Dear Family,
Jacob's birthday looked so cozy! By the way, Jacob - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! You have a letter coming.... soon... haha just a heads up :) The party looked so fun! I loved the minecraft quilt, and Isaac's sock monkey hat! Adam and Peter look so cute and so happy. I'm glad you guys all had fun :) That was such a bummer to hear about Dexter's car accident, and the hard time he's having! I totally know that feeling, when everything seems to be going wrong.... It's always so hard, but it sounds like he has a good attitude. Life really is like a wheel, sometimes everything goes wrong, but you can know that things will always come around and become good again. Trade my tiburon for the mustang... your kidding, right?! Haha that is an awesome trade!! Holy cow, I can't believe Dad is considering that!!! Hahaha it will probably take me a few days to get used to driving that car, I'll be too scared ;) But I'm super excited too! Thanks so much!! You guys are seriously the best parents ever. I am just grateful to know I'll have a working set of wheels when I get home, let alone a shiny cherry red mustang. That is just super cool. Thanks! :) I hope the hearing goes well. I'll keep you guys in my prayers. <3 I'm glad Dexter is moving in with Sister T! She is awesome! I bet they'll actually have a lot of fun. And I'm so glad he gets to keep his cute puppy! And that's really awesome he'll be back in the kg branch! It sounds like those rough times are maybe a blessing in disguise :)
I'm so happy for our family :) I loved your insights about how the merciful will obtain mercy, and how love has the power to overcome. I definitely know that's true. It's incredible to see that happen to heal our family, little bit at a time. :)
That's so awesome Hannah is trying out for the theatre!! That will be so fun! I'll pray that she finds a friend too. The greatest and truest friends really are in our family! And when we find outside friends that feel like family... that's an incredible feeling too, that feels like a rare treasure. Some people seem to have a natural knack to find friends like that. For others, it seems a little harder. And it's okay. It just makes those friends all the more valuable when you do find them, eventually. Something that has always helped me when I feel lonely is reaching out to people who are lonely too, or who may be on the outskirts. I remember in college, I used to talk with this almost homeless man in downtown Fredericksburg, who was so sweet. He told me about how he used to paint houses, and plays the guitar every day. There's no better way to not feel lonely anymore then to go out and serve someone! I'm excited to see how she gets to be involved!
I loved your experience with the priesthood blessing too. We definitely are so hard on ourselves. You are being too hard on yourself ;) You're the most incredible Mom! Years and years of making sure we had family scripture study, family home evenings, active church attendance, even with sometimes irritable teenagers and probably having to initiate it by yourself in the beginning. I'm guessing? :) I know Dad definitely helps initiate it now! But still, you are incredible, Mommy! Don't even worry about being the super missionary, super spiritual, super mom, because believe me you, you already are. :) I know so, and my companions and Elder W. all agree too, that you guys are ALL a super missionary family too. Which is amazing! I'm so happy that that priesthood blessing answered your prayers and helped you remember that. :)
That's so funny you guys watched Jericho!! And that Dad got emotional!! Hahaha, that just makes me laugh! Good memories... :)
Well, as for me, this week has been awesome! Happy official 1 year mark!! Isn't that wild? :) Time goes so quickly! It's been a fantastic week. We have seen so many miracles! On Monday - last P day - one of our favorite members, Sister S, drove us and the elders to a store called mercado Mexicana (pronounced mercado mehicana) on a Native American reservation named Guadalupe near Tempe. It was so fun!! We also stopped at a cool looking Catholic Church. I bought these really beautiful blankets and some cool presents to send home to ya'll for Christmas. I hope you like them, and that they don't break in the mail :)
We had a super amazing zone conference this week. The APs and President trained more on the "man down" theme we've been talking about all transfer. It was so powerful. I can't remember if I wrote home about this, but there is an elder in our mission (actually, who I was in the MTC with) who was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has the most incredible story. Growing up he had a rough young adulthood, he said he was good at burning bridges. So he left home at 15, enlisted in the army at 17. He ended up in Iraq, needing guidance in his life. Well, it turned out that his commander (? I think that's the correct leadership term?) was LDS. He ended up teaching him about the gospel, and Elder H got baptized! What's SUPER cool is that because they were in Iraq, Elder M. Russell Ballard gave him his baptismal interview! There are no churches or missions there, so the apostles are the presiding priesthood authority. So an apostle gave him his baptismal interview, and he didn't even know it at the time haha. That was really amazing... Especially