Tender Mercies!

Friends and Family!
First off... MY MOM IS AMAZING! Thankyou thankyou thankyou for the amazing package. We were so excited about the peanut butter beacuse our's ran out this week! WOOHOO! And the popcorn was delicous! You are the best! Congrats Missy on the baby and although I think he may have been written out of Uncle Tom's will, I will still love him and can't wait to meet him. Well it has been a great week! We have had a busy couple of days but everything is going well. It is COLD and it has been snowing for over 24 hours here (LOTS OF SNOW)! WE have had temperatures in the morning in the high 20's and the nights are about the same but we are dressing warm and having fun coming up with ways to keep warm!
This last week went REALLY FAST and seems like it was just last week we were writing emails but here we are again. WE had Zone Conference yesterday and so that is why the email is a day late. Zone conference yesterday was great and we had a lot of fun seeing other missionaries and getting to hear from President and Sister Bennett. It was GREAT and really uplifting Zone Conference and so now we are all fired up to go out and do the Lord's work. We also had a really cool experience Sunday night. Because Sister and President Bennett were here this weekend we were able to take Sister Bennett to Natalya's house with us on Sunday night. They had never met and so we were excited to be able to introduce them to each other. After church on Sunday we had our interviews with President Bennett and then headed with Roman (the mission driver) and Sister Bennett to Natalya's. We had a great lesson there and were able to talk about how the Plan of Salvation gives us perspective on life that many people don't have. Natalya's podezd has a little bit of a crazy elevator and so as we were getting in it acted a little funny. Sister Stolyrova and I got out of the elevator just in time as it started to go up (with the doors halfway open) and then stop (doors closed) about 4 feet off the ground. Poor Sister Bennett and our member that was with us were stuck in the elevator. They were in there laughing really hard and having a great time Sister Stolyarova and I were tempted to just let them hang out but we called the repair men. The repair man heard the laughing and didn't believe Sister Stolyarova when she explained what had happened. WE were laughing hard too, we ran up 7 flights of stairs to tell Natalya what had happened and she also laughed and went to talk to them through the elevator. About 40 minutes later they were rescued by a big Russian man who opened the doors and we had our lesson. While in the elevator they looked at pictures, listened to music, and had a great time so everyone was happy and it's just one more thing I can chalk up to experience in Russia. I LOVE RUSSIA!
This week I have fallen... a few times... nothing serious but the fall count is up to 17! Good times. There is so much snow now that it defintely doesn't hurt, just a little cold:) Natalya was so sweet and gave me some really warm Russian pants to put under my skirt and so I have been SO WARM! Even though it's been about -28 this week I have found myself sweating because I've been so warm. I am so grateful for her! The pants are AMAZING!
Sister Stolyarova and I have had so much fun this week We (she) made piroshki to give to Natalya this week which were delicious and we have made some other yummy treats for neighbors and investigators. We also had a funny experience this week while tracting that we will save for a different email.... maybe not 100% missionary appropriate! We also found a fire one night out a big trashcan. I don't think it was on purpose but we decided it was a tender mercy from the Lord and promptly warmed our hands and stood there for a few minutes as we warmed up. WE were sure thankful for the fire and the next morning all was put out so I think it was truly a blessing from the Lord (it was WARM).
Well I think that is all this week! We are excited as we finish the 6th week of the cycle and see what will happen next week (transfers?) I love the Gospel, I love this work and I love my opportunity to live in Russia! It is an amazing country with amazing people and I am so excited I still have another year here to do this work! I love you all! Thanks for the emails, love, prayers, and support.
Sister Morris

This week you are getting two!

