Thanks so much for the email! It was really fun hearing about everything that has been going on. I'm so glad the visit with Grandma and Grandpa went well! The sister missionaries look sooo fun!! I'm so glad you guys love them. :) It's so hard when you get close to members and have to leave... but having that relationship with the families is one of the best parts of being a missionary. That's so awesome you could get so close to them. :) Thank you for sending the lyrics to that song! I really loved it. :) And I really appreciate all the hope and I guess perspective check? Your emails give me. Sometimes I know I'm way too hard on myself... I guess it's one major way Satan gets to me sometimes. So thanks for all the support and everything :) I'm definitely doing better! I can see myself growing stronger and happier and more confident... hopefully more into the person Heavenly Father wants me to be. It's slooooowww, and I still have so many weaknesses... but such is life, growth takes time and effort! So it's all good. :)
It has been so cool having you share your experiences and testimony with J!! Thanks for taking the time to answer his questions and help him. That has been so cool having you involved in missionary work and in the people I'm teaching! You are an amazing missionary! :D :D
I'm so excited for the oregon berry jam! Haha, that sounds delicious. That does remind me though - do you have any tips on losing weight, on your mission? Or maybe google some tips? I've just gained like 10 lbs since I've gotten here... which isn't too bad, considering everything we're fed... but I want to get back in shape again. Especially since we work out every day and are just on bikes now, in 110 degree weather. Hopefully I'll lose weight and get in great shape this summer :)
The pictures of Isaac and Jacob were hilarious! Their hair... haha, that sounded so fun! Hannah dancing, listening to Styx... that was just so awesome :D I love you guys!
Thanks for looking into the colleges!! I appreciate it so much. I honestly have no idea what to do... George Mason sounds cool, is it pretty expensive though? I want to go where there's plenty of LDS people, so either DC area or out West would be good.. probably DC or BYU Idaho. I've even thought of Arizona State University, which sounds way fun, but I don't think I would want to be that far from family haha. I'm so happy Dexter and Brittany are (maybe) waiting until I get back!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D Can you believe it's in a year?? The past few months have flown by... it's so crazy! Speaking of which, do you have Brittany's address? or email address? I would love to write to her!
This week has been so cool!! We had zone conference and it was AMAZING. President T told us the coolest new program the church is making!!! It's for spanish speakers, but if it works, it may end up spreading to english and other languages. Their starting the pilot/experimental program in July. So basically, missionaries getting called Spanish speaking are going to have an online tutor start teaching them spanish 6 months before they enter the MTC... when they go in the MTC for two weeks, the tutor will teach them there. Then while on their misison, the tutor will work with their trainer (a normal missionary called to train the new greenie) for the 12 week training program. After the 12 weeks are done, the tutor will continue to check up with them every month for the rest of their mission. In their last two months in the field, the tutor will start teaching them every day again - just training them how to ease the transition going home - school applications, dating, ect. Crazy huh?? Then when that missionary gets home, he/she will become a trainer, if they want to, and will be the tutor for a new missionary. Isn't that so cool??? I guess the church is focusing on making the home a MTC, so one way their doing that is by trying out this program. I'm not spanish speaking, but I was so excited to hear about it!! Who knows, maybe when Isaac goes he will be involved in it? It's so cool to see the new exciting things that are happening.
We had a really cool lesson with C. She's not on date yet, but she came to church and is reading from the Book of Mormon, and we've seen her hope grow so much. She actually looks a bit happy :) She wants to continue growing and learning in the gospel. She's on a really good path right now and I know it's going to bless her and help her find peace and happiness, and hope. We love her and I just really, really hope we can help her, and that she'll be strong and continue. I have faith that she will!
We had the coolest doorstep lesson! So we have a list of members of the ward called the B list, which is basically a list of people who are so less active that we're not sure if they live there anymore. So we went by one, and it turned out he didn't live there. But a man answered the door named T. He is so cool! He just got out of prison, and just wants to make changes in his life and come closer to God. He was telling us that he's changed a lot, and he used to be an angry person, but he isn't anymore. He really wants to follow God. We showed him the Because of Him video, and he loved it! After we showed it to him, he said "That reminds me of a poem I wrote". He then rapped a poem he wrote that was like 2 or 3 minutes long, and it was sooooo powerful. It was all about his relationship with God and how God has helped him change his heart, and what he wants his future life to be like. It was amazing! He is pretty much golden. Our member who was with us asked him "Have you ever been baptized ina church before?" He looked at her sadly and said "No... I haven't. But I want to!:" It was soo cool, ha. He is golden!
