, of course! And what better place is there than Crown Burger for burgers, shakes and fries?!?!?!

Marty is the Mad Hatter

Shaman Henry "Hank" Born October 28, 9 lbs 11 oz

Leah and two hundred other missionaries receiving their flu shots!

September Sisters Luncheon

One photo is of Leah with her new companion, Sister Tagawa, from Japan. Fun group of sisters showing off the new shirt.
I am so so so excited for General Conference! A LOT of our investigators and recent converts are going. We are so spoiled in this mission to be able to go with them! Sister Tagawa and I are doing great. We are having lots of fun together. We had sisters lunch this morning so I was able to give out all the shirts. Today we received the new official guidelines for dress and grooming and it's pretty ridiculous how different the new pictures are from the old ones. The old outfits all looked like awkward boxes and now all the sisters in the pictures look so fashionable and cute! We are all wondering why we spent so much money on ugly boring clothes that we'll never wear again once we get home. Oh well. I'm sure Heavenly Father knew that was what I needed. A total lack of fashion shock for a year or so...haha. Anyway, after going over the new guidelines Sister Winn said "because Sister Morris' mother heard of these new standards, she wanted to get each of you a new shirt..." and then she had me pull out the tshirts Everyone thinks they're really great. I love you!
Love,
Sister Morris
Scott designed the shirt, with Leah and the SLC Sisters ideas in mind. They wanted a fun and secret message printed on the inside, or wrong side of the shirt.

In the words of Isaiah, “Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, . . . and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths”

Leah with new companion Sister Stoner, sometimes known as Sister S!

Sister Zone Conf Luncheon

The mission presidents wife had the sister missionaries over for breakfast.

Papa's Birthday

Here's some of what you missed on Dad's Birthday

Happy Birthday Dad/Papa we love you

family reunion

we had a blast at Hawley Lake even though i was the only one who didnt catch a fish:(

nice socks and sandals Donovan

Ty taught Donny how to throw rocks in puddles

Madeline showed them both up with her killer arm

look at that follow through

then throwing rocks just wasnt enough for these two

we still couldn't quite get the right timing

its easier when you don't jump.

The New Do

Leah got a new haircut and she is just as adorable as ever.
Her letter snippet:
The work is moving forward as always. A girl named Josselyn is getting baptized this weekend. Basically all the sisters in the entire mission are very excited about it. Iinitially her parents were completely against it. It took a few months (like 6 or more?) for them to agree that she could be baptized, but in a year (so in September 2010). Then in April her mom came with her to general conference and really enjoyed it. They decided she didn't have to wait any longer to be baptized. A lot of miracles had to happen along the way, but now she will be baptized this Saturday at 4pm.

The Bates and the Arps in Texas

Nikki and Devon stayed the night at the Bates house on their way to Corpus Christi, Texas. Kerstin said they had a great time. The picture is taken with the bluebonnets in the forefront.

Narci's 4th Birthday

Narci is loving his made to order birthday cupcakes. He HAD to have baseballs, footballs, basketballs, and soccer balls for his sports birthday celebration. Lucky for Melinda tennis and golf aren't on his radar yet.(written by Melinda)
Narci is headed to the Fiesta Parade, all decked out in his sunglasses and punk hairdoo.

ChanNa's Graduated From BYU

We are so proud of ChanNa! She graduated from the Y on May 23rd. We enjoyed all of the ceremonies and partying. She has a new apartment, new job and plans to go to grad school asap. We Love You ChanNa, Mom and Dad

Happy Birthday Justin!

Our grandson Justin's 15th birthday is this Thursday. We love you Justin! Happy Birthday!

36 years

Like father like son. Narci is helping his father build a display for the San Antonio Zoo.

Oh, what a feeling! Gila Valley Temple will be dedicated on May 23rd 2010

Leah's the trainer!

Dear Family,
You'll never guess...I'm training this transfer. Eeek. 5 sisters went home this transfer, and 6 new ones came in! My new companion is Sister Schwarz, she's 6'2'' and from Oregon. I can't say I'm that excited, just more nervous than anything. I don't feel like I know how to do anything yet, let alone teach someone else how!
Yesterday was really sad for me seeing as my trainer went home as well as Sister Gatewood. I miss her a lot already, but I don't have time to feel sorry for myself.
We don't have much going on right now in our area, so I hope we can find more work soon!
I don't have too much to say now, but I'm sure I'll have more to report next week.
Love,
Sister Morris

Kylie sneaking the green olives

Decorating cookies with Madeline and Ty

Luke hospitalized with RSV Feb 13 - 17 2010

Madeline on Feb 24th sleet and a hint of snow in San Antonio

Narci ready for his first T-ball practice wearing his favorite "aynkees" hat

Malikai, Narci and Kylie sent this photo to say thanks to Nani and Papa for Baskin Robbins Coupons

ChanNa graduates!!

