Hello Friends and Family!
Well we had a great week and the weather is just getting better and better and the days longer and longer so there is no complaining here. We had some great lessons this week but most importnatly got to work with the members! My favorite part of the mission is working with the members because I can feel their testiomies and they truly inspire me to keep doing this work, to build the chucrh in RUssia, and to have hope that there will SOON be a temple in Russia! Right now i am actually serving with a mini-missionary from my branch, Lena. she is only 19 years old and she is AMAZING- she is even missing school and work to be with me on a mission for a couple of days! We have had so much fun! Today is P-day and she has never MADE cookies so that is 1st on our list to-do today. She came with us saturday night and will be serving with me til Tuesday night when i will get my new companion. i still don't know who it is but it will be fun to see. Sister Stolyarova left me which is definitely hard because we got so used to working and living with each other that it will be weird to do this work with someone else but change is always good. We have to keep going and moving forward! She was a fantastic misionary and everyone here absolutely loved and adored her. I loved being able to serve with her and learn from her and I hope that she continues to get everything she wants in life.
THere was a baptism service in Saratov this week and so we were really lucky to find an investigator to go with us. It was a great experience and the spirit is always so strong at baptismal services. Unfortunately we missed out on seeing the baptism because the buses in saratov all changed routes and we didn't know about it. So we drove on a bus the wrong way for about 10 minutes, reailzed it, got off, RAN like crazy with our investigator, got on another bus to back track, RAN like crazy and made it to the buidling just as they were getting out of the water. Although we didn't get to see the service we did get to hear the testimony's afterwards and it was a great exerience. The chuch is true. I am reminded of that everyday on my mission and especialy when we get the privilege to see someone join this chucrh through baptism. Heavenly Father wants all of his children to make it back to him and this is the only way we can do that! Keep doing missionary work! Talk with your friends, talk with your family, talk with people in the stores, on the bus, at work, at school etc. Everyone needs this gospel and the blessings and peace it brings into our lives. I love you all and wish you a happy and missionary-successful week! I challenge everyone to share their testimony this week somehow...be creative but share your testimony. It will help others and you will grow as well! Be happy!
Sister Morris
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Where are all the people?
Well maybe some of you recognized the amazing line from the song, sorry i can't remember who sang it-- i know, my mind is completely blank on music artists, but the question was answered this week. We had a great week this week and know that Heavenly father is blessing us and will continue to bless us as we work hard and do His work. First we had a great lesson with a new investigator who called on her own! if you served a mission you know how absolutely rare that is and what's even stranger, she didn't even meet the missionaries. IN short, her son met the missionaries on the street over a year ago! he finally gave his mom the pass-along card he had gotten this week and she decided the next day to call the number. well it was the Elders and so they immediately called us who immediately called her and set up an appointmet for an hour later. With the amazing members here in saratov we were even able to find a member who came with us to the lesson where we met our new investiagotr, taught the first lesson, gave her a Book of Mormon and prayed with her. It was such a great experience and we are excited to keep teaching her. It was also a testimony builder to me that we never know the good we do. The Elders who gave some young punk on the street a pass-a,long card a year ago never would have guessed that his mom would call the missionaries a year later and be ready to hear more about the gospel.
We also met a young mom who is so awesome! she, unfortunately, doesn't live in saratov right now, she was visitng her mom here with her 2 year old daughter, but we were able to meet her that night and tell her about the restored gospel. SHe is so worried about teaching her daughter about God and making sure she lives her life right and I was able to bear testimony and share examples of my parents who taught me. Unfortunately her husband doesn't believe in God, doesn't want to go to chucrh etc. She was so intersted in how I grew up in the GOspel and I felt so lessed to be able to share with her how m,y parents merely taught by example. I told her how they were determined to have family scripture study even when half of us didn't listen. We had family prayer every mornign, even when some of us slept but we did it. I also told her abuot the example of my parents who read thei scriptures and prayed every morning and night. Although they probably thought they were just reading and praying, I saw it. THeir other children saw it and it was a HUGE blesssing in our lives. i am so grateful for the example of AMAZING parents who taught us to choose the right, do what is right and Keep the commandments. (I'm trying to see how many song titles I can gt in here). Luckily we were able to have Luba, the opera singer with us one night and so sang hymns for her which she loved. sister and i both walked away from our meeting with her thinking "yea, this is why we do missionary work"/ It's those kinds of lessons that make you really grateful you came on a mission. SHe told us that we strengthened her soul and resolve to continue believing, teching her daughter and going to church. it was such a blessing from Heavenly father.
Last week I metioned our friends in the toilet right? Well this week we were able to visit them again, give a book of mormon and explain a little more about our church. So i ask, "where are all the people?" EVERYWHERE! it's just our job and goal as members to find them and then lead them to the church.
Well this is the last week with my companion and I am so sad! We have "had a good run" but like everything all things must come to an end. So we will see what next week brings with a new companion etc. THanks again for all of the emails and love and support. i love you all! Have a great week and enjoy warmer weather, sunny days and hopefully flowers soon!
