May 26, 2014

Well Hello there family! 

I am hope you are all enjoying your memorial. I sure am enjoying mine. The sun is shining and it is about 75 degrees. Right now Juneau is going through a crisis that frankly I am super grateful for. Juneau is a horrible drought. This is the most amount of days that they have had sunshine and no rain for a long time. Juneau is a rain forest and usually only has about 52 sunny days a year. So far this year I think we have had well over that. It's the best, I love the sun! Everyone is conserving water because all of the water reservoirs  are down to like 25%. If California can figure out their water problem I am pretty sure Juneau will be able to to. 

This week has been like totally super awesome!!!!! Are you all ready for some crazy miracles that the Lord let us be a part of?

1.We went over to a ladies house like we normally do on a Tuesday afternoon. When we knocked on the door her sister answered. She said that she needed our help and just started bawling. Her only son had just passed away and she was beside herself. Her husband is not in the picture and she felt alone and confused. She has cancer really bad and was making arrangements for her own death, when surprisingly her son was in a four wheeling accident and died instantly. She is not a member of the church so we explained to her that we had a message that will bring her hope during this trying time. We were at her house for about an hour and was able to comfort her and her sister by teaching them about the Plan of Salvation. I truly felt the Savior's love for this sweet lady. The spirit was so strong and I knew that we had been guided to her home. I have always heard stories like these that missionaries share and I was so grateful to be a part of helping her in her life and having an experience like this. 

2. We have been teaching R for a while now. We have been praying a lot that she will understand our role as missionaries trying to bring her closer to the Savior. This week their friends the T's invited R, C and their kids over for dinner. Afterwards we taught them the Restoration. It was so spiritual. They both said that they want to surround themselves with Mormons, they know God answers prayers, and they love the church. Nothing is better than seeing two people find that missing piece of happiness in their lives. They should be getting baptized here in the next couple weeks. 

3. Our ward is on fire with missionary work. It's the best. This week we had two families come up to us and tell us that from doing their home teaching they were able to find some kids that had not yet been baptized. Both 11 year old girls have their parents permission to be baptized. All we have to do it teach them. People are falling out of the sky left and right for Sister Dill and I to teach. We are just so grateful! We are now teaching 4 different 11 year old girls. I can't wait for them all to be baptized. They will be such a power house in Young Women's! One lady ran up to Sister Dill taking the Relief Society lesson challenge to give away a Book of Mormon. She said she sold her boat this week to a family. She felt prompted to give them a Book of Mormon. As they were leaving she ran outside and told them, "That boat comes with a special book!" She then handed them the Book of Mormon. Turns our he is a less active member and his wife is a non-member. They want to start coming to church. Everyone in the ward is getting super pumped about the work. It is amazing how when one or two families set an example everyone else wants to also! 

4. Sister Dill and I survived Sunday. Once again we were asked to speak in sacrament and teach gospel principles. I spook on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You should all read that chapter in Preach my Gospel. It is amazing how simple the church is. I think it was perfect for the K's that came to church again this week! Woohoooo Gospel principles was all about Faith. It was the best! 

Our mission President and wife came into town for the day on Thursday to plan zone conference. I am pretty excited. It is next week. I hear zone conference in Juneau is the best. We get a two day conference and everyone else gets one. We get to go hiking and all that jazz. It should be fun. 

Okay funny story time! So the elders called us and sounded very concerned. They said we are going to ask you something that is going to be super awkward and we have been debating on who is going to ask for a while. I had no idea what the heck they were going to ask. Finally they blurted it out super fast. They said, "How long do women breast feed for?". I was like how does that relate to missionary work at all? They then said they have an investigator that has a little baby that is really close to baptism. They wanted to know if she was still breastfeeding that way they wouldn't have to be worried about alcohol word of wisdom problems. We then had to explain that some women don't breast feed and that they would still have to address the word of wisdom with her. It was sooo funny! oh elders. 

I hope everyone's week is going super well! I love you all. The church is so true and I love it. Juneau is awesome. I pray for you every single day. I am so glad all of the fires are almost out. Enjoy that sunshine for me. 

Love you lots! 

Kelly  

p.s. Pray I don't get eaten by the state bird up here (the mosquito). They are enormous and everywhere! 

May 19, 2014

Well Hello everyone!!!!!!!

