Coming to the end of 2016

December 27, 2016

Hey everyone, not much time today to write so this will be quick.

Sorry I didn't write yesterday, in the time I normally would be writing I was super super sick. 

It hit me one hour in on our three hour weekly bus ride. I had to throw up so I tried to go out the window, but the wind caught it and it got all over me, my face, my shirt, and possibly the poor people behind me. That was not a fun bus ride. I spent the rest of the day with the ZL's in their house sleeping. 

After a priesthood blessing, and faith, I miraculously woke up with no symptoms of being sick and I feel like a new man today. So I press on with a borrowed shirt, because mine is covered in the remains of strawberry milk and chips ahoy. Gross.

As for the work this has been an uphill battle and it has been 1 step forward 2 steps back.

Christmas was great. 7 people in church. 4 missionaries, two investigators and 1 random crazy lady from the street who left half through screaming. 

After church I went out to talk to people as to why they weren't there in church. They all answered with the usual Nica responses. I dropped by the house of one of the recent converts to find two guys in there. One was dragging the other out in a choke hold, as one of the daughters punched the other in the face. I was shocked so I helped calm her down. Turns out some drunk dude came in and tried to make trouble. I swear I will never touch alcohol in my life. I have seen too many lives destroyed by it on my mission. And that was Christmas in Jalapa!!

I hope everyone is doing well! I am doing well, I have found my peace in the Savior and preaching with all my effort and obedience, the results are out of my hands. I focus on my five things: Obedience, Diligence, Love, Testimony and Attitude.

Stay Sweet, love you all! 

Love,

Elder Morrison

Feliz Navidad

December 19, 2016

FELIZ NAVIDAD TODOS,

estamos animados en Jalapa vamos a echar fuego y establecer la Iglesia de Jesuscristo de Los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias aqui

But for reals, so pumped for this upcoming week, I am pretty optimistic. Which is lot considering how rough this week was. We worked our tails off but didn't find a ton of success, which was a first for my mission. But I made the decision that I will remain obedient and diligent, with or without success. But I know we will find it because I know the Lord sent Elder Carlisle up here with me for a reason. He is a really sweet dude. It is a nice change to be with a white dude. Don't get me wrong I LOVED being with Latinos and I hope I can be with more, they are amazing people, but I can be more of myself with him which is nice to keep me relaxed.

Yeah, this week... because the area is new we had to work the hard and inefficient way, but the only way possible for now, and that is door to door. We are implementing some programs and things to help the members here develop in their testimony and knowledge of the church, for not by their own fault they were lacking greatly in. And already we are seeing the fruits of our labors, they are starting to get excited about helping us, and that is HUGE! It is crucial to success in Missionary work that we get references through members.

So for this Christmas I want to invite all to earnestly seek and pray and find a friend, family, or neighbor to share the gospel with and present to the missionaries. To those who may not be members, if missionaries knock on your door just be polite let them in, and listen sincerely to what they have to say. I, by personal experience, know that they do it out of love and though some may be awkward we are trying our hardest to bring others joy. The Joy of Christ that is open and free to all in the world through His gospel. I testify that the only church to have a fullness of the Gospel in the World is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That is my Christmas wish, help the missionaries out, because from personal experience it is frustrating to work hard and have nothing to show.

I say these things because I love you all and this gospel is all I have to give, and it is all that we need to be happy, really, truly, happy. Happy in Christ. And there is no better time than Christmas to enjoy time together as a family and rejoice in Christ.

Love you All Stay Sweet, 

Elder Logan Morrison

December 12

December 12, 2016

Buenos dias todos, espero que esten felices y bendicidos!

Anyway this week was just weird. Kinda boring too. So Monday early I went to Ocotal to pick up my new Comp, then stayed with the ZL's and then woke up at 2 to go to Managua for a training for the trainers, rolled into to Ocotal for the night because Wednesday we had a multi zone meeting in Matagalpa (so nice to head back to my birthplace) where we got to hear and talk to Elder Ochoa of the Seventy, so sweet. He said some awesome things, talking about developing perfect faith. One thing he said that touched me was that Love casts out fear. So True!!