I also had my first bike crash this week, haha. We were biking into the church for zone meetings - which means the zone leaders and a bunch of missionaries were just getting out of their car... and my bike slid off the sidewalk, and I totally catapulted off. It was soo embarassing!! Luckily I didn't get hurt, just a scrape on the knee, but it was embarassing haha. Hopefully it's my last crash too :)
There's also another funny thing. There was this man J we taught a while ago. He's so funny! He's a hilarious older man. We first walked in, and he had this picture of a gorgeous glamorous 20 something year old woman on his wall... he told us it was his girlfriend, who had just gotten engaged to another man, but he still had her picture up on his wall. We thought it was so sad and kinda funny. Well, we had this BOM lesson where we just boldly laid it out to him - what the BOM is, what it's purpose was, ect. And we thought he didn't like it. But we gave him over to the elders, and he's been reading! I guess he's been progressing super well, and is probably going to get baptized soon. Anyways, he has told them a different story about his girlfriend every time... how she is a hairdresser and does everybody's hair, how she saw him reading the BOM and said that she is actually a mormon, all these funny stories... well, he came to church Sunday and loved it! He fit right in! And we loved having him there, he's funny haha. But he told us his girlfriend couldn't come because she goes to another Christian church now... it's just so funny. We think his girlfriend is imaginary haha, and he always tells these stories about her. It's hilarious! But he's a really awesome man, very smart and very goofy sense of humor. So it's awesome!
J is doing great! I can't wait for her baptism. Next week is transfers... I'm hoping I stay. I think Sis D is probably going to leave, she's been here forever. But I'm going to miss her if she does! Anyways, we'll see what happens. But J is solid - she goes to yw on her own, and is going to girls camp, and pretty much goes to church on her own now too. She's so amazing. This past week we skyped K in from Hawaii, her sister, in on a lesson, and it was so cool :D
I've also been teaching so many people on line, which has been amazing! I'm teaching a lady from Fiji, a young man from India, talking to a few people from Africa, and Jo from the UK. It's so cool!!! Facebook is on fire with missionary work right now! It's so exciting.
Well, thanks for the emails and everything :) Love you guys! And I do have one question. Do you happen to know if medtronic has a way to send insulin to you? Apparently one elder whose diabetic does, he has insurance from the military though... but I was wondering. Because then I wouldn't have to rely on a doc for prescriptions. My insulin is getting low, and my last doctor was soooo sketchy... he refused to give me any prescriptions I needed unless I came and saw him again. I have my next appt in 3 weeks, so I'm just hoping and praying that doctor is better! So hopefully it should be fine. But just wondering if you could look into it? Thanks so much for having them send the medical records and everything, I appreciate it :)
Love you guys!! So glad you liked the letters. :) Your the best. I'll talk with you next week!
love,
Sister Whitney Morris
The mission president's devotional with J! we took a picture in the same place as when we went with Karen. it was funny.
(This is text from a letter Whitney wrote home this week. Too good not to share! :) <3
June 16, 2014
Dear Family,
Funny story... I didn't have time to write some stories home so I was just sitting down to. I took down the box I keep my letter writing stuff in, which is a package I got from you, I looked on the side, and there was handwriting!!! Saying the pics mommy glued on were ones you're duplicating. :) That is so fun!!! how did they go? I would love to see pictures! I also loved the letters I got. It makes me so happy to think of you all reading this together after school. I can totally picture it!
Hannah, Adam, I'm so sorry this year was hard (at school). I love that our families can be our best friends! Our families ARE our best friends ever!!! that's why Heavenly Father put us here in them. :) And that's why He wants our families to be eternal, in the temple. I think first, because to go to the temple we need to be living worthy-we need to be following the Savior. when we live worthy and follow Jesus Christ, I know that's when we and our families are happiest! And of course Heavenly Father wants our families to be together in the temple too, because that means that happiness and love and friendship will be with us forever! and we will feel that completely and perfectly, even more than in our imperfect state right now. Just imagine that. :) It's amazing! And I am SO GRATEFUL you're my family!
