Well life on a mission just continues to get better and better! We had a great week this week and are looking forward to another one. As I said in the title-- my companion is a rock star and I am so proud of her. She is so stinking brave and we are having so much fun just doing this work together. This week we had some great experiences and have really seen that by listenign to the spirit is the most important part of the work.
Monday we were fortunate enough to go to a Family Home Evening here with a great family in the ward. At the end of the lesson they even serenaded us. The daughter here plays the violing and the dad plays the guitar and the harmonica-- at the same time. It's pretty sweet. I even got a sweet version of SUMMERTIME. Can you believe it? All the way out here in Russia. I loved it.
Tuesday we had a great District meeting and we were able to plan with the Elder's an open house night for Friday. We also decided to just stop by and visit an investigator at work on the way home. Luckily she was there adn we were able to talk to her for ahilw and invite her to some of the upcoming activities in the ward. We were also able to talk with her about the importance of reading the Book of Mormon. It was so great that she was there and we loved takling to her. We also had a great, "wow, we are missionaries" moment. We got onto the bus to go back to our area and immediately the conductor started asking REALLY REALLY LOUD who areyou, why are you here, what do you believe in. Becuase she had to collect tickest from everyone on the bus, she had to walk from the front to the back constantly and so we ended up just yelling as well in order to hold a conversation. That meant that the ENTIRE BUS heard our conversation, which was okay by me, but it was pretty funny. They all heard that we were here on a mission, where our branch is, what time, and a little about what we believe. We really liked being to hear the other comments from people who were just sittinhg there innocently, entangled in the whole discussion. It was really really funny and we ended up staying on the bus longer than needed to be able to finish the discussion with the conductor. Oh the good times you can have when you're on a bus!
We took my companion tracting on Wednesday for her first time and she nailed it. It was really great and we enjoyed being able to talk to people about families. Thursday we had a great experience "following the spirit". As we were contacting on the way to a lesson with an investgator, we got the prompting to walk behind a building. At first I thought it ws really weird but then decided, well we'll do it. So we went and there we were able to meet with a lady who was intersted in hearing more about the Book of Mormon. It was uch a great experience to see that if we will do what the Spirit says, blessings await us! I love being on a mission!
Friday was our big tour and it was great! We were able to have a lady come that we had just met on the street and she really loved it. They had set up all of the pictures in our branch to follow the 1st lesson and so as they were doing the tour they were abel to teach the first lesson. It was sooooo cool! It started at the beginning with Heavenly Father and his love for us. Then as they looked at the primary rooms they were able to talk about families and the importnace of them. They then showed where the priesthood meets nd were able to talk about the power of the priesthood and the keys that it gives them. Then the baptisma; font where they talked about the importance of baptism. Then they came into the relief soceity room and there we watched the restoration and talked about the need for a restoration after an apostasty. They then went inot the sacrament room and talked about that ordinance and how thanks to the restoration we have the power and authortiyt to perform it, and then out into the foyer where they talked about the Book of Mormon and praying to know truth! It was soo cooL!
Saturday, this one's for dad, we were able ot serve another grandma which was just great. She was sooo cute and just cryed and cryed when we had to leave. Sunday was church and just a good day of working. So, this week was really good and we are looking forward to another great week of work! Thanks for your love and support. I love you all!
Sister Morris
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Life Goes On!
Hello Family and Friends!
Well it is COLD in Penza but everything is good. Thanks so much for your emails and love and support! So life goes on here in Penza and everything is just good, good, good. I have a new companion and she is absolutely and completely adorable! I love her! Her name is Sister Ostapchuk and she is from the Ukraine. She is new to the mission and I love it because she has so much energy and faith to do the work. It is
soooo great to get new missionaries from the MTC because they are just so ready to do the work and baptize EVERYONE! She has no fears and I have loved getting to know her and to get to know her sweet personality and powerful testimony. We are really looking forward to a couple good months in Penza! So I think that because I have little time left I will do bullet points today. Monday: Christmas. We decided that we needed to just do Christmas so we decorated a tree in our house, ate french toast for breakfast, twice baked potatoes for lunch, gave each other Christmas resents and stockings and basically had a great day. Who doesn't like to celebrate
Christmas in October? We loved it! Tuesday: We hurriedly got Sister Jackson all packed to go to... SARATOV.... tear, I miss that place, and then had a couple last
meetings with members and an investigator hear. We were able to call one of my favorite members here in Penza and sing with her over the phone. It was definitely a "journaling" experience. We bought some gloves from under the BOKZAL because my hands were FREEZING and bought bus tickets to head down to Saratov the next morning.