So yeah, this week I spent 24 hours on a bus, and in the space of 4 days I slept maybe 12 hours. Kinda brutal, but it was for a good reason. It was a real confidence boost to know that I am now capable of traveling across a foreign country with a companion that doesn't speak a ton of Spanish and turn out fine!!

So Thursday we finally rolled into Jalapa and poor Elder Carlisle. I went freak mode because we missed three whole days of work I decided that we would make up for it. And we did.

Also we baptized another person, a young girl named Francie. I let Elder Carlisle baptize her and it was super super sweet to watch. I believe that brings my baptism count almost to 15. And I honestly love every one just as much if not more than the last.

Our new house is bigger but our bathroom sucks. Last night I heard a scream to find Elder Carlisle nearly in the fetal position. There was the biggest frog I have seen in the shower. Kinda hilarious, poor Sinclair (Carlisle's nickname one of the Elders in our district kept calling him) he also has a mouse that has been pestering his bed and luggage. He is sweet though, we get along super well and I am hoping to show him a better example, his last comp was a bit lazy.

Love you all, enjoy the Christmas Season with family and serve others and you can't go wrong!!

Stay Sweet Elder Morrison

I emailed Logan asking him to send me a few things he has learned on his mission so I can share it in sacrament meeting this Sunday when I update the ward on how he is doing. This is what he sent me:

Mom I can and have written about 200 pages of journal already of just lessons I have learned, touching on any and all gospel topics. I have thought about what is most precious of those lessons a lot. And there are a couple that really stick out.

1. This is Christ's church. The doctrine, the organization, the power within it is not of man, and it is perfect.

2. I have learned that to be is more important than to do. We become when we are obedient and obey out of love and personal conviction

3. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite, perfect and amazing. There is no heart that can't be mended and no soul that can't be saved. It stretches into it all. Currently I have seen it in the converts I have been so blessed to be the median for them to receive the eternal gospel. Also in myself. I am changing, becoming more accepting and loving, trying to be more patient. Not gonna lie, this is tough being fresh out of training to be training a white dude that doesn't understand a thing and to be opening an area that is brand new where I only have two members which both just got baptized and a couple of investigators. But I am learning to trust more in the strength behind me than in the mountain in front of me.

December

December 5, 2016

Hey y'all,

Such a wild week!!

I have an announcement: I am opening a new area and they made me a trainer. Presidente was about to close the area here in Jalapa and I was the last chance. Now he is not only keeping it open but sent me and Torres a new set of Missionaries. Torres companion already has some time in the mission but mine is still in training. Torres gets the old area and I am opening the new area.

Tuesday and Wednesday we spent running around teaching like normal but also we had to look for a new house because that's when I got the call from the AP's that I will be opening the new area in Jalapa and training a new missionary, which is super exciting but also super stressful, but it will go good I have the faith and we will work like mules like normal to baptize.

Saturday I did splits with the ZL's and one of the companionship's had a baptism so we had to go to the river. Only problem is that the river was super low, so we dug down and built a dam to make a baptismal font Nica style. It was a lot of fun, but it wasted a lot of time.

Then Sunday I went back up to Jalapa to have our baptism, we baptized Ines, thus far the biggest change I have seen it a convert so amazing so many miracles. We had 21 in church which is good, but not enough, one of my motto's is "Happy always, Content Never!"

My new Comp is Elder Carlisle he seems super cool, only have known him for an hour. But we are gonna catch fire and baptize a ton of people. Its funny in this mission, if you are not baptizing it is a sin, and though November and December are historically slow because of an influx of money due to harvest season I know we can find the elect for the Lord.