This week had been so awesome. It's been hard. Like I said, I think I hit my lowest point yet last week, which wasn't too bad, but hard, yeah. However, one of my favorite scriptures in Ether 12 talks about how the Lord gives us weaknesses so we may be humble, and when we are humble and turn to Him, he helps us be strong. I love this scripture. Recently I have felt weighed down because of my weaknesses. Standing in the grocery line today I realized that other peoples weaknesses don't make them less valuable or loved to God. That means my weaknesses don't make me less valuable or loved by god either. He loves each of us, and every soul has worth in the sight of God. However, He wants us to try and overcome that weakness and be strong -and the only way we can do that is through the Savior.
I just know that Jesus Christ lives. I feel his goodness and His love in my life. As I follow Him, I am happy. He is my rock and He is my friend, my dearest friend. I never feel alone when I feel his spirit near. When you feel alone, so your best to feel the Spirit and remember sometimes Heavenly Father lets us feel those things so we can have compassion and empathy for others, like Christ, when He finally had to feel all the pain and sorrows alone, so He could know how we felt. How unfair that was, and yet He did it for us. I love my Savior. I know I want to follow Him all my life. and serve Him.
Guys, this gospel is incredible! I always knew it, but I have never seen it so clearly in others lives. Transformation people make is real. Miracles happen every day when a persons faith grows, or a persons life and heart is changed because of the atonement of Christ. I truly hope you all get to serve missions one day, or get to see this in your own lives, or the lives of your children and family and friends. It's remarkable! Life is wonderful! Men (and women) are made so they can have joy.
Well, I was going to tell you some stories but that letter took a serious note. :) The spiritual part of the mission is the best part. <3 It's what keeps you going, and it's where you learn and change the most. I hope I'm a much better person when I get home. I wonder what changes you'll see? And what changes I'll see in you? I hope and I know that they will be good ones!
It is getting so hot here. The Elders here in our ward - one of them is Elder A, he's so funny! Booming voice, he reminds me of Adam. :D Anyhow, we share the ward with them & 1 other set of elders. Well, this past week, elder A. was biking and his front wheel came off! He hurt his wrist and has a gnarly cut on his face and had to get stitches- it was so sad. Anyhow that happened and so Sis D. & I had to give them our car so we're almost 100% on bikes now. Crazy huh?? It's over 100 every day. It hasn't really bothered me though, being a wimp in the cold has finally paid off. :) Although your body gets so hot that when we put on a cardigan for church (we have to wear them for meetings) the cardigan felt wet because it was so much cooler than our bodies! haha.
Luckily we have awesome ward members who come with us, so they drive us around. Our ward mission leader is so awesome! he's in his 60's and his wife was baptized a few months ago. He was in the Special Forces in the marines and served in the Korean War, and used to be a boxer. He's so awesome!!! Every time he hears good news he always yells "outta sight!" haha. He makes us laugh. I love the people here. We also started teaching a lady who is the mother of a navy seal. She used to be homeless and now lives in a house with another family with almost nothing. It's so crazy here. There is drugs, alcohol, poverty, petty & violent crime everywhere. You wouldn't believe the stories and experiences people share with us. it's heartbreaking. But it's amazing to see how there are people like K & J who grow in this environment but still live clean lives even without the gospel. We taught J. the law of chastity last week and she told us how her friends at school listen to yucky rap music that is so degrading to women, and she always feels so uncomfortable around it. It was amazing to see how much light she already had. :) She was so prepared.
Which reminds me, there is this Awesome lady in our ward named Sis. T. She's from Samoa and has the most AMAZING family. And is so strong. She came out with us one day and we were talking about women and the priesthood. She said one day a woman came up to her, wanting her to support some program or whatever that would empower women. Sis. T. said "Oh no, you've got the wrong woman." The lady asked "Why?" Sis T. said "Because I am NOT weak!"
I LOVED that! It's so true! Women and men are amazing and complement each other.