Sister Morris
We also met a young mom who is so awesome! she, unfortunately, doesn't live in saratov right now, she was visitng her mom here with her 2 year old daughter, but we were able to meet her that night and tell her about the restored gospel. SHe is so worried about teaching her daughter about God and making sure she lives her life right and I was able to bear testimony and share examples of my parents who taught me. Unfortunately her husband doesn't believe in God, doesn't want to go to chucrh etc. She was so intersted in how I grew up in the GOspel and I felt so lessed to be able to share with her how m,y parents merely taught by example. I told her how they were determined to have family scripture study even when half of us didn't listen. We had family prayer every mornign, even when some of us slept but we did it. I also told her abuot the example of my parents who read thei scriptures and prayed every morning and night. Although they probably thought they were just reading and praying, I saw it. THeir other children saw it and it was a HUGE blesssing in our lives. i am so grateful for the example of AMAZING parents who taught us to choose the right, do what is right and Keep the commandments. (I'm trying to see how many song titles I can gt in here). Luckily we were able to have Luba, the opera singer with us one night and so sang hymns for her which she loved. sister and i both walked away from our meeting with her thinking "yea, this is why we do missionary work"/ It's those kinds of lessons that make you really grateful you came on a mission. SHe told us that we strengthened her soul and resolve to continue believing, teching her daughter and going to church. it was such a blessing from Heavenly father.
Last week I metioned our friends in the toilet right? Well this week we were able to visit them again, give a book of mormon and explain a little more about our church. So i ask, "where are all the people?" EVERYWHERE! it's just our job and goal as members to find them and then lead them to the church.
Well this is the last week with my companion and I am so sad! We have "had a good run" but like everything all things must come to an end. So we will see what next week brings with a new companion etc. THanks again for all of the emails and love and support. i love you all! Have a great week and enjoy warmer weather, sunny days and hopefully flowers soon!
Sister Morris
Monday, April 12, 2010
Halfway!
Family and Friends!
Well you know it is going to be a good week when you get to hear from so many people! Thankyou so much for your emails and love and support! AND we had conference this week which means I FINALLY got my mail (it's been almost 3 months) and so I got all of the packages! Thankyou so much! Thankyou Jill for the package and goodies, we loved it. Thankyou Aunt Patty for the lotions, the smells were amazing. Thanks mom for all of the packages! We have had fun going through all the goodies and using them. Thanks Sara for the package and goodies, and Sarah. I think I got all of the packages that have been sent recently. Thankyou Patricia for the makeup and goodies as welll. I was SOOOO EXCITED to hear that you have been working with the missionaries! That is FANTASTIC! We NEED members help! We have had so much fun with everything and I felt soooooo blessed to hear from everyone and receive so many great things. You are all amazing and it's such a blessing as a missionary to know that people are praying for you and love you.
Well this week was good. We loved being able to have Zone Conference and it was a great day to hear from President Bennett and know how we can do this work better. We talked a lot about hope and just having patience to see the Lord's blessings and promises fufilled to us. It was a good reminded to alll of us that no matter the challenge we can and need to keep perservering and the Lord will bless us.
This week as my companion was using the bathroom I was able to talk to two of the attendants who worked there and was able ot teach them the first lesson and give them brochures and invite them to church. It was such a funny coincidence because as we were going in I said, "I'm guessing our new investigators are in here" completely joking and... we had a great conversation. It just shows the Lord works in ways that aren't always ours.
Have faith and keep living the Gospel. The church is true and it is through our obedience and willingess to trust the Lord that we receive any and all blessings. I love you all and am so grateful for the love and support!
Love,
Sister Morris
Well you know it is going to be a good week when you get to hear from so many people! Thankyou so much for your emails and love and support! AND we had conference this week which means I FINALLY got my mail (it's been almost 3 months) and so I got all of the packages! Thankyou so much! Thankyou Jill for the package and goodies, we loved it. Thankyou Aunt Patty for the lotions, the smells were amazing. Thanks mom for all of the packages! We have had fun going through all the goodies and using them. Thanks Sara for the package and goodies, and Sarah. I think I got all of the packages that have been sent recently. Thankyou Patricia for the makeup and goodies as welll. I was SOOOO EXCITED to hear that you have been working with the missionaries! That is FANTASTIC! We NEED members help! We have had so much fun with everything and I felt soooooo blessed to hear from everyone and receive so many great things. You are all amazing and it's such a blessing as a missionary to know that people are praying for you and love you.
Well this week was good. We loved being able to have Zone Conference and it was a great day to hear from President Bennett and know how we can do this work better. We talked a lot about hope and just having patience to see the Lord's blessings and promises fufilled to us. It was a good reminded to alll of us that no matter the challenge we can and need to keep perservering and the Lord will bless us.
This week as my companion was using the bathroom I was able to talk to two of the attendants who worked there and was able ot teach them the first lesson and give them brochures and invite them to church. It was such a funny coincidence because as we were going in I said, "I'm guessing our new investigators are in here" completely joking and... we had a great conversation. It just shows the Lord works in ways that aren't always ours.
Have faith and keep living the Gospel. The church is true and it is through our obedience and willingess to trust the Lord that we receive any and all blessings. I love you all and am so grateful for the love and support!