This week was CRAZY! It was transfers this week and I got a new companion, but before I got her the Sitka sisters came up to "babysit" me while I waited for Sister Dill came in. It was fun working with Sister Honey and Harrison for a couple of days. Well, my comp in not all of the way a new companion because we were companions just three months ago. It has been incredible to see how much Sister Dill has grown as a missionary in just two transfers. She keeps saying that I have changed too, but it's cool to see how you grow so fast a missionary. The Lord really does help you a lot! Sister Dill and I just laugh and smile all day long. It's the best. I was nervous right before she came that I had to "hold down the fort" and teach everything she needed to know about Juneau and all of the people in a day, but that is totally not true. Sister Dill is just easy, go with the flow kind of person, so it has been super nice. We are working hard with all of our investigators. I mean we were working so hard one day Sister Dill forgot her shoes and realized in the car that she didn't have them on. So funny!!!!!

Sadly, we still don't have anyone on date. We are still working with the K's and they are progressing towards baptism. They were at church again on Sunday. I was a little frightened when they cancelled our appointment with them this week. They said it is nothing that has to do with the church, they just have some personal struggles they are trying to work out. It broke my heart and I was so sacred we were going to "loose" them. After putting everything you know about they gospel and using all of your resources when it comes to teaching with the spirit and hearing their testimonies and then that text... .I can only imagine what the Savior must feel like when we turn away from him. Thank goodness they showed up at church on Sunday or I would be a nervous wreck right now. Prayer works when praying for your investigators in case you were wondering.

Rbrought her three kids to church on Sunday. This week we taught her about prophets. She loved it! It is so fun to see people progress towards the gospel. Her husband had to work, but he will come next week. She told us that she is totally going on Sunday ! wooohooo!!!!

J! She is 11. I think I explained stuff about her last week. She is such a cute girl. We have her lessons at her best friends house who is a member. The lessons are so fun. On Monday we taught her about prayer and how Heavenly Father loves her so much. We invited her to pray. When we came back to teach her on Thursday she bore this sweet little testimony about how she knows that prayer is all ready changing her life and that she all ready loves praying. It is amazing to see the love that our Heavenly Father has for each and every single one of his children. Sadly, her mom won't let her get baptized for a few more years. We are just praying that her moms heart will be softened!

So apparently this month we have set a record for sun!!!! woohooooo Along with sun there obviously has been no rain so pollen is going crazy. Everything is covered in like a 1/2 inch of pollen dust. It is so weird. Everyone's allergies are going crazy!

Funny story...Here is yet another rude comment from the little old lady we visit.  well.. are you ready? She always examines my outfits to make sure they are appropriate for missionary work and this week she said, "oh my sister Morrison you are getting FAT!" Sad thing is is that I've lost like 4 pounds in the last month. Looks like I've got a little ways to go.  hahaha, nothing better than old people comments. They just feel free to speak their minds.

Love you all! Bring lots of Miracles, okay? There are people out there looking for the truth, yet they know not where to find. Guess what? You can help them find it. You know what true happiness is. You know that there is a plan for you and for them to take them back to our Father in Heaven. Let's all work our hardest this week to look for opportunities to help others to come closer to our Savior.

Love to all!

Sister Morrison

May 12, 2014

Well everyone...

It was so great to see all of you yesterday!!! It was a great re-boost. Thank you thank you thank you all for your great example. I loved every second of Skype with you!!! 

Transfers came and I am still staying in Juneau! My companion will be Sister Dill. Does her name sound familiar? Well, I was just companions with her in Anchorage. I am super excited. She is super awesome, fun and a hard worker. Things are going to blossom with her here in Juneau! 

Let me just tell you about some people we are teaching! 

The Ks! They are friends with our Bishop and we taught them the Restoration last week. This week we met with them and asked if they had prayed to know if the church was true. The most amazing thing happened! Each one of them talked all about a experience that they had the previous week confirming to them that the church was true. We sat an talked about the experiences for about an hour. I wish I could have recorded it for you all to see. It was incredible. The spirit was so strong. Everyone was just balling. Saturday them came to our ward party and they connected so well with all of the ward members! Yesterday all four of them came to church! They loved it so much and were crying through the whole thing. Nothing better than seeing a whole family come unto Christ. We talked about baptism and they all should be getting baptized here in the next couple of weeks!!!!! 