Friends and Family!
Well another week gone by and YES I officially reached 6 months on the mission. It is so interesting to look back and see what has happened in the last year and how drastically my life has changed. Again thanks for the love and support. I love to hear from all of you and to hear how you are doing. It is with great enthusiasm I report this week the Fall count: 0! Yep! I rock! Which is pretty impressive considering Sister Stolyarova and I RAN home 4 nights out of the week. We had appointments and were running late those nights and so literally RAN home! I was so afraid I would fall but luckily Heavenly Father answers our prayers (and my mom's) and I never fell! WOOHOO! We'll try for 2 weeks of no falling but I”m not making any promises.
Well Dad, I have to correct you on one aspect of your email. You said it was the German philosopher who said “what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger” but I believe it was Kanye West who made the saying popular! Man am I grateful for him. Well in other news for the week we had some interesting lessons this week but they were good. I love working with the members and feel so grateful for them and what they are doing here in Saratov. There are so many AMAZING members of the church here that are so strong and so willing to help us and help their brothers and sisters here in Russia. Elder Reshetnakov (who is in our ward, a member of th 70) gave an amazing talk a Sunday ago on service. He said when he got his call to serve in the 70's he didn't know what to do, how to do it, etc. and he said the only advice they gave him was to “forget yourself and serve”. It is so true and so important!!! I challenge everyone this week to find someone to serve and JUST DO IT! It's our job while we're here, I read President Monson's talk recently on serving (in Russian so I probably missed out on some key doctrine), BUT we need to be lifting heads that hang down, helping those in need, giving to those who have less (that includes spirituality). It I so important to be looking for others and helping them! (Do I sound like a missionary, I think I just gave a commitment through email, awkward).
Enough spiritualness let's get to the good stuff... It's been pretty cold here (-16 avg) and so Friday night we decided one less hour on the street would be good and so we cleaned our podezd (stair well of our apartment). It was pretty dirty but needless to say warmer than being on the street. We also cleaned our entryway for Valentina because she usually does it. Alexander Sergeiovich came home and told us we were awesome so we felt pretty good about ourselves.
There are only 2 weeks left in the cycle and then a new cycle (of course) but I am very excited to see where I will be. I would LOVE to stay here in Oktabrasky because I absolutely love the ward and our investigators here!!!
Well I think that is about it! Have a great week! Love you all and thanks for everything you do! The church is definitely true!
Sister Morris

No Internet this week

Well the internet didn't work today so we are sending a quick email from a member's. I am alive and happy! Thanks for the emails they were great. Please make my blog private this week because they have asked all missionaries to do that. Love you!
Whitney
Note from Whitney's Mom; I will be making The Adventures of Sister Morris a private blog so if you'd like an invite to view it please email me at joanandtomandco@gmail.com

Christmas in Russia!

Family and Friends,
First things first... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAYLOR! Yeah for Taylor. There are so many reasons why I love Taylor but my favorite is his sense of humor. He can make me laugh anytime and he always knows what to say to bring a smile to my face. Thanks Taylor! I LOVE YOU!
Well the big moment has arrived: The FALL count for the week... Unfortunately I have to report that this week was the WORST week for me as falls go. I fell... 5 times. Yep. It was pretty intense but I'm alive and still moving so everything is okay. Luckily they haven't been serious at all and I usually land on soft snow so it's been fine. It's always good for a laugh. I did buy new boots and I was really hoping that those would help but alas, it has not. My boots are pretty cool though and I even think that Sis. Pike would approve:)
Well we had a good week. We had some great lessons with Natalya this week and we are so excited for her and the progress she is making. We were also able to meet with one of our new investigators and I am excited to see how she will progress and accept the Gospel.
I have to give a shout out to K-DAWG from a few people if he's reading this email. I have been in a couple of member's homes this week and they have shown me pictures of their baptism and guess who baptized them... yep... K-DAWG. I immediately laughed and just said, Oh I know him. I wanted to tell them how he pushed me into a pool etc. Etc. But i'll save that for a different time. So anyway, BIG BIG BIG privet from Irina Ukrainskaya and Tamara Antonova. Irina still loves you and just said, «oh, oh, oh, Elder Anderson, oh, oh, oh.» I LOVE HER and we have been working with her a lot and she is GREAT!
We were able to attend a big Christmas Concert here in Saratov that the whole District did and it was FANTASTIC. I know I've mentioned Luba the opera singer before. She put together the concert and sang a few numbers and it was fantastic. We were able to go with Natalya and she also really enjoyed it. The whole thing was awesome and they showed Joy to the World and the spirit was very strong. I am so grateful for the Christmas season and all of the blessings that we receive from being members of this church and knowing this Gospel. It is such a beautiful message that the Son of God came to Earth in such humble circumstances, died for us on the cross after having been beaten, betrayed, and rejected, and stands with open arms to welcome us, love us and truly save us if only we will have faith, repent and endure to the end. What a beautiful gift we have to be able to know this Gospel and profit from it. I love this Gospel and feel so grateful to be able to serve on a mission and tell this story to people and help them understand the significance of it in their lives. It was Christmas this week and I got to spend the night with Natalya, my true love, and talk about the Gospel. How cool is that!
Well have a good week. I love you all! Thanks for the support and prayers. The church is true!
Sister Morris

2010!