Wednesday: I DROVE ALL DAY! We started on a bus from Penza to Saratov and 7 in the morning. Luckily, one of our fantastic members gave us a ride to the Bokzal, I don't know how we would have gotten all of the stuff there without him. IN Saratove we met with the sisters and they had just talked to Valentina(former hazaika) and she gave them zefir (my favorite) to give to me, so sweet. From Saratov I got in the van
with Roman and drove to Samara (about 11 at night) after picking up random other missionaries and their stuff. Overall the drive wasn't too bad and I enjoyed being able to see different missionaries and hearing what is going on in different parts of the mission. It's so weird when you are just stuck in your little area and you have no idea what is going on! Thursday: WE got back into the van with Roman at 7 and drove to PENZA with my new companion. We got into our area, got ready and did our
weekly planning. I explained how things work in our area and we just had a good time. That night we had our first meeting with my new companion with a member and it was fantastic! Friday: Just a normal working day, and my companion's first on the
mission (I'm so proud of her-- she hasn't complained ONCE!) We had a lesson with an investigator that was fantastic and we were also able to have District meeting with the Elders. Saturday: We had a SPORTS NIGHT! WOohoo! WE played ping pong and indoor hockey and it was really fun. Lada, a recent convert, came and really enjoyed it and we were able to teach a couple lessons there to members. It was great to be able to see them and just interact with them in a non-formal and fun atmosphere. Sunday: CHURCH! My companion met the branch and loved them (of course). We were able to have some great lessons with members and at the last minute, decided to try and knock on a door of a former investigator. We had decided that if we had time we would knock but weren't exactly sure. As we sat on the bus I decided, we'll do it. AS we approached the door, my companion just said, with a little nervousness, "what do we say?" I said, "who knows, posmotrim." and we went. They LUCKILY were home and we were able to go in and have a great lesson with them about the church and prayer. At the end we were able to pray and set up another meeting. It truly was a MIRACLE! They
were so friendly and we were so glad to be able to see them! We are excited to keep working with them (a mom and her daughter) and so were so glad that we decided to follow the spirit and just go. So here we are. As I said my companion is on fire and I love working with her and just being able to have the SPIRIT of the MTC with me. It
is so good to be reminded how we felt when we first came out. I think this next week is going to be fantastic! Thanks for your emails and love., I love you so so so so much! Until next week, Sister Morris
Well it is COLD in Penza but everything is good. Thanks so much for your emails and love and support! So life goes on here in Penza and everything is just good, good, good. I have a new companion and she is absolutely and completely adorable! I love her! Her name is Sister Ostapchuk and she is from the Ukraine. She is new to the mission and I love it because she has so much energy and faith to do the work. It is
soooo great to get new missionaries from the MTC because they are just so ready to do the work and baptize EVERYONE! She has no fears and I have loved getting to know her and to get to know her sweet personality and powerful testimony. We are really looking forward to a couple good months in Penza! So I think that because I have little time left I will do bullet points today. Monday: Christmas. We decided that we needed to just do Christmas so we decorated a tree in our house, ate french toast for breakfast, twice baked potatoes for lunch, gave each other Christmas resents and stockings and basically had a great day. Who doesn't like to celebrate
Christmas in October? We loved it! Tuesday: We hurriedly got Sister Jackson all packed to go to... SARATOV.... tear, I miss that place, and then had a couple last
meetings with members and an investigator hear. We were able to call one of my favorite members here in Penza and sing with her over the phone. It was definitely a "journaling" experience. We bought some gloves from under the BOKZAL because my hands were FREEZING and bought bus tickets to head down to Saratov the next morning.