R and C: We taught them part of the first lesson this week. They want their three little kids to have religion in their life. They requested a Bible and we gave them and showed them all of the Bible videos the church has put out online. They loved it! They are very interested in learning more and even came to the ward party on Saturday. C works with a ton of guys from church, so they all ready have friends. 

The Bs: Sadly they didn't come to church yesterday or the ward party, but they are progressing slowly in the gospel. We are still praying to K's baptism soon!!!!!! 

J: She has been coming to church with friends for about a year. She went to a child of record baptism on Saturday and afterwards ran up to me and said, "When can I be baptized?!" I told her as soon as she wants. she just has to get her moms permission. She told us yesterday that her mom said yes. Well, the T family invited J's family over for FHE tonight. We are teaching them the first lesson. J's dad went over to the T's house last night to tell them how excited he was! 

The Lord is just dropping us families left and right! It is incredible! The Lord really is hastening his work :) Sister Dill is a lucky girl. She is coming into like 6-9 baptisms this transfer!!! It is going to be incredible! 

I love the Lord! Here is a quote I found that I want you all to think hard about. If the prophet was standing talking to you hopefully he wouldn't have to think this. 

We are saddened to learn, as we travel about the stakes and missions of the church, that there are still many of the saints who are not reading of pondering the scriptures regularly and who have little knowledge of the Lord's instructions to the children of men. Many have been baptized and received a testimony, and have "gotten into this straight and narrow path," Yet have failed to take the further required step - to press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end" - President Kimball 

This week try hard to study and apply the scriptures to your life! 

I love you all :) 

Sister Morrison 

May 5, 2014

Well.. big news of the week! I made it 7 months!!!! Crazy how much time flies!!!!!!!! I cannot believe I will be talking to the family here in about 6 days. Can you believe it is Mothers Day already?! Shout out to all of the moms out there. Thanks for making my life the best! The ultimate shout out goes to my sweet, amazing, super awesome, kind, best mom in the whole wide world!!!!! Transfer calls are this week. I am like pretty sure I am staying in Juneau. My companion has been here for 9 months, but you never know what the Lord has in store for you. Looks like we'll find out here in a couple of days.

The best thing ever happened this week. For the first time in 7 months I did not have to wear any sort of jacket for the entire week. This is real live miracle! It has been between 50 and 70 degrees the whole week. I know that doesn't sound too warm, but you better believe when you have lived in freezing temperatures for months and then the sun comes out you feel like you are living on the beach. Literally, everyone in Juneau thought they were living on the beach too. Sister Faupula and I laughed so hard one morning at about 10:30 am when it was probably 50 degrees we saw about 50 people out on their front lawns tanning. Only in Alaska do people tan when it is 50 degrees out.

Because it was so sunny and because Sister Faupula and I set a goal to do it, we tracted for like 3 hours everyday. It was so bright outside I got a tan line on my feet. Hopefully, my whiteness will slowly start to fade away. Sadly, we didn't have much luck with tracting this week, but I am sure it will be better this next week.

All of the cruise ships are coming up which brings in a whole bunch of YSA kids that work up here for the summer. On Tuesday the Sitka sisters came in for exchanges. We picked them up at the airport and as we were walking up the stairs I saw one of my friends from BYU-I. I was like what are you doing here? and he was like.. what are you doing here. It was so random seeing people in Alaska that you previously new. Weird. Weird. Weird.

So we were supposed to have a baptism this week. 12 year old K. Sadly, her mom has been pretty flaky. They are never home when we set up appointments and didn't come to church this Sunday. It was so sad! So.. sadly, K will not be getting baptized this Saturday. Pray that we can meet with their sweet little family again and that the ward can really get involved to help them.

We finally taught the first lesson to the Bishops family, the Ks!!!!!! They are some tough cookies. The lesson went super well, but they asked some tough questions. I think they will join the church super soon, which is exciting. I have never prayed so hard in my life for spiritual guidance in a lesson, but thankfully the spirit took over and we were able to teach them! They even said they want to learn more!!! It's happy!!!

We taught a sweet lady named A from Columbia this week. She understands like no English. So.. I decided to pray really hard and I taught her the whole first lesson in Spanish. It was cool how the words just flowed from my mouth.... Just kidding. We had a kid that just got from a Spanish speaking mission come and translate for us. I could understand like half of it. We are teaching her again this week. We are excited!!!