We are SO proud of our daughter ChanNa. She just just graduated from BYU with a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology. She also just got a job offer! In March she will start working at a residential treatment center in West Jordan. In about a year she will apply to grad school. So for now she's taking a much deserved break before she starts her new job. She will walk for graduation in April. Yeah ChanNa!

Leah's February 4th email

Dear Family,
Sorry I'm not very good at thinking of fun subject lines so I always just leave it blank! Yesterday our whole mission spent the day in the temple. It was really neat to be there all day. We had a devotional and the temple president and President Sonne spoke and then Elder Ballard spoke to us! It was a really neat experience. He told us about the story of his grandfather Melvin J Ballard that you've probably heard before. He (MJB) told the 12 about it when he bore his testimony after he was ordained. A few years before he had been the mission pres of the northwestern states mission. He had been praying about some issues they had been having in teaching the Native Americans in that area. In a dream that night he was transported to the SLC temple where he met with the council of the twelve. They led him into a room where he said the most glorious and beautiful figure he had ever seem was sitting. Christ embraced him and he fell at His feet and felt the prints of the nails in His feet. Elder Ballard (Russell) had people ask him about this experience when he was on his mission in England, but he didn't know anything about it, as he had never heard about it. He wrote home and asked his then inactive father about it, who was able to obtain a copy of the minutes from the meeting with the twelve and send them to E. Ballard. He also told us that many years later when it was his first year serving in the 70, a man called and said he needed to speak with him. They arranged an appt and an old man in his 90s came to speak with him. He said that he knew his grandfather when he was serving as president of that mission. He and Melvin J had gone one day to give a very wealthy (but non member) man a blessing in his mansion. As they were coming down the stairs from the man's bedroom there was a life sized painting of Christ. Melvin J then turned to him and said, that is a fair rendition, but that's not what he looks like. He had had the dream the night before and then went on to tell this man about it.
Anyway, it's just neat to get different accounts of the same story and of their testimonies. It's really amazing to hear an apostle of the Lord testify of Jesus Christ.

Today we are having what the elders call "nerf gun fiesta." I guess we reached a goal or something so our reward is having a nerf gun war? Haha. Anyway, we have one baptism this weekend. It's a 16 year old boy named Lance, who actually lives outside of our mission, but he attends church with his uncle who live sin our mission. He a really great kid. We're also teaching his best friend named Vu who is Vietnamese. They're funny kids. Lance does motocross and Vu break dances and hosts a radio show. They answer more questions and pay more attention in Sunday school than any of the other kids, so I'm sure the teachers appreciate it!

That's all for today! I'm glad to hear everyone is doing well.
Love,
Sister Morris

Melinda's going to Harvard!

Our daughter Melinda was invited to go to Harvard this weekend to be on a panel about being a mother and a woman in business. We're very excited for her and know she will be great!

Leah's January 27th email

Dear Family,
Not too much to report these days. The work in West Valley seems to be a lot slower than in South Salt Lake (my old companion has 6 baptisms this weekend!).
Sister Gatewood and I are trying our best, but it seems like we're going through some trials lately.
We're teaching one man this evening that we're not super excited about. He keeps cancelling appointments with us, but still seems to be set on getting baptized on Feb 14th. The last time we got to our appointment 5 or so mins early and he was hopping in his car with his wife to drive away. We jumped out and said "oh can we meet next weds? Maybe for half an hour? We can talk about what I want for my baptism!" The only problem is last time we met with him (only my first time and my companions second but I guess he had been taught by the elders on and off for a year, but never accepted a date until now), we found out he still likes to go to Catholic mass along with our church and likes to pray "your way" and the "catholic way" and is still going to confession occasionally! So pray that the lesson tonight goes well as I'm pretty sure this will be like the 5th time he's been taught the restoration!
Anyway, right now we live with a couple who are in their 50s or so that have two grown boys. It's kind of a funny situation as we live on the same level and our bedroom is right next to theirs etc. They like to watch movies (yesterday she was watching Lost) and play on their computers/ facebook a lot. But they're really nice and a super funny couple. We get along well with them, and I think they like us a lot better than the elders. Plus it's free laundry. Wahoo!
I hope the roads clear up so the kids can come.
Yesterday my back started feeling a little funny, so I went to see the free mission Dr. today. He recommended I go to a physical therapist to learn some exercises for my back and to get some xrays done as well...