that Elder Ballard came into a war zone, just for the one young soldier who wanted to be baptized. He came to help save the one. That was really cool :) The saddest part of the story is that the last thing his commander told him was he made him promise that he would seriously consider serving a mission. A short while later his commander, who baptized him, was killed in a helicopter crash. Elder H ended up being severely wounded by roadside bombs, and a building falling on him after it exploded. His fellow soldiers got him to safety. But he returned to the states to be in a hospital for 9 months. He broke literally every bone in his body, including all of his ribs - ouch! And now he is serving his mission, here! He sometimes uses a cane because of his injuries, but he works so hard and is an awesome, awesome elder. One of the most powerful things he shared was his testimony of the Holy Ghost. He said he remembered, like the other converts in the room, what life was like without the gift of the Holy Ghost, and he said living without it is hell. It was really powerful the way he said it, because he wasn't saying it in a bad way, he was completely sincere and so grateful to have it in his life. It was so powerful. So that was an incredible meeting. President T later shared more of his testimony about that, and he said we each have the gift of the Holy Ghost, even if we think we don't feel it. But he said if that gift were ever withdrawn, we would feel and know it clearly and immediately. It was a really powerful testimony. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost. I truly can feel it with me all the time, just that simple light and peace. I love it. I love this gospel :)
We had the most amazing new investigator this week!! So there is the cutest old man in our Ward who LOVES missionary work. When the phoenix temple open house was happening, he literally tracted his entire street to hand out invites to all his neighbors. So he had one neighbor whose grandpa just died, and he invited her to meet with us and they set up an apt! So we went by Friday night with the member, and had the most amazing lesson!! We taught her the Restoration, and it was literally such an amazing lesson. It was really cozy with her Christmas lights, few distractions, and her heart was so open. She got so emotional when she talked about how God has answered her prayers. We taught her about prophets and joseph smith, and she just kept saying "it's true". The Spirit was so strong! It was amazing, and such a miracle. We are going to teach her again next Friday!
We had a fun Ward Christmas party. S and R are doing great, and are getting baptized December 20th. They are so happy and excited. :) We also had a great lesson with M and D, from Chicago. M loves meeting with us but says she's happy with her church, but her heart is softening a lot I think! She's reading the Book of Mormon, and as long as she keeps doing that, she'll feel it. D, however, is doing amazing. He kind of stays away during lessons, I think because we're sister missionaries, not elders. But he walked in and told us that he had to tell us something. Apparently a lot of things have been going wrong lately - they got a flat tire, they've fallen behind on rent because of M's surgery, and his work randomly charged him with a $1000 ticket. He said normally he would feel so stressed out about it, but instead he just felt this peace. And then he said miracles have literally happened, where last minute things have worked out. He said he thinks it's because God is blessing them because we've been coming to visit, representing the church and Jesus Christ. It has softened his heart a TON and he's taken greater interest in the gospel. It has been amazing to see! So that has been a huge miracle this week!
Overall it's been an awesome week. We are so busy, with tons and tons of work to do. There have been some pretty crazy moments too. So we tried L, the kid from Mexico, the other day and he wasn't home. But I was standing next to their fence, and a monstrous German shepherd ran straight towards me and snapped and literally almost bit my face off. It. Was. So. Terrifying. All I saw was a bunch of teeth right by my face. He was like 5 feet tall on his back legs! If I had been one inch closer, I would probably have scarred my face forever. It was so scary!! Heavenly Father was definitely watching out for me there. We've also had so many cool experiences just talking with people on the street. I love street contacting around Christmas time, because the conversations seem to come more easily. It is so fun, and we've met a lot of really amazing people :) What is surprising and frustrating though, is how stubborn some people are. We met a man this week who said he doesn't go to church because he believes things were lost and changed in the Bible. We asked him more questions, and then started teaching and testifying of the Book of Mormon... And he wouldn't even read it! Because he asked how it was translated. We told him by the power of God. He said good answer, and seemed to like it, but he wouldn't accept our invitation and challenge to read it :( It's so sad when people hang themselves up on the strangest things, and won't even try it out. That happens so often! It's always sad, but we always just trust that we planted a seed, and someday they will be more open.