Love you all, Stay Sweet, Elder Morrison

Miracles in Jalapa

November 28, 2016

Hey Everyone,

Not to worry because Jalapa is way up in the north tucked beautifully in the mountains we weren't touched by the hurricane. All is well. AND I AM SO HAPPY THE BEAVERS WON, I let out a shout and jumped and all the people here in the server looked at me weird.

We are super happy we have been working our tails off and the Lord has blessed us with more success. It is never easy but it is worth it. Our investigator that was super positive and ready to be baptized all he needed was to abandon coffee and he had already cut it down to only one cup a day fell through and fell through big time. But we have a mom and her daughter that we think are sure baptisms for this Sunday but we will see what goes down.

We found her a month ago and she was a wreck to say the least. She was cohabiting with an inactive member, and that relationship went south to alcohol, and she has changed a ton!! It is so amazing to see the Atonement work in someone like her. Anyway we were teaching her and there was a knock at the door, it was her former beau and member. He was slightly drunk, when he saw us he started crying, he said that he decided that night to quit drinking and now we are working with him and helping him and her repair their relationship, and what not.

We had 25 in sacrament meeting we almost need a new place to meet the old place is too small. Miracles!!

I am super pumped, like super pumped. I am super happy it was a crazy week with a lot of miracles and great stuff. I love this place, I don't want to leave. I mean I do but little by little I just fall in love with Nicaragua and the people, I know this is where I need to be. Yes it sucks sometimes but no change with no challenge. Coach Stanley always yelled if it does not challenge you it will not change you!!

SOOOO true. For this I try to meet every challenge with a force. So if the Lord thinks i am ready for something, so be it, I will do it with all my heart might mind and strength.

The members are changing, they are wanting to help us to go out on splits, give us references, two of them are asking that we get someone that can give them discipline so they can progress and repent. It is amazing this work and I am humbled to be apart of it

Love you all hope you are doing great. Sorry for the short letter this week, Elder Morrison

Thankful Thanksgiving

November 21, 2016

Buenos!

This week was a bear not gonna lie, it was a rough one, the adversary is going to great and subtle lengths to stop us in the work, but daggumit I wont let that stop me from overcoming!! We worked our tails off and a lot of things were tossed at us, and the investigators and members.

For example, we are teaching a family and they are soooo awesome. Like super awesome, but they have a weird situation that is going to take a while for us to fix in order for them to marry. Like this Sunday as they were getting ready for church their neighbor got mad and punched him in the face so they couldn't come to church because he got licked pretty good, it was sad to see, but so amazing to listen to him say that this is not going to keep him down!! I love him and his family so much they are all just super amazing humble wonderful people.

Like I said many situations and obstacles put in our path this week, some we hurdled and overcame, others there was nothing we could do but watch and pray. I personally am trying to focus on 5 things especially when stuff hits the fan and everything was sucking.

1. Obedience, our motto as a mission is Obedience Brings Blessings, but Exact Obedience brings miracles, to this I testify to be true

2. Diligence, or Work Ethic or Effort. It applies in school, sports and missionary work and all other aspects of life. Nothing worth doing is easy, but soooo worth it, to see someone change by the Atonement makes all the sweat and bug bites and blisters worth it, and then some!

3. Attitude, we can choose to be happy and positive or not, it is up to us

4. Love, service service service, love is an amazing thing that can touch hearts faster than any other thing

5. Testimony and Knowledge, learn by the spirit and by the scriptures and always have your lamps filled with oil (see Matthew 25). One of my favorite times of the day is personal scripture study. There is a power in the words of God, the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

Love you all hope you are all doing well.

Love,

Elder Logan Morrison

Here is some of the advice Logan gave his sisters this week:

Apply the Atonement and there is nothing you cant do in this world.

Remember the prettiest smiles are the pure and genuine ones. I have never seen prettier smiles than the ones here in Nicaragua, even from people that are missing more teeth than they have. You smile with the light in your eyes.

Read the Book of Mormon and pray daily, and learn to love people and work hard. Learn to repent and change, repentance is a gift and we must use it everyday!!