Wednesday: I DROVE ALL DAY! We started on a bus from Penza to Saratov and 7 in the morning. Luckily, one of our fantastic members gave us a ride to the Bokzal, I don't know how we would have gotten all of the stuff there without him. IN Saratove we met with the sisters and they had just talked to Valentina(former hazaika) and she gave them zefir (my favorite) to give to me, so sweet. From Saratov I got in the van
with Roman and drove to Samara (about 11 at night) after picking up random other missionaries and their stuff. Overall the drive wasn't too bad and I enjoyed being able to see different missionaries and hearing what is going on in different parts of the mission. It's so weird when you are just stuck in your little area and you have no idea what is going on! Thursday: WE got back into the van with Roman at 7 and drove to PENZA with my new companion. We got into our area, got ready and did our
weekly planning. I explained how things work in our area and we just had a good time. That night we had our first meeting with my new companion with a member and it was fantastic! Friday: Just a normal working day, and my companion's first on the
mission (I'm so proud of her-- she hasn't complained ONCE!) We had a lesson with an investigator that was fantastic and we were also able to have District meeting with the Elders. Saturday: We had a SPORTS NIGHT! WOohoo! WE played ping pong and indoor hockey and it was really fun. Lada, a recent convert, came and really enjoyed it and we were able to teach a couple lessons there to members. It was great to be able to see them and just interact with them in a non-formal and fun atmosphere. Sunday: CHURCH! My companion met the branch and loved them (of course). We were able to have some great lessons with members and at the last minute, decided to try and knock on a door of a former investigator. We had decided that if we had time we would knock but weren't exactly sure. As we sat on the bus I decided, we'll do it. AS we approached the door, my companion just said, with a little nervousness, "what do we say?" I said, "who knows, posmotrim." and we went. They LUCKILY were home and we were able to go in and have a great lesson with them about the church and prayer. At the end we were able to pray and set up another meeting. It truly was a MIRACLE! They
were so friendly and we were so glad to be able to see them! We are excited to keep working with them (a mom and her daughter) and so were so glad that we decided to follow the spirit and just go. So here we are. As I said my companion is on fire and I love working with her and just being able to have the SPIRIT of the MTC with me. It
is so good to be reminded how we felt when we first came out. I think this next week is going to be fantastic! Thanks for your emails and love., I love you so so so so much! Until next week, Sister Morris
Monday, October 11, 2010
Whitney's Release Date is....
Whitney returns from her mission on Dec. 16 at 11:44 pm. We are so excited to have her home for Christmas!!!
They have scheduled her to speak in our ward on Dec. 26 at 11 am.
We know that is a hard time of year to travel with the holidays, but we'd love to have you come for her report! We will have plenty of room in our home for visitors because none of our married kids will be home for Christmas :(
They have scheduled her to speak in our ward on Dec. 26 at 11 am.
We know that is a hard time of year to travel with the holidays, but we'd love to have you come for her report! We will have plenty of room in our home for visitors because none of our married kids will be home for Christmas :(
Internet keeps going on and off
Hello family and friends!
This week has been absolutely fantastic and I am so excited to be able to write about it. I think I’ll start backwards (so with Sunday and work my way back to Monday). Yesterday was great. We were able to go to General Conference and it was amazing! It was so great to be able to hear the prophets and to hear their advice and how we can all become better. It was especially a neat experience because one of our investigators was able to come. She said that she would be coming on Satuday but didn’t make it. Sister Jackson and I decided early Sunday morning to just go knock on her door and invite her one more time. Luckily, the podezd was open and she answered her door and let us in. She said that she just hadn’t made it yesterday but we invited her to come with us this time. She said that maybe she would come for the
afternoon session. We waited and waited and she CAME! It was so great to see her walk in and she really enjoyed the conference and especially the singing She even found the church and said herself that it was a miracle that we were able to all be there. The Conference on Sunday was fantastic and my favorite talk was definitely
President Monson. I loved that he talked about being THANKFUL! It is so true! If we are always thankful then we will have nothing to be sad, mad or really worried about. We will know that Heavenly Father has it all in control and everything we have is exactly what we need. So inbetween conference sessions on Sunday (here we watch the first around 10 and then the second one around 12:30) our investigator that