Family and Friends!
Happy New Year!!! Oh it was so fun to read all of your email and be able to see all of the fun you had for Christmas! It seems like everyone had a great time and all went well! The pictures were awesome, THANKYOU! I'm so glad that everyone got to be together and had such a great time! It's also good to hear about the basketball, Taylor keep up the good work and go and score some points for me! Dad thanks so much for your Christmas list, I loved it! I especially loved the pictures of Lucy's Birthday party! I'm pretty sure I want to turn 3 again and have Jonathan's mom plan my party! That was awesome! I have to say I've been thinking about the tea party I'm going to throw when I get back from Russia. I have some really great ideas from Valentina and now with the piroshki recipe from my companion, I think it will be delicious!
Well this week was pretty good, New Year's is HUGE in Russia and so it was fun to see people getting ready for it and all of the festivity in the air. The week started with a big treat, we went to REAL. Every since I came to Saratov I have wanted to go to Real.... just the name brought mystery to the air. It really is just a Walmart-type store but it is the closest thing to America I've seen since I got here. My boot broke Sunday night and so Monday we called and asked for permission to go to Real so I could buy new boots (which we didn't find) but we did find a lot of yummy food for really cheap. It was fun to see a “real” store with shopping carts and everything because all of the stores in my area are really small and choices are limited. So the big treat this week was going to REAL!
For those of you who are counting, I've only fallen 3 times this week, 2 times this morning trying to run to the internet club so we could email and then run to buy boots (still don't have new ones:) That brings the big total up to 9! YEAH! Hopefully this week will be 0 but we'll see. The sidewalks are pretty slippery right now because it rained for about 2 days straight and then last light dropped to like -10. This morning it is about -17 which is actually pretty nice.
New Year's Eve was pretty good and my cute companion made two standard Russian dishes for the occasion. She made a salad with fish, beets, carrots, peas, eggs and potatoes that was really good and then one with crab, rice, eggs, and corn. She also made my favorite, piroshki!!! MMMM.... Valentina had brought us more of her delicious homemade jam and so we put that in the piroshki and they were delicious. I also found popcorn at REAL and so that was a big treat and we drank a diet coke (the first time i've bought coke in Russia- I know, a miracle). Overall it was a good day and night! It was nice to have a night to be inside our apartment all safe and warm. We planned and cleaned and did some paper work for the area and then got to go to bed around 9:30!!! What a dream!
Yesterday we found out some sad news. The mission couple who has been in Saratov and who we see ocassionally on Sunday's (they have become my mom and dad here in Russia) have gotten transferred to the Vladivostok mission. We don't know why but they found out Friday they would be chaning missions and left today. We said goodbye to them yesterday and it was sad for me! I love them and will miss them as will ALL of the members here in Saratov. They did so much for the branches here and especially the leadership here to help train, teach and organize things. They were an amazing couple and the Vladivostok mission is SOOOOOOO lucky to get them but we will sure miss them!
There have been fireworks going off every night this week and so it is funny to sit in bed and listen to the fireworks and happenings on the street. Christmas is January 7 and so that will be fun as well to see what the Russian people do to celebrate Christmas. We will have a normal working day and so I am excited to be able to be out on the street and see what is going on. Well I think that's about everything here! We are happy, warm and loving working in our branch and area. I feel so blessed to work with the Russian people and LOVE THEM! They are truly amazing and there are amazing things awaiting Russia! I know that soon there will be a temple in Russia and so am looking forward to it. I love you all! Thanks for the emails, support and especially prayers, I have felt them this last week and so thankyou! Go out and do some missionary work!
Love,
Sister Morris