Baptisms and Rivers

November 15, 2016

This week I learned a lot. Ether 12:6 says, ";no witness til after the trial of your faith;" This week kind of sucked at the beginning because we had next to no time to work. Monday is Pday and we only had 3 hours to proselyte, same with Tuesday because of the district meeting and we have to take a 3 hour bus ride one way every Tuesday. Wednesday was a full day, then Thursday we woke up at two in the morning to go to Managua to go to a conference for all the trainers and trainees, luckily my last one as a trainee. We didn't get back til 10 that night. I stayed in a neighboring city to go on splits with the ZL. and Torres went up with the other ZL to check on the progress of the area.

I came into the area on Saturday and quite frankly all had gone to heck, one of our most positive family's of like 6 people with baptismal dates decided to poop out. Torres kinda was freaking out. I came in and I was mad, because the members also were saying they didn't want to go to church. I had to bring out my machete,  D&C 121 reproving betimes with sharpness.... then showing an increase of love. Torres, bless his heart, is super nice so he gets walked over sometimes.

So Saturday I flew around Jalapa like a mad man on a mission. Sunday morning I was feeling sick and tired because I was running on less than 10 hours of sleep on 3 days. I was beat.

Sitting in the room that we call the church 5 minutes before the meeting we had 5 people. The ZL was there because we were supposed to have a baptism and I was not well to say the least. 

Then the heavens opened. 22 other souls came pouring into church, all happy and ready and all participated and it was awesome!! Then after we had the baptism, which was another cluster. It is a single mom with her two sons. Someone left their baptismal clothes in the taxi and one of the kids ran away for his home before the baptism, but once again the Lord provided and we baptized the two!! Easily the best day on the mission thus far.

We are seeing miracles because of obedience and diligence. We hope to baptize two maybe three this week too!!

Stay Sweet Everyone, I love you all, Elder Morrison

November 7

November 7, 2016

This week we progressed a lot.

Again 17 to church but considering it was election day that was a huge success.

We have a baptism lined up for this weekend with a family of 6 but only 3 are old enough to baptize, the mother is single and super awesome, I am super happy we found them they have been soaking up our lessons and are repenting and it is awesome. I got to give her baby a name and a blessing this Sunday, it was a super cool experience.

We have been picking up a ton of investigators which is nice, Elder Torres doesn't like me when I get restless and bored because we have to contact, because knocking doors is very inefficient and not effective. Working with members is by far the most successful and funnest way to teach people, everyone involved, the investigator, the member and the missionaries are blessed and learn when we work with the members.

Elder Torres is a little weird, he talks to himself but not in any language, he weighs 93 pounds. But he is cool and he is adapting to me and I to him and though we are super different from each other we can teach super dynamic and awesome lessons together.

But it is so sweet here in Jalapa, the weather is heaven, a lot like Oregon in July. We have had so many cool experiences, we have ran into people who have been affiliated with or members of the church for years but when they moved to Jalapa they lost it, but randomly we have been finding them. Hard work and Obedience and the Lord takes care of the rest.

I am starting to love living in a third world country, everything is a challenge and an adventure, like walking to a mountain village and having to catch Elder Torrito (meaning small Torres) because he is afraid of the group of bulls in the path or the pack of stray dogs, he hates animals. Everything is harder but more enjoyable if you have the right mindset.

Love you all, hope everyone is doing well, sorry not much time this week to write.

Elder Morrison

Happy Halloween from Jalapa

October 31, 2016

Hey everyone! I hope everyone is doing great!!!

Yeah, so this week I learned a lot, because my companion is not Elder Diaz and this is not Matagalpa, where we have members in general. It was a tough week, but I kinda lit into Elder Torres after watching how he works, or lack thereof, and now we are working how I like to work:) And we are finding success after I took over the reins for this area. Now we are catching fire and I am learning and growing a ton. There are a ton of escogido, or chosen people, here that have been waiting for the gospel and have been prepared by the Lord. I was thinking about what Elder Christofferson taught us in the MTC, It is more important to be trusted than loved. Then in an interview with my mission president, he reminded me that if I want to earn trust I need to be exactly obedient and work hard, with Diaz we did so, but I relied on him a lot because he is an incredible missionary and Mata was catching fire.