got baptized on Saturday was confirmed. The spirit was so strong and it was so neat to just see how she smiled afterward. It was great for her to also be able to see the difference after being baptized. Saturday was the baptismal service and after scrambling around trying to find the right time, so that her daughter who needed to work could make it, and getting all of the details in order, she was baptized! It
was one of the most spiritual baptisms I have been to. As she came out of the water she was crying and just said that she felt like someone had literally hugged her. Her daughter, who was also there was crying and it was great to be able to have her feel the Spirit. She noticed a change in her mom. After the baptism our investigator even testified and just said that she felt she had made the right decision. It was a
perfect experience and she is wonderful! She is so excited to change and make the necessary steps to come unot our Savior! Saturday we also watched conference at the Branch Building and it was fantastic. Saturday was also an all-time first in my mission. We had a Sports Day. WHOA! We got together with some of the ward members and played American Football and some Eurpoean football. It was great to be able
to run around and to be with the members. I think the Elders especially enjoed the time to show off their football skills, but I can say I did score one of our team’s few touchdowns—so I still have some sports skills;) Friday we met with some great members here and just had a fantastic day teaching lessons. Thursday we had a great experience at the Rinok with a lady in our ward here. She had offered to meet us at the Rinok to buy a winter coat for Sister Jackson. She was so great to go with
us and to do all of the “haggling”. We had fun walking and looking around and checking out all the winter gear that is coming out for what they are saying is going to be a really really really cold and LONG winter. Woohoo! We bought an amazing coat and had fun being with our member. Wednesday we had a lesson with a new investigator and it went really well. We had a member with us who was so good at testifying and
teaching the DOCTRINE. It was great to be with her and to see her testimony and her strength in the Gospel. That’s why I love going with the members. I learn so much from them and it’s a testimony builder for me to see their dedication to the Gospel and living it! WOW for strong members. She definitely got Rock Star points in my book. So then it was…. SISTER”S CONFERNCE! Thanks Sister Sartori and all of
the great Sister missionaries who were there and helped us out. It was so much fun to be able to be with everyone and to get to see the Sister’s. We headed to Samara on Monday night, the train, my favorite, and then went straight to the mission apartment (my first time there!!!) We were met by Sister Sartori which was just fantastic and
had a little time before the COUNCIL to “freshen up”. Yes, after the train I LOOK AMAZING! Council was goodand right now, a LOT of things are really changing in the mission and so that is bringing some new challenges and some blessings. We discussed a lot of those changes and then had our conference. It was great to be with all of the sisters! We had “sercret sisters” women in the scriptures and lots of yunmmy food. Overall FANTASTIC!
Well I’m out of time but I love you, have a great week and look forward
to hearing from you all this next week!
Sister Morris
Monday, October 4, 2010
I'm wearing a Winter Coat and it's only October 4!!
Well it's cold. I think that';s the most important piece of news.... ok, not really but I thought you would like to know. I saw the pictures of you at BYU in short sleeves and shorts and then pictured myself in "Winter" boots (that's for you Dad) and my winter coat. I was really hoping to not have to pull that out until December but here we go. In all actually the first piece of news is.... I HAVE A NEW NIECE!!!!
I am sooooo excited. She is so stinking cute! I love the name and I love her already! She is so sweet and I;m so happy that she is now in my family. I have to also say that she really really lucked out on the parent drawing. My brother is amazing and is the best dad in the world! And my sister-in-law.. holy cow. SHe is in fantastic hands. Thanks for your amazing example of parenting and loving your children.
You are fantastic! (And this goes to all of my siblings, Sara, you are amazing!!!)
Well this week was good. (I think they all are, so that gets a little redundant.) Tuesday was just a normal day with RAIN. It was pretty fun to be in the rain and so I actually really enjoyed it. UNfortunately I tried to take the cheap way out last week and bought a new umbrella in Lenta- A form of Wal-Mart in Russia- which broke the day after I bought it... we may have to buy a new one... We were able to teach some really good lessons this week and I have loved being able to see how the Gospel is changing the life of one our investigaotors. She is absolutely amazing and I love working with her! She has accepted everything we have been teaching her and is so
excited to make the changes needed in her life to come unto Christ. It is a miracle!