Well, this is a super long letter, haha. I just love being a missionary. :) And I love and miss you guys a ton. Your support for me being a missionary helps me not miss home. Thank you for that! :)
I love you guys. You're the best!
#Bestfamilyever #familyswag #family4lyfeandbeyond
#likemygangstalingo? #dontloseyacool. :) Hahaha.
Love ya! Love, Sister Whitney Morris.
#gosomewhere #ghettobirds (helicopters, usually police looking for people.) Did I tell you at stake conference the police came after looking for someone? Apparently they heard a wanted man was going to be there -also a few days ago we came home and there was a "ghettobird" circling our apt. like 5 cop cars, then 4 or 5 normal cars drove up and undercover cops jumped out of them and ran to the scene. We don't know what happened, but it's crazy here, haha.
It is getting so hot here. The Elders here in our ward - one of them is Elder A, he's so funny! Booming voice, he reminds me of Adam. :D Anyhow, we share the ward with them & 1 other set of elders. Well, this past week, elder A. was biking and his front wheel came off! He hurt his wrist and has a gnarly cut on his face and had to get stitches- it was so sad. Anyhow that happened and so Sis D. & I had to give them our car so we're almost 100% on bikes now. Crazy huh?? It's over 100 every day. It hasn't really bothered me though, being a wimp in the cold has finally paid off. :) Although your body gets so hot that when we put on a cardigan for church (we have to wear them for meetings) the cardigan felt wet because it was so much cooler than our bodies! haha.
Luckily we have awesome ward members who come with us, so they drive us around. Our ward mission leader is so awesome! he's in his 60's and his wife was baptized a few months ago. He was in the Special Forces in the marines and served in the Korean War, and used to be a boxer. He's so awesome!!! Every time he hears good news he always yells "outta sight!" haha. He makes us laugh. I love the people here. We also started teaching a lady who is the mother of a navy seal. She used to be homeless and now lives in a house with another family with almost nothing. It's so crazy here. There is drugs, alcohol, poverty, petty & violent crime everywhere. You wouldn't believe the stories and experiences people share with us. it's heartbreaking. But it's amazing to see how there are people like K & J who grow in this environment but still live clean lives even without the gospel. We taught J. the law of chastity last week and she told us how her friends at school listen to yucky rap music that is so degrading to women, and she always feels so uncomfortable around it. It was amazing to see how much light she already had. :) She was so prepared.
Which reminds me, there is this Awesome lady in our ward named Sis. T. She's from Samoa and has the most AMAZING family. And is so strong. She came out with us one day and we were talking about women and the priesthood. She said one day a woman came up to her, wanting her to support some program or whatever that would empower women. Sis. T. said "Oh no, you've got the wrong woman." The lady asked "Why?" Sis T. said "Because I am NOT weak!"
I LOVED that! It's so true! Women and men are amazing and complement each other.
Well, this is a super long letter, haha. I just love being a missionary. :) And I love and miss you guys a ton. Your support for me being a missionary helps me not miss home. Thank you for that! :)
I love you guys. You're the best!
#Bestfamilyever #familyswag #family4lyfeandbeyond
#likemygangstalingo? #dontloseyacool. :) Hahaha.
Love ya! Love, Sister Whitney Morris.
#gosomewhere #ghettobirds (helicopters, usually police looking for people.) Did I tell you at stake conference the police came after looking for someone? Apparently they heard a wanted man was going to be there -also a few days ago we came home and there was a "ghettobird" circling our apt. like 5 cop cars, then 4 or 5 normal cars drove up and undercover cops jumped out of them and ran to the scene. We don't know what happened, but it's crazy here, haha.
#youladieslooksexyonyourbikes #merrychristmas (these hashtags are things people have said to us)
*Also, I may or may not have a blossoming love for Chihuahuas -the mean ones are awful but the nice ones are sooo cute. I guess Maryvale is famous for having hordes of them, haha.
Our ward is so funny! All different cultures and old people who are sometimes racist and tease each other all the time. Also quite often you'll see groups of teenage couples dancing in their front yard, practicing for quincaneras. It's so fun!
Our ward is so funny! All different cultures and old people who are sometimes racist and tease each other all the time. Also quite often you'll see groups of teenage couples dancing in their front yard, practicing for quincaneras. It's so fun!
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