So here that is my philosophy, work hard be obedient and the Lord will provide investigators and success, because He only lets missionaries He trusts to teach his elect. And it worked. We picked up 40 investigators almost all families, we placed 14 baptismal dates, and we grew the branch here. The week before I came the sacrament meeting attendance was 2, counting the missionaries. This week was 17 with 6 investigators the most ever here in Jalapa. I am learning a lot here everyday. We have a lot of awesome people here that are waiting to hear the gospel, and I am super happy but not content, I don't want to have to be in the branch presidency, I want a member to be. That is my mentality here control what you can, obedience and diligence, and the Lord will provide as He has so many times. 

Wednesday was rough because two of the four investigators they had before bailed, one because of family and the other because when we taught him about the gift of the holy ghost he told us the only person allowed to touch him is his old pastor in Managua... I was a bit annoyed and upset. Then that night I remembered Elder Christoffersons talk and the video about the currant bush. Truly we had been cut down, but I am here to testify here in the mission we are truly almost literally in the hands of the Gardner, the next day we found a ton of people and placed a lot of baptismal dates with some incredible people. It was so sweet and amazing to see.

I am super grateful for Elder Torres, he has changed and risen to my challenge and he is really progressing with me and this whole area. The Lord has been raining down miracle after miracle and blessing after blessing.

Jalapa is gorgeous and the weather is like heaven, the mountains and pine trees are a bit much because I catch myself missing home and daydreaming about elk hunting. Not a bad problem to have.

They don't celebrate Halloween here, although a couple of people were driving like mad men through the town at night with masks on motorcycles (everyone here has a motorcycle) screaming, but Nica culture here in Jalapa is in bed by seven at night. By 830 there is no one out, its weird. And no, we don't not dress up as anything other than missionaries on Halloween. And everyday I give out Books of Mormon. They don't allow us to eat at members houses because of diseases, these people mostly live on dirt floors and are super poor, but SUPER SUPER nice and kind, everyone here is friendly and says hello on the streets and what not. We have a laundry lady. Most missionaries have a lunch lady but not us, there aren't any members here to do it so I eat a ton of eggs, mac and cheese, milk bread, oatmeal and corn flakes with some of the amazing Nica fruit.

Love you all, Elder Morrison

Jalapa

October 25, 2016

Hey,

I hope everyone is good and doing well. I am.

So transfers came, a little bittersweet I had to say goodbye to Matagalpa, which is sad I was loving that place and Edler Diaz and I were catching fire.

They sent me to Jalapa, which is like 20 miles if that from Honduras, up in  the mountains, the area is struggling a bit. Church attendance averages about 4 counting the missionaries. There are only about 20 members here and almost all are inactive. And because it is so far away, disobedience has been a theme among the missionaries that serve here. But I am pumped because I have been given a gift from the Lord, a place where I can pour out my soul and work my butt off and make this place a branch, they need it here. We need it everywhere.  

When I met some missionaries at the bus station when I told them where I was going their response was like everyone else's, kind of a good luck sucker that place sucks. But I decided I don't give a care about what they think, I know with hard work and obedience the Lord can and will work miracles, I am ready and willing to light Jalapa on fire.

Here my comp and I preside over the nucleo which is smaller than a branch, I like it here but I have only been here for a few hours but oh man it is gorgeous, the mountains PINE TREES, it looks like the Ochocos here. My new comp is Elder Torres from the Dominican Republic, he is about 4 foot 10 and maybe a hundred pounds. But he is cool.

My last week in Matagalpa was amazing, we had a big baptism at the stake center and we baptized almost 20 as a zone, sadly two of our people flaked but that is normal here, we still baptized Rosibel she is super spunky and a kinda old but super cool. 