We had one of those...this guy is crazy moments this week when we were innocently sitting on a marshutka and a man just started talking to us, trying to know how our names translated into Russian. He just kept asking "why don't you have Russian names" over and over again. We just laughed and said "because." We were also able to meet with a less-active member this week and her son who is not a member. We have had such a hard time meeting with her because she works a lot but fortunatley this week we decided to just GO. So we went and knocked and she happened to behome! MIRACLE! She
said that usually she doesn't get off work til much later but they let her off early that day. It was great to be able to talk and pray with her and we love working with our members! This coming week should be really good. Stay tuned for news about
"sister's COnference" (it will be good and no, I don't even know what it entails) and CONFERENCE. In Russia they show conference a week later than in the US because they translate it etc. etc. etc. and so we will get to watch that on Saturday and sunday. Should be fantastic! THis week we had a new "finding" idea. A couple of weeks ago we found out that in Penza they have a puppet theater type thing. WHAT? I was
so stoked! Sis. Jackson and I now have a goal to set up the PENZA PUPPET PALACE PRESENTS... night where we will feature the voices of the "Restoration" video-- yes they are in our ward, and act out significant moments in Church history. Ok, who wouldn't like that. We'll see if we can get our Elders to agree on putting on the "big show"-- I think it would be phenomenal. We also were able to serve a GRANDMA!!!! I have wanted to serve for SOO long and on Saturday the Elder's gave us permission to serve Baba Jena. She is amazing and we were able to dust all of her shelves and
clean a lot of her china. she is about 86 years old and so has a hard time getting around to do all of it but we were able to serve her and it was great. SHe also showed us pictures of the famous astronaut Gagarin with members of her family and other priceless family photos. THANKYOU baba jena. WE SERVED A BABUSHKI!!! (That is what we yelled when we finished) Sunday was of couse fantastic with a Testimony meeting and all. We have really enjoyed being in this ward and they are amazing. They
inspire me to do better and to give more in my service and callings. I hope everyone has a great week and you all remember I love yoU! Go and serve some Babushki and don't forget to think "outside of the box" to find way s to share your testimony. Maybe you don't have a "penza Puppet Palace" but I'm sure you can think of something. I LOVE YOU!
Sister Morris
I am sooooo excited. She is so stinking cute! I love the name and I love her already! She is so sweet and I;m so happy that she is now in my family. I have to also say that she really really lucked out on the parent drawing. My brother is amazing and is the best dad in the world! And my sister-in-law.. holy cow. SHe is in fantastic hands. Thanks for your amazing example of parenting and loving your children.
You are fantastic! (And this goes to all of my siblings, Sara, you are amazing!!!)
Well this week was good. (I think they all are, so that gets a little redundant.) Tuesday was just a normal day with RAIN. It was pretty fun to be in the rain and so I actually really enjoyed it. UNfortunately I tried to take the cheap way out last week and bought a new umbrella in Lenta- A form of Wal-Mart in Russia- which broke the day after I bought it... we may have to buy a new one... We were able to teach some really good lessons this week and I have loved being able to see how the Gospel is changing the life of one our investigaotors. She is absolutely amazing and I love working with her! She has accepted everything we have been teaching her and is so
excited to make the changes needed in her life to come unto Christ. It is a miracle!
We had one of those...this guy is crazy moments this week when we were innocently sitting on a marshutka and a man just started talking to us, trying to know how our names translated into Russian. He just kept asking "why don't you have Russian names" over and over again. We just laughed and said "because." We were also able to meet with a less-active member this week and her son who is not a member. We have had such a hard time meeting with her because she works a lot but fortunatley this week we decided to just GO. So we went and knocked and she happened to behome! MIRACLE! She
said that usually she doesn't get off work til much later but they let her off early that day. It was great to be able to talk and pray with her and we love working with our members! This coming week should be really good. Stay tuned for news about
"sister's COnference" (it will be good and no, I don't even know what it entails) and CONFERENCE. In Russia they show conference a week later than in the US because they translate it etc. etc. etc. and so we will get to watch that on Saturday and sunday. Should be fantastic! THis week we had a new "finding" idea. A couple of weeks ago we found out that in Penza they have a puppet theater type thing. WHAT? I was
so stoked! Sis. Jackson and I now have a goal to set up the PENZA PUPPET PALACE PRESENTS... night where we will feature the voices of the "Restoration" video-- yes they are in our ward, and act out significant moments in Church history. Ok, who wouldn't like that. We'll see if we can get our Elders to agree on putting on the "big show"-- I think it would be phenomenal. We also were able to serve a GRANDMA!!!! I have wanted to serve for SOO long and on Saturday the Elder's gave us permission to serve Baba Jena. She is amazing and we were able to dust all of her shelves and
clean a lot of her china. she is about 86 years old and so has a hard time getting around to do all of it but we were able to serve her and it was great. SHe also showed us pictures of the famous astronaut Gagarin with members of her family and other priceless family photos. THANKYOU baba jena. WE SERVED A BABUSHKI!!! (That is what we yelled when we finished) Sunday was of couse fantastic with a Testimony meeting and all. We have really enjoyed being in this ward and they are amazing. They
inspire me to do better and to give more in my service and callings. I hope everyone has a great week and you all remember I love yoU! Go and serve some Babushki and don't forget to think "outside of the box" to find way s to share your testimony. Maybe you don't have a "penza Puppet Palace" but I'm sure you can think of something. I LOVE YOU!
Sister Morris
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