This week was stake conference. The Saturday night conference was all about how the members need to help the missionaries. They had several people in the stake share their conversion stories and how members played a key role in their conversions. After the meeting members came running up to us asking us to help them with their friends. We got lots of referrals that night!! It was the best :) Nothing better than the members and missionaries working together!!!!

Things are going super good here. We are still trying to contact everyone in ward  and get things rolling! The new ward mission leader is fantastic! We are going out with all of the ward missionaries this week!

I cant wait to see you guys on Sunday!!!!!!

Love you lots!!!

Sister Morrison!!!

April 28, 2014

I cannot believe that I am emailing again. This week just flew by.

This week started out by eating sticky rice along with a whole bunch of Thai food from this Thai lady. Man was it good. Emilee Phelps is one lucky girl!! The food was the bomb diggity. I don't know why people don't eat sticky rice here more often. It is way better that regular white rice. Mom and Dad, no wonder you talked so much about the food when you got home :) That night we had Family Home Evening with our recent convert Lei and her family. We were in charge of the activity. It was so funny. We decided to do head, shoulders, knees and toes. We danced away to the song. It was so funny doing head, shoulders, knees and toes with four grown Polynesians and a little girl. We were literally dying laughing by the end of it!!!!

Every week we do service at a women's shelter. They usually have us make dinner for all of the women. It was so funny this week, because they usually have us make sloppy joes which is super easy and this week they gave us a bag of raw chicken and were like cook it however you want. You all know my fear of raw meat and my lack of cooking skills. Basically we just made BBQ chicken and left before anyone tried it. I am praying that it turned out okay! haha 

Missionary work is happening here!!! The whole bishopric focused on missionary work! It is amazing how much of a difference that can make. We get about 5 referrals from members a week. This week because of the bishopric we were able to pick up as investigators R and C. C has been to church a few times and R came last Sunday. My companion and I are excited to start teaching them. The Bishop has a family that he has been working with too. Last night he texted us saying that the family wanted to take the discussions and get baptized. When does that ever happen? like never!!! We are so excited! Our first lesson with them is on Sunday. Miracles are happening here in Juneau!!!!

The week was pretty slow trying to see people, because the sun was out. I guess it is pretty rare for the sun to be out in Juneau since it rains so much that everyone the minute it gets sunny takes off from work and goes hiking or fishing. It was really tough to find people at home, but we did have an amazing lesson with a less active family! We taught a lesson about the Restoration. Every time I teach that the spirit is so strong!!!!! It just reaffirms my testimony that the church is true. Everyone was in tears and the spirit was there in the lesson. What more could make a lesson better. It was incredible!!!!!!!

So I offended this lady this week. She has been really sick and wanted to make sure that we didn't get her sickness. I was talking to her on the phone and I said we hadn't caught it, but maybe the Lord was watching out for us. Man she blew up! She said how dare you say something like that. That would imply that the God thought you were more special than me. It's funny how you can be so complementing and straight up rude in one sentence... It was so awkward. I totally did not mean it like that. Looks like I have to be a lot more careful what I say to little old ladies.

The work is going good. We are pushing hard and are excited to start teaching these new families. We have a goal of tracting 3 hours each day this week. That is like a 300% increase from what we have been doing. Wish us luck that we can get a few new investigators!!!!!!!!!

The church is true. Only 13 more days until Skype!! WOOHOO!!! Love you and miss you all. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement each week. You all are the best :) Keep teaching and preaching to people about the gospel. Love you!!!

Sister Morrison

April 14, 2014

Well Family!!!!!

Hope everything is well. Things are going really good here in Juneau. This week Sister Faupula and I decided that we should probably start sacrificing things so we could show the Lord that we were ready to work harder than ever. We knew that if we sacrificed that he would have to bless us. So.. we sacrificed our lunch time naps. They are only about 15 minutes everyday. I thought this would be easy to give up, but boy o boy was I wrong. I don't think I have been more tired on the mission so far.

So here are some miracles that happened this week because of the simple sacrifice!