This week I found the theme and the two lessons I want to learn from the mission, "" It is more important to not shrink than to survive"" and how to truly repent everyday. I can remember the words of Elder Christofferson in the MTC ""The message of Repentance is that there is a Savior"" there is a lot to that.

So I must press forward these next couple of weeks might be rough but that is fine. There is always a trial of faith before the miracle, I kinda didn't appreciate fully what I had in Matagalpa, but I am pumped to be here in Jalapa.

Love you all Elder Morrison

For Repentance and Not Shrinking the Epistle of John and D and C 19 are super helpful to me.

Rain and Jungles

October 17, 2016

Hey every one, 

This week was awesome we baptized one of our investigators, we had one of them that was supposed to be baptized back out because she is afraid of her Grandma who is a devout Catholic, so we are going tonight to talk with her and the Grandma, hopefully it works out, she wants to be baptized she just fears her Grandma more than God, that's all.

So the people are super sweet and kind but really difficult because they do not stick to their word. And one day someone will accept a baptismal date the first visit but then the next day they remember they are Evangelical. And then they try to Bible bash and I have to walk out because you cant feel the Spirit bible bashing, so Diaz and I just don't do it. We say a prayer and then ask them if they want to hear the message and then when they throw a scripture at us, yes I can easily knock it down with another, but I am not here to convince people, we are here to help people learn by the Spirit. Diaz said he has never seen someone be convinced after bible bashing. So we give our testimony and a prayer and go on our way.

One night after doing splits with President Rizo (of a branch here, and seriously one of the coolest Latter Day Saints I have met) I met up with Elder Diaz and Elder Hobbs who are the ZLs and we had to go get Elder Hobbs comp, in another village, so Pres Rizo said he knew a short cut, next thing I know we are in the Jungle at 10:00 at night crossing a river hopping on rocks! But we made it back home, a little late but safe and sound. 

The rain and thunder and lightning storms here are intense. And the streets turn into to rivers of garbage because garbage cans are not a thing here... And because we have a lot to do that by the end of the day my feet and shoes are disgusting and sleep comes easy.

This week the language clicked and now I can understand about 90% of what I hear and speak proficiently, the gift of tongues is real!

I am getting really good at walking. The other day I was on splits with Elder De Leon, the DL here, and the next morning he was complaining on the phone saying that Elder Morrison is Loco because he accelerates up hills. I guess I am getting accustomed to the pace of Diaz!

I hope everyone is doing great! 

Love you all, Elder Morrison

October 10

October 10, 2016

Hey everyone, this week was amazing. I learned a lot, first was that my athletic ability ends at soccer. I am awful at it, but I bought a soccer jersey so I look good, so the play good law should kick in!  As a companionship we have baptized 6 we may have a few more this week!! Here there a a ton of crazy rainstorms with thunder and lightning several times a week. It rains so hard it makes rivers down the streets. I play catch real quick with kids on the street, one day a couple of kids were playing basketball, so I played with them and then taught there family a lesson, but then they remembered 15 minutes into the lesson that they were Evangelical so they shut us down, kind of a bummer but it happens frequently. No football here but a ton of soccer and I learned that I suck at soccer, I have only scored two goals, and one was in my own goal on accident.

We baptized Juan but it was a bit of a mess, literally and metaphorically. Saturday was supposed to be his baptism. He was so ready that he decided to surprise us and show up at the church at 10:00, because he thought we lived there, but we don't. He also went to the wrong church building, because the week before we watched conference at the chapel in Guanunca, the difference between Guanunca and Matagalpa is like West Salem and Keizer. And he doesn't have a phone and we travel by foot and bus here. Long story short we baptized him and confirmed him on Sunday after church he was so happy. In the water he dropped like a rock, Elder Diaz almost dropped him, but hey he was certainly completely submerged!!!

