Staying in Ocotal

Hey Everyone!!

So after interviews with Presidente Poncio I felt much better and quite amused. His advice to me was very interesting because it was literally the same thing my parents have told me over and over: relax, enjoy it, don't kill yourself, I know you are giving your all and I trust you, just chill out. Oh how I love revelation.

As for work and numbers and all the fun things about missionary work that many don't realize goes on until midnight between the APs, DLs and ZLs, and talking about plans and people and ways to improve, I quite enjoy that part.

I repent for I forgot to mention my family up in Jalapa finally got the green light to get married and baptized! Luckily the missionaries are good ones, (one happens to be one I trained, so of course, right???) but anyway, they done got tized, and I was so happy when I got the call I cried. They told me they want to go to the temple with me, and in March they invited me to their daughters sixth birthday so I can eat their turkey they have been raising, Chumpe.

Jalapa when I first went was about to be closed, then my second change because we were successful I got to open Jalapa 2, now the little nucleo is  one step a way from being a branch!!! Super super exciting, they want to make Ocotal a District so that someday it can be a stake.

As for Ocotal, still hunting for someone. We are teaching an 8 year old kid who will be baptized soon, he is part of a less active family. Remember when I mentioned hopefully in the future about a stake here? This kid will be its president, he is so smart, and super faithful! One other kid that touched my heart was another grandson of a less active that we found by miracle because Aybar and I ran up the hill and I almost passed out because I am fat, so I decided to contact a house and the lady said she was a member. Anyway her grandson had a bowel defect and had to go in for surgery. I have never seen such courage in a young kid. We gave him a blessing and I am glad to say all is well he is home and fine!!

Trust me I am working hard and because I felt we weren't doing enough we now wake up an extra hour early for extra study time and proselyting time.

Oh also changes came, I am staying with Aybar here in Ocotal!!

Love you all Love Elder Morrison

Meeting Apostles

Hey y'all,

This week is gonna be short.

Yeah it was awesome when Elder Rasband came, and I shook his hand and looked into his eyes, along with 3 other members of the 70. Wow I felt dwarfed by the spiritual giants in there!!

The coolest thing I saw and heard all week is what Elder Rasband said. He told us that he was there to meet with the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, then with a twinkle in his eye he said "And we are going to preach to him Jesus Christ" if you want to appreciate that, study about the history of Nicaragua Government for about 30 seconds...

Other than that kind of a rough week, we improved and progressed some and found new people, unfortunately none of them want to go to church, members included... sad day on Sunday but onward ever onward!

I truly do love this gospel the opportunity that we have to listen to Apostles and Prophets here on the earth. You don't have to meet one to know they are men of God, likewise you don't have to go to Hill Cumorah or Nauvoo or Palmyra to know Joseph Smith is a prophet. You just got to read the Book of Mormon and pray with faith. That is all, the gospel is perfect and simple and I love it!

Love you all Love Elder Morrison

Here is a note Logan wrote about honesty I thought I would share:

Often times life is hard and we have trials, but I have been learning about the life of Gordon B Hinkley and he was know for his optimism and cheer.

One key to honesty is humility, and humility is not what I thought, being weak. It is in fact a submission to a greater power God, it is the humble that the Lord can make powerful. Read Ether 12:27, humility lets us use Gods grace and confront and overcome problems. We don't have to deceive others or ourselves, the opposite with cheer and optimism we can accept and admit the truth and let the Lord help us in marvelous and miraculous ways. He WANTS to help you, he WANTS you to be strong, and he WILL help you and make you strong if we are honest with him and others, that is when the Atonement of Christ can take away all pain and sorrow.

Love you all so much. I heard something else about President Hinckley, he said to a group of youth, "You can forget everything I tell you today, but do not forget this: That I Love You" God loves you and wants to help you, he sent his son to save you John 3:16

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hello Everyone!!

I believe my ZL Elder Carter put it best after church as we were looking over the numbers and work in the zone, district and branch here in Ocotal. "Elder Morrison I feel like I just got castrated" sorry if that is weird or graphic for some people. 

haha, yeah this week blew, EVERY SINGLE INVESTIGATOR OF MINE WHO HAD A BAPTISMAL DATE FELL.

Last night after losing every single investigator and several frustrating attempts to get people to church and after fasting and praying, waking up early and doing everything I possibly could, we had no success. It sucked. I was upset, sad, mad, heartbroken, confused, hurt and everything in between.

I said one of the most tearful prayers I have ever felt, but what I prayed for was not what I thought I would. I prayed not for people to teach, but that I could be filled with love for the people more, and serve them more like Christ would have. I gave the most sincere prayer I have given. I prayed for forgiveness and guidance but mainly I prayed for love for the NICA's. I still am lost and struggling but now less of a struggle for life and death and more for growth and progress.

The ray of hope, In Jalapa they are baptizing almost 12 of my old investigators in these next two weeks, including the family I have been working with since day one. It makes me so happy to know they are progressing toward the real goal, a temple marriage. It was super neat because I had the opportunity to do all of the baptismal interviews for them, and had very joyful reunions with them. It kept me going on.

That and tomorrow we have a meeting with the South mission, I will be able to see an Elder LaRochelle!! And listen to Elder Rasband of the Twelve and Elder Ochoa and Elder Christensen of the Seventy. So, I mean that is pretty neat, my Valentine's will be an Apostle, haha. It also means I literally will not sleep tomorrow because I normally go to bed around 11.00 and to go to the meeting we will wake up at two in the morning.

As always I will continue working hard being obedient and see where the current takes me. I heard a quote or phrase that success is measured by obedience. So I will be the most successful missionary!!

Anyway, catch ya next week, Love ya ALL Elder Morrison out

February begins already

Hey Everyone,

Haha, I am laughing these emails are like roller coasters, one week I am super pumped because we had success and it was awesome and spiritual and amazing and I never want to leave here and I love everyone, even the dictator here, and I could die here.

Then, the next week I want to turn home, give up, because after giving my all, pouring out my heart in prayer, testifying with all my soul, and focusing my mind on people and the gospel, and nothing. But I have learned many precious, plain and wonderful truths from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

While that is an exaggeration and I no longer I want to come home, even on bad weeks I still want to stay. And this week was such a week.

Ignorance is bliss. I saw this this week. One day I was hot, tired, sweating, fatigued, etc, etc, and all of our investigators were falling and the adversary was actively throwing many obstacles at us. I was pissed. So mad, I was frustrated. I mean I was supposed to have success right? And I was not happy. Then I saw my comp, so young and innocent, just looking up at the mountains that surrounded us, literally and figuratively, and just smiling. He was happy because he was simply just serving the Lord.

And yes, I will have to adapt and make some changes and try to find new people, but never should I forget just what work I am in and whose work I am in.

Sunday I stood up in front of our humble branch of 50 people, and bore with all the humility and sincerity born of my afflictions, and I remembered and rediscovered why I am here. I am grateful for this church, for the opportunities and ordinances it offers us. For the  divinity I am blessed to be a witness of, and for the great and eternal atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Through Christ we find something more profound than bliss or momentary happiness or pleasure, but eternal everlasting joy. That is why I am here, to help the children of God find joy in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love You All, 

Elder Logan Neil Morrison