Love,
Sister Morris
Monday, April 5, 2010
Happy Easter
Well another week down and the weather is AMAZING!!! It is soooo warm here and we couldn't be happier. The sun is out and snow is slowly but surely melting! We love the when the weather is good! It is such a blessing for missionaries and it puts everyone on the street in a better mood. Well this week was good. Monday we had a "missionary miracle". We have a rule in this mission that we can't go into stores or buy anything on any other day than P-day which ends officially at 6. So we had wanted to find me a Spring coat because the temperatures were FINALLY and THANKFULLY starting to warm up. So we got permission to leave our area around 4 in the afternoon and headed out with about 2 hours to find a coat. We looked and looked but couldn't find what we wanted. We finally found one, ran into the dressing room, decided to buy it, ran to the cashier and... looked at the receipt of the coat.... 5:58. That meant that we were on the street at 6 and contacting. yeah, we are awesome! We had good lessons with our investigators this week and are so excited to keep working with them.
Saturday night was the Musical Easter and it was a great night. The members had put together a slide show and a history of the church here in Saratov and it was a very special night. I was so happy that we got to be there and help them out. Sister and i played a duet and some missionaries here in the area sang "abide with me" which turned out really nice. It was a great evening and we really enjoyed being able to be there.
Well for those of you who had forgotten about my tendency to fall... not to worry... this week I hit the big number 27 and with the melting snow and the sidewalks starting to show the falls are just getting more... painful. I fell right between two BIG puddles as I was trying to catch myself. I really thought that I was going to make it without falling but alas, I fell. I had a HUGE bump on my knee for at least 4 days but other than that nothing was hurt, except maybe my pride a little. I just always remember the quote from Batman, "why do we fall?" " So we can learn to pick ourselves back up". So... Ill keep picking myself back up and thanks to Alfred and Batman maybe I'll learn something in the meantime.
Easter here was good. In Russia there is a special cake that everyone eats on Easter and so we were fortunate enough to eat it yesterday, thanks to the AMAZINGNESS of our landlady. it was pretty good and I guess it's a once-in-a-year thing. It is called Kylichi and it's a really cute cupcake looking cake thing that tastes kind of like a cinnamon roll. We also colored eggs using onions, something I had never done, but in Russia they don't "dye" eggs they just boil them with red onions and they come out a really cool color. It is a lot healthier and was a lot of fun to experience.
So everything here is good. Thanks for the emails and support. Conference here in Russia is this coming weekend so maybe we will be able to watch a session this weekend but I'm glad to hear that it was good. I love conference! The church is true.
Sister Morris
So the first picture is me "crying repentance" from the street. because of all the snow and then the warm weather.... the streets are pretty wet. Like I said a couple of weeks ago we bought rubber boots and so wear those as we contact because that is what we walk through.
2. I am doing some personal study in the puddle to maximize our time as missionaries, we are just trying to be effective.
3. This is with one of our investigators Suzanna. She is awesome!
4. This was after the Easter concert with one of the members, Alla. She organized the whole thing and is AWESOME!
Saturday night was the Musical Easter and it was a great night. The members had put together a slide show and a history of the church here in Saratov and it was a very special night. I was so happy that we got to be there and help them out. Sister and i played a duet and some missionaries here in the area sang "abide with me" which turned out really nice. It was a great evening and we really enjoyed being able to be there.
Well for those of you who had forgotten about my tendency to fall... not to worry... this week I hit the big number 27 and with the melting snow and the sidewalks starting to show the falls are just getting more... painful. I fell right between two BIG puddles as I was trying to catch myself. I really thought that I was going to make it without falling but alas, I fell. I had a HUGE bump on my knee for at least 4 days but other than that nothing was hurt, except maybe my pride a little. I just always remember the quote from Batman, "why do we fall?" " So we can learn to pick ourselves back up". So... Ill keep picking myself back up and thanks to Alfred and Batman maybe I'll learn something in the meantime.
Easter here was good. In Russia there is a special cake that everyone eats on Easter and so we were fortunate enough to eat it yesterday, thanks to the AMAZINGNESS of our landlady. it was pretty good and I guess it's a once-in-a-year thing. It is called Kylichi and it's a really cute cupcake looking cake thing that tastes kind of like a cinnamon roll. We also colored eggs using onions, something I had never done, but in Russia they don't "dye" eggs they just boil them with red onions and they come out a really cool color. It is a lot healthier and was a lot of fun to experience.
So everything here is good. Thanks for the emails and support. Conference here in Russia is this coming weekend so maybe we will be able to watch a session this weekend but I'm glad to hear that it was good. I love conference! The church is true.
Sister Morris
So the first picture is me "crying repentance" from the street. because of all the snow and then the warm weather.... the streets are pretty wet. Like I said a couple of weeks ago we bought rubber boots and so wear those as we contact because that is what we walk through.
2. I am doing some personal study in the puddle to maximize our time as missionaries, we are just trying to be effective.
3. This is with one of our investigators Suzanna. She is awesome!
4. This was after the Easter concert with one of the members, Alla. She organized the whole thing and is AWESOME!
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