The transportation and communication here suck, drives me up a wall, because I need order, but I know I need to learn to relax and go with the flow. Elder Hobbs who leaves in two weeks and is the other ZL here, and he is a legend, he baptized 24 in one month here in Matagalpa, gave me the best advice, don't become a tourist, think like a Latino and become one. So I just decided to embrace the culture and tell my self that the states are weird for flushing down their toilet paper and not putting it in a basket next to the toilet for all the world to see and smell... We were in a rush Sunday to get one of our investigators to church and we had to take a bus. It was pretty much a dodge sprinter van with over 40 people stuffed in it, miserable ride for like 15 minutes one old lady next to me was giving the driver an earful, it was hilarious.

Matagalpas baseball team is one game away from heading to the championship, every time they win the whole town goes nuts, this Sunday they had a big game and so church attendance was way low!!

I went on splits all day with Elder Williams who was my comp in the MTC, that was fun, he is doing good, he knows a ton of words and his grammar is very good, but he talks like a computer, me not as much, my accent is pretty good, I found that the less you pronounce it the more they understand. We had an absolutely amazing thunder and lightning and rain storm, we have about two every week.

My body is adjusting to this place I sweat like a pig, because of how daggum hot it is. But I am loving it, days are flying by quickly and I am getting better and better everyday at being a missionary, I am actually starting to feel like a missionary now. I decided someday I want to be sent to Puerto Cabeza because Puerto is awesome. The place is dangerous, with witchcraft because the people are straight Lamanites, and you have to take a two hour flight in a four passenger plane to get there, and a ton of other weird things that are making me so desirous to be sent there, I have heard all the missionaries that go there love it, I pray that I will get sent there, but that probably means I wont get sent there... but hopefully I get to go, because the zone is like a family and when you go there it is for an extended period of time.

 I cant really joke around in Spanish yet, I haven't really laughed in awhile til the other day I was with Elder Perry on splits, he is super cool and he may be my companion next change because I think Elder Diaz will be AP, anyway he had a gordita (nice way of saying chubby lady) ask him to return after two years and marry her. After we walked away I starting crying I was laughing so hard. Then later a musa (hussy) asked him the same thing because he is white and just the natural way he talks is flirtatious, he gets so mad when girls flirt with him it is awesome.

Loving it here, more and more every day! Hope every one is doing great!! 

Love, Elder Morrison

2 MONTH MARK

October 3, 2016

 2 MONTH MARK,

Today is exactly my two month mark. Part of me feels like it has been the longest two months, but then at the same time it feels like yesterday I was walking into the MTC, and when asked my name I said Logan Morrison, and my teacher said ¨Logan doesn't exist anymore, you are Elder Morrison¨

The first week and a half here were a bear. but now I am loving almost every second, its still hard, but sooo good too. Sometimes its the small things that keeps me going happily, like hearing 80's music, which they love here, or teaching a fire lesson and the people are moved and touched by the spirit.

One of the best things this week was when we were on splits, I was up in one of our areas and all of the investigators were flaking out or not home. Coming down the mountain I was mad, Elder Rojas was with me and he is short so he was running to keep up with me. I was mad so I said a quick prayer in my heart, no sooner had I finished when I had the prompting to stop. I hit the brakes Elder Rojas almost hit me, I turned and saw a lady sitting in a house, I started talking to her, turns out her husband just lost his job and they were in a tough spot. I asked if we could come in and share a message of hope with the family, they have a two year old boy who is a pill. They said sure, like almost everyone we can get  into all the houses, I asked if we could say a prayer, so we did. 

Then we gave our quick pick me up message and set a baptismal date and gave them a Book of Mormon. At the conclusion with the whole family I asked if I could say the prayer. I really tried hard to pour out my heart and love them. I asked to bless them with a job.

We left feeling good. The next day we returned the wife lit up when she saw us and told us her husband got a job and she knows it was because of our prayer, they still aren't super sure about baptism but they are reading the Book of Mormon and praying so its only a matter of time, nobody can deny the power and truthfulness of that Book when they read it with a sincere heart.