1. We went tracting. Now I hate tracting because I have never had success from it. Well, you know what? The second door we knocked on there was this girl named K. She said she was open to religion and wanted to learn more about what we believed. She said she knows a ton of Mormons and really likes their standards. We asked her if we could teach her a lesson. We went back on Friday and taught her and her boyfriend the Restoration. The Spirit was so strong. At the end of that lesson my testimony for tracting has increased about 100%.

2. We received three referrals in one day! We also were able to meet with an investigator for the first time after trying to see them for weeks!!! It went really good. We are going to meet with them again tomorrow.

3. We had an appointment with our newly called young womens president which just so happens to be really good family friends with my comps family. We had an appointment at 7 pm that we made a week ago. We showed up at 7:02 and right then my companions family called asking them to get a hold of my companion because her brother had gotten his mission call and they wanted her to hear them open it. The Lord really outs you in the right place at the right time! Her brother is going to Manchester, England. It did make me a little jealous that she got to talk to her whole family, but don't worry because there are only 27 days left until Mother's DAY!!!!

4. One of our investigator families invited us to their family party. They were telling everyone how we bring this special spirit into their homes. They think it is a positive energy or something. Wait until we tell them that once they receive the holy ghost they can have that feeling to be their constant companion. We are going to try and put that family on date tonight!

This week my  companion was really sick. We had to stay in for two days, but she is better now!!! So that is exciting. I am just really hoping that I don't get that sickness!!

So those were just some of our little miracles that happened this week. Right now we do not have a ton of people to teach, because of the ward boundary changes and conference and stuff, but members have been suggesting people for us to teach left and right. I think we have about 30 potential investigators. We are really hopefully going to get the ball rolling this week. I am super excited! Pray for us!!!

It is kind of starting to warm up. We are at a high of about 35 degrees! I hope the Easter Bunny comes this week for all of you, but remember the real reason for the season. He is RISEN!!!! Celebrate it! Tell your friends all about it! Nothing is great than what the Savior Jesus Christ did for us.

I love you all!!!! Keep pressing forward with a steadfast faith in Christ!!!

Sister Morrison 

April 7, 2014

Not really sure if anyone caught this, but the prophet totally talked about Juneau, Alaska in his talk!!!! I guess I was one of only 6 missionaries in the world serving in the place where the prophet talked about. I'd say that this is promised land!!!

Let me just tell you about the miracles that happened this week.

1. We have a new bishop that was a missionary here in Juneau 15 years ago. He is super focused on missionary work. On Friday night we had dinner with his family and a family that he has been sharing the gospel with!!! The mom and one of the daughters went to womens meeting last week and loved it. The dad went to priestood session on Saturday with bishop and said he was so inspried. We are talked to them about the chruch. It was so wonderful. Last week they said to bishop that they were going to be baptized, but they just wanted to learn a little more. My companion and I are starting to teach them!!!! It's the mom, A, the dad, V, daughters M who is 15 and M who is 17. They are coming to mutual on Wednesday. We get to baptize a family! We are so excited! Member misisonary work works!!!!!!

2. This week was transfer week and our mission president brought in all of the misisonaries from the south east. There were 18 missionaries here in Juneau. My companion and I had to organize work for 8 different missionaries. You know I love planning, so it was so much fun doing that. One night we went on a zone tract. An amazing thing happened from that. We got 12 referals!!!!! 12 people to start teaching. It was amazing! IT was fun to have all of the missionaries up  for a few days!

3. This morning we had a call from our bishopric member. He said he was out visiting families last night and was talking to the family about sharing the gospel. They said they have been bringing a 12 year girl to church for a couple months and she is ready to start taking the lessons! Miracle right there!

4. We are teaching a dad and a 12 year old girl. The mom joined the church when she was a teenager, but wants her family to start going to church. We have them on a potential baptism date for April 26.

5. Last week the elders gave us a referal for a lady that wants her two girls baptized. We are meeting with her this week!

It is amazing to see the Lord's hand in his work. It just strengthens my testimony so much.

I absolutely loved conference!!!!!! My favorite talk was probably Elder Bednar's where he talked about sharing our load with the Lord. You all should read it again. I loved it! I learned a ton about the spirit world this conference. I guess I just never realized that when Christ went through the Atonement we literally made it prossible for all people in the spirit prison to be able to accept the gospel. I learn more and more about the Atonement each and everyday. I love it!!!!!! I hope you all learned something fabulous at conference!!!!

Love to all!