We had a super amazing zone conference this week. The APs and President trained more on the "man down" theme we've been talking about all transfer. It was so powerful. I can't remember if I wrote home about this, but there is an elder in our mission (actually, who I was in the MTC with) who was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has the most incredible story. Growing up he had a rough young adulthood, he said he was good at burning bridges. So he left home at 15, enlisted in the army at 17. He ended up in Iraq, needing guidance in his life. Well, it turned out that his commander (? I think that's the correct leadership term?) was LDS. He ended up teaching him about the gospel, and Elder H got baptized! What's SUPER cool is that because they were in Iraq, Elder M. Russell Ballard gave him his baptismal interview! There are no churches or missions there, so the apostles are the presiding priesthood authority. So an apostle gave him his baptismal interview, and he didn't even know it at the time haha. That was really amazing... Especially that Elder Ballard came into a war zone, just for the one young soldier who wanted to be baptized. He came to help save the one. That was really cool :) The saddest part of the story is that the last thing his commander told him was he made him promise that he would seriously consider serving a mission. A short while later his commander, who baptized him, was killed in a helicopter crash. Elder H ended up being severely wounded by roadside bombs, and a building falling on him after it exploded. His fellow soldiers got him to safety. But he returned to the states to be in a hospital for 9 months. He broke literally every bone in his body, including all of his ribs - ouch! And now he is serving his mission, here! He sometimes uses a cane because of his injuries, but he works so hard and is an awesome, awesome elder. One of the most powerful things he shared was his testimony of the Holy Ghost. He said he remembered, like the other converts in the room, what life was like without the gift of the Holy Ghost, and he said living without it is hell. It was really powerful the way he said it, because he wasn't saying it in a bad way, he was completely sincere and so grateful to have it in his life. It was so powerful. So that was an incredible meeting. President T later shared more of his testimony about that, and he said we each have the gift of the Holy Ghost, even if we think we don't feel it. But he said if that gift were ever withdrawn, we would feel and know it clearly and immediately. It was a really powerful testimony. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost. I truly can feel it with me all the time, just that simple light and peace. I love it. I love this gospel :)
We had the most amazing new investigator this week!! So there is the cutest old man in our Ward who LOVES missionary work. When the phoenix temple open house was happening, he literally tracted his entire street to hand out invites to all his neighbors. So he had one neighbor whose grandpa just died, and he invited her to meet with us and they set up an apt! So we went by Friday night with the member, and had the most amazing lesson!! We taught her the Restoration, and it was literally such an amazing lesson. It was really cozy with her Christmas lights, few distractions, and her heart was so open. She got so emotional when she talked about how God has answered her prayers. We taught her about prophets and joseph smith, and she just kept saying "it's true". The Spirit was so strong! It was amazing, and such a miracle. We are going to teach her again next Friday!
We had a fun Ward Christmas party. S and R are doing great, and are getting baptized December 20th. They are so happy and excited. :) We also had a great lesson with M and D, from Chicago. M loves meeting with us but says she's happy with her church, but her heart is softening a lot I think! She's reading the Book of Mormon, and as long as she keeps doing that, she'll feel it. D, however, is doing amazing. He kind of stays away during lessons, I think because we're sister missionaries, not elders. But he walked in and told us that he had to tell us something. Apparently a lot of things have been going wrong lately - they got a flat tire, they've fallen behind on rent because of M's surgery, and his work randomly charged him with a $1000 ticket. He said normally he would feel so stressed out about it, but instead he just felt this peace. And then he said miracles have literally happened, where last minute things have worked out. He said he thinks it's because God is blessing them because we've been coming to visit, representing the church and Jesus Christ. It has softened his heart a TON and he's taken greater interest in the gospel. It has been amazing to see! So that has been a huge miracle this week!