General Conference was great, I have 20 pages of notes from it. But there are a couple of things I would like to share that I learned.

1. the fruit of the tree of life in Lehi's dream is forgiveness, through the atonement, for that is the grandest act of love ever.

2. When we keep an eternal perspective we find more purpose and joy in our lives

3. I love the fact that families are sealed in the temple for time and all eternity, I can't and can wait for that day when I can, in like 10 years, haha

Love you all, this week has been super awesome every day is way better, and I am enjoying it more and more.  

I miss the MTC a lot it was such a cool experience, with awesome guys, but I am starting to enjoy it here a ton too, for different reasons. This week flew by, but seemed long because I really have made a big change this week.

And seriously this week was soooo awesome! I am loving it, every day is a little bit better and I enjoy it more. This week has been a hundred times better.

The food here is great we are well fed, the produce is great the avocados and bananas are divine.

Every night I am out like a light before I hit the pillow but now I am to  the point I am excited for the next day and I wake up happy.

We baptized a young boy this week, and we have more set up for next weekend.

Love Elder Morrison

End of September

September 26, 2016

Week 2 Down!

Well this week was one of roller coasters. But it has ended on a super good note, Thursday and Friday sucked. I was frustrated, sad, disappointed, depressed, and every other bad thing. I wanted to go home and call it quits. I felt inadequate and useless. Then the Lord sent me two people, Jorge Diaz and Juan Munchez. Jorge we found late one night, Thursday night. Jorge can hear and understand, but he cant speak. I realized how selfish and weak I was being. This sweet man, who cant speak, lives in a shack with 12 people, his family, who are also super cool, and yet he was smiling and happy. How is it that I with all my blessings, from my family, to our house, to my involvement with God in the church, and still be so bitter? It hit me hard, I was being self centered self interested, like the natural man. Yes I don't understand the language but I can learn. 

Then next was Juan. We found him by the Spirit. He said that is wife just died. Later on I was teaching him on splits with a priest who said nothing, and Juan asked me if I could help him with his family. In the war in Nicaragua he was split from his mom and brother and he hasn't seen them in 40 years, and his wife of 27 years had just died. He was alone in the world except for his 3 children, one cute little girl of about 3, one teenage daughter and a 19 year old son, who has to work all the time. At the time we met him Friday, I was feeling homesick. I wanted to go home because I missed you all so much. But once again, I realized how blessed I had been. In 2 quick years I will see you all, and once a week I get to write you, and twice a year i get to talk to you. Juan has nothing. He is progressing as a investigator quickly, he loves the Book of Mormon, and loves the Plan of Salvation and the doctrine of eternal families and temple work. He went to church this Sunday and we set a baptismal date. I love Juan and Jorge with all my heart and I am grateful for them, and I am grateful to be in this work. Yes I miss you like crazy, sometimes it feels like my heart is breaking, but everyday is a little better, I lose myself a little more and I find more joy in serving the Lord. I miss you all but I know I am where I am suppose to be.

These people are amazing they are so sweet humble and kind. We had no baptisms this week, but as a zone October is shaping up to be lit. We are hoping to break the record of 40 baptisms in a month. With faith and prayer we can do so.

The food is great, parasites are not, waking up at four in the morning to go to the bathroom, and having sweats and a fever sucks. But I am feeling a ton better today, although I woke up and it looks like we have fleas, I got eaten alive. Which sucks and I am so itchy.

We have three main problems here. One nobody is legally married but they still live together. The other is that there is a ton of inactives. The members here are reluctant to receive new people. The other is there are a billion evangelical churches, that are so loud. Their services sound like concerts, and they don't like us. 

The language is coming along better, I can understand a little more everyday and say a little more everyday. My companion as I said doesn't speak any English which has overall been a blessing to me, a little rough at times but yeah good.

Also got my first door slammed on me!!

All is well here, Love you all miss you all, Love Elder Morrison