Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
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!
Friday, February 5, 2010
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
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
Thursday, February 4, 2010
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!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
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
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
Friday, January 29, 2010
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
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
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Texas Trip part 2
Here are a few more pictures from our Texas trip. We were delighted to spend time with grandchildren.
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