Sister Morrison

March 31, 2014

Hello everyone!!!! 

Time flies! I have made it through a third of my mission. Can you believe that?!!!!!! I'll be home in year. You all better start making paper chains and hanging them all over your houses. Don't worry. I am not going to count down. Yes, you heard that right. I am not doing the count down because it just makes time go by WAY slower. 39 days or something like that until Skype... I'll just count down the little things ;) 

Well, I always get pretty stressed around transfers because I know a change is happening and it drives me crazy that I won't know what is going on until like 3 days before it happens. So we all know that I get big nasty zits on my face when I'm stressed. We went over to this ladies house this week who last week told me I looked like I live under a rock because I was so white. Well... Want to know what she told me this week? "What did you do? Take a nail and hammer to your face. Your face is a wreck." Looks like it was time to stop stressing! haha I am staying in Juneau for another 6 weeks with the same companion!!!! My companion has been here for 9 months. She should have gotten her mission call to Juneau! I am really excited to stay. 

We got assigned over the Nugget Falls ward. It's basically like we are white washing in. It just so happens that all of the people in ward we have never worked with. Soooo all new people. We are really excited. This week was really slow because of all the ward splits, people were all trying to get callings and figure out what ward they were in. We hope the work picks up fast. We have an awesome Bishop. He just moved here to Juneau a couple months ago. He was a missionary here 15 years ago. He looks exactly like Bishop Pulsipher!  He has a family for my companion and I to teach. We are so excited! He is so focused on missionary work. Man it makes such a difference when the Bishop wants to ward to get involved. It's going to be a happy transfer. My companion and I have made it a goal to tract the whole ward boundaries before the transfer is over. Hopefully, that will bring in lots of new investigators.  

Speaking of new investigators....Some times we get stuck in awkward situations while tracting. This one lady invited us in. All she could talk about for an hour and a half is how she was abused as a child and is changing the world by taking in all homeless people off the streets that she finds. We literally could not get a word in. Sometimes the Lord just needs us there to be someone's friend. At the end she said she was not at all interested in learning about the church. It's kinda funny how people will dump all of their problems on you and then tell you to leave.  

A few days ago we were trying to visit a whole bunch of less actives. No one  was home or people were too busy let us in. We were pretty frustrated. After three hours of just trying to get in someone's door we knocked on a family's door that the elders had been working with but are now in our ward. They were having huge family party, but they welcomed us in. We got to know everyone and shared a message. It was fun and the spirit was there, but we felt a little bit like we were intruding. Yesterday during fast and testimony meeting the dad of that family got up and bore his testimony about how we showed up at his house at the perfect time. Apparently, the last seven family gatherings they have had the missionaries have randomly shown up. His kids are very less active and it was a miracle in his eyes that we showed up at the perfect time. The Lord really does put us in the right place at the right time if we are trying to listen to the spirit! Sometimes we don't realize the miracles that we can be a part of!

We went out to dinner with this family that took us to a super nice restaurant. It was $30 a plate. I ordered pork and this bell pepper stuff. You know what they brought us out, caramelized fat on a plate with some meat. Everyone should be super proud. I ate the whole plate of fat!!!

I love you all! I'll be looking for you on the big screen at conference! 

Sister Morrison

March 24, 2014

Well hello everyone!!!!!!!

So we had three baptisms planned this week. On Wednesday we got a call from our 12 year old investigator A that said he wanted to meet with us. He is the one that can't speak very good English. We went over and met with him. He said that he did not want to be baptized. We were super sad! We asked him why? He said that his uncle was forcing him into it. We can't force anyone to be baptized, so sadly he did not get baptized. We are hoping that he will realize soon how much the gospel will bless his life. The less active family that he now lives with said that we could still continue teaching him. Hopefully, this will help get the family active again.

Thursday, we had a wedding!!! L and D were married. So the Polynesian culture is super laid back. At the wedding L and D didn't even sit by each other. It kind of reminded me a little of Paraguay. Pretty relaxed and stuff. But when they were married they just had the happiest smiles on their faces. Missionaries have been trying to get them married for three years! I am so happy that it happened!

Saturday! It was big day! In the afternoon we went over to a newly retuning members house. She is from Mexico city. She taught us how to make a full blown authentic Mexican meal. We made... well... I can't spell it. We hand grinded beans on this stone thing. Then we made masa and made this tostada thing. It was so good!!!! The elders came for dinner too! They keep talking about how good it was. Man I am jealous of Rylee in Mexico. She must be eating some BOMB food!