Overall it's been an awesome week. We are so busy, with tons and tons of work to do. There have been some pretty crazy moments too. So we tried L, the kid from Mexico, the other day and he wasn't home. But I was standing next to their fence, and a monstrous German shepherd ran straight towards me and snapped and literally almost bit my face off. It. Was. So. Terrifying. All I saw was a bunch of teeth right by my face. He was like 5 feet tall on his back legs! If I had been one inch closer, I would probably have scarred my face forever. It was so scary!! Heavenly Father was definitely watching out for me there. We've also had so many cool experiences just talking with people on the street. I love street contacting around Christmas time, because the conversations seem to come more easily. It is so fun, and we've met a lot of really amazing people :) What is surprising and frustrating though, is how stubborn some people are. We met a man this week who said he doesn't go to church because he believes things were lost and changed in the Bible. We asked him more questions, and then started teaching and testifying of the Book of Mormon... And he wouldn't even read it! Because he asked how it was translated. We told him by the power of God. He said good answer, and seemed to like it, but he wouldn't accept our invitation and challenge to read it :( It's so sad when people hang themselves up on the strangest things, and won't even try it out. That happens so often! It's always sad, but we always just trust that we planted a seed, and someday they will be more open.
I don't know too much else to say, except that it's been a great week! I love my mission. Tonight we're going to go see the Christmas lights at the Mesa temple with S and R. I'm so excited! You guys should go see the ones in Washington DC :) The Christmas devotional was so beautiful yesterday! We watched it with Lori and her neighbor R, and it was just so cozy. At the end L wanted to sing Silent Night with them, so we sang all three verses together - us, her and R, the elders, and the O's. It was so sweet :) I just love Christmas, and I love the people here.
Well, there's a cool Christmas package coming your way! Which reminds me, we are allowed to Skype for Christmas calls again!!! Wooohoo!! Can we set a day and time that would work for you guys? Also, transfers are next Thursday, so when you send the Christmas package... maybe could you wait to send it until you get my email next Monday? That way I can let you know if I'm getting transferred or not. Actually, either way, maybe go ahead and send it to the mission home... unless you send it like today haha. Or unless I email next Monday that I'm staying in the same area. Which I really hope I am! I love it here. I love South Phoenix, and I love Sister S. I really hope we both stay!
Well, I love you guys! And could you say a little prayer for me this week, that I'll be able to develop greater patience? It's something I'm really trying to work on. Any advice or things that have helped you?
Love you all!!! :) Have a wonderful, wonderful week!
con mucho amor, (with much love),
Sister Whitney Morris
PS . If I've learned anything on my mission, I have learned to be bold, and kind and loving, but just saying the truth plainly and simply. And also kindly, with charity. So, it'll be okay.
Love you guys!
yes... that is a Christmas tree, stuck in the top of a stop sign.... #onlyinphoenix
Christmas pictures I love!
PS loved your #weareneverbroken. :) I love that song. <3
a cute little nativity scene I bought at the store, and one of the skulls :) I couldn't resist myself haha. This culture is such a huge part of Arizona, of my mission, and I absolutely love it.
And cool blankets from Mexico :) and a little bag :) haha. I literally have saved all my souvenier money and cash for this store. It's a legend in our mission. It was so fun. I didn't take pics of your presents, so you'll see those when they come. :)
Sorry to spend so much time writing about material things... It really isn't that big of a deal. It was just fun, because they're such a huge part of the culture. I love it!
And a view of a phoenix neighborhood!
Christmas pictures I love!
Christmas pics, and the Mesa temple lights we get to see tonight :)
PS loved your #weareneverbroken. :) I love that song. <3
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