Love,
Sister Morris

Leah's January 20th email

Dear Family,

My new companion Sister Gatewood is really neat. We get along really well and think in similar ways. She says she's from New Mexico, but she's also lived in Kansas and Colorado and now her parents live in San Diego. This is her last transfer, so she's pretty sad to be going home.
A man that we have been teaching is getting baptized this weekend, but in an entirely different stake and into their Spanish ward. It's sort of disappointing because we (and Sister G and her previous companion) have taught him everything, but because he wants to get baptized into the ward he's been going to with his family we won't get credit for the baptism. The important thing of course is that he's getting baptized, but we are sad because we feel like the elders in that area as well as the ward there haven't really made an effort to be excited or help him out much where as we've taught him and care about him so much! Oh well. When his wife found out I liked tamales, she had her mother in law bring us over two bunches of yummy tamales that she sells at a Mexican grocery store.
Today we went to Winco (shout out to Jared and Kayla) and made cookies. Sister Gatewood also shares my love for sugar, so maybe this isn't a good thing! But we've been trying to work out a little bit every morning so hopefully that will counteract any of the treats we have.
I love you!
Keep being the great member missionaries that you are.
Love,
Sister Morris

Texas Trip part 2

Here are a few more pictures from our Texas trip. We were delighted to spend time with grandchildren.

Leah's January 14th email - Transfers!

Well transfers happened, and I got moved! I'm now in West Valley with a new companion - Sister Gatewood. She's really great, and I know we're going to get along splendidly.
It was really sad leaving South Salt Lake. I came to really love the people there and the area. I think it might always be my favorite part of my mission, because Sister Hagemann said it had been her favorite area and she's already been all over the place. It was a good way to start out my mission, but I guess I was getting too comfortable or something!
This little Nepali lady named Dilpa that we taught was crying when we said goodbye. She doesn't understand or speak much English, but she kept saying "I love you" and then the number "two" pointing to both of us.
We had a little tougher of a transfer last transfer, but I am so sad to leave some of the people we were teaching and are getting baptized.
On our last day (Tuesday) we took a girl named Cherry who is from the Philippines (she's 25 and her husband is quite a bit older) to see the Joseph Smith movie on Temple Square. We happened to run into Elder Ballard, so she was able to meet him too! I may have told you about another Filipina who was baptized, but this is a different girl. Anyway, her fellow shipper and the sister who introduced us to her is really crazy and strange, but really nice. They took us out for Chinese/ pho before the film, so that was really nice. We also went into the Asian market for a few minutes and I bought myself some hello pandas! Cherry bought me two two Asian pears which were SO yummy!
Another quick story, about the lady that we taught who is black and very "praise the Lord" all the time and got baptized the day after Christmas. Anyway, I had forgotten about this, but my companion reminded me of this the other day...Her husband is a semi recent convert. He was baptized a few years ago, became less active, and then has since become active again. This past Stake conference he was able to receive the Melchizedek priesthood. So that was really neat because we knew he would be able to baptize and confirm her. So we were waiting for them to get dressed in their jumpsuits and everyone was waiting to take pictures and things. My companion went to check on them and I was standing in the hall. She heard some laughing and then called out Rosa's name because she wondered where the laughing was coming from. She found them in the font already! They thought they were already supposed to get in. So we had to find fresh dry suits for them to change into. No one else even found out what happened. It was really funny. I guess she was that excited to get baptized that she just couldn't wait. Either that or she wanted to get it over with! She told us "black people just don't like getting their hair wet!"
Anyway, I'm doing great and doing my best to stay warm!
Lots of love,
Sister Morris

Happy Anniversary Jeff and Melinda!

Melinda and Jeff celebrated their anniversary on the 7th of January! Yeah!

Happy Anniversary Jared & Kayla

Jared and Kayla's first anniversary was on January 3rd.

Texas Trip

We got to go visit our kids in Texas for a new grandson's baby blessing from December 31 - January 4. It was delightfull to spend time with grandchildren.