L and M were both baptized. It was the most wonderful thing of my life so far. Nothing can explain the joy that comes from seeing someone come up out of the water being completely clean! Both our investigators were balling because the spirit was so strong. They both couldn't believe how clean felt. I am was so happy that night that when I got home my cheeks hurt so bad from smiling. After the baptism... no big event goes down without  food in the Polynesian culture. I am pretty sure there was enough food to feed a stake and only like 60 people were at the baptism. It was so happy. All of the work I have done for the last six months paid off when I saw those two baptized!

Sunday night we had a huge fireside. They changed the ward boundaries here in Juneau after twenty years! It was time considering one of the wards had over 1,000 people and 350 active. They added a new ward here in Juneau. Because of the boundary changes we have no idea what wards we will be over or who we will work with. President is praying over it right now. I have a feeling this week is going to be super slow considering we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off. This next week is transfers all ready. Can you believe it?  I get pretty bad anxiety around transfers because I know a change is happening, but I have no idea what kind of change. I found out on Friday if I am staying or leaving. I am pretty sure I am staying because my companion has been here for 7.5 months. We will see what happens though!

It was a wonderful week with countless miracles. I love you all! Keep reading and praying every day!!!

Sister Morrison 

March 17, 2014

I wonder if the ground will ever be free of snow? One day maybe! I think my toes have been cold for 5 and a half months. I can't wait for it to be over 60 degrees and sunny. It surprises me so much how much you can miss the sun. You better all appreciate the lower 48 (that's what Alaskans call all of the states south of here).

I am a journal writer now. Everyone should be super proud of me. This is the first week in my entire life that I have written in a journal seven days in a row. It's just crazy. I wish I would have wrote in my journal more more. Oh well.. That's what the future is for!

We had some fabulous training this week. When you study and learn about the Savior it is so incredible. It brings the spirit like nothing else. I think by the end of all of our training every missionary was sobbing. We could really feel Heavenly Fathers and Jesus Christ's love for missionaries and the people we teach so strongly. I love the gospel and feeling the spirit! It's the best!

We met with this sweet lady this week. It was so sad. She lives in a home where all of her kids and husband do drugs. She can't escape it. She says that she can't come to church on Sundays because she can't leave her house that long. If she did everything would be stolen from her. Drugs are so sad. They destroy people's lives. Don't do them. I wish I could move her out and let her move in with us.

For some reason this week everyone has been trying to hook me up with their sons after I get home from the mission. Guess my talk impressed people on Sunday???? Do they not realize that I have another year left? It is always awkward when people start to bringing that up.

This week we hung picture frames for a lady in the ward. Yes... you read that right. They funny this is.. The lady doesn't believe in measuring. She believes in eyeballing. It drove me just about crazy, because the way Dad hangs pictures is a lot different than her style. By the time we were finished it was so off centered and not straight, but she loved it so I guess that is all that matters!

My investigators are getting baptized this weekend!

L: She is 21 and prego with her second baby. She has to marry her less active boyfriend this week, so she can baptized this Saturday. My comp and I are praying that they actually go through with it. They are kind of going through a rough patch in their relationship, but they know Lei needs to get baptized. She wants it so bad! It has been so exciting to teach her and see her come closer to the Savior. It's the best!

M (16) & A (12): They are cousins and are living with their aunt and uncle, an  Active member family in our ward. Both of their parents are in Samoa. Both of them don't speak a lot of English so we have to teach the lessons in Samoan. That has been quite interesting. We write out everything for them, and then say stuff in English and Samoan. It has been so cool to see how the spirit works. Somehow they understand everything. They cannot wait to be baptized! I love them so much!!!

Their baptism are this Saturday! I am soooo pumped!!!!

They made an announcement at church this Sunday that the ward boundaries are all changing. This should be super interesting. We think that they are going to add another ward. This is super exciting because that means this area is growing. It will be 20 years since they have changed the boundaries. It gives us a good opportunity to go around to everyone's homes and tell them about it. Hopefully, we will get into a lot of houses. It will be interesting to see what ward I will be over, or if my companion and I will still be over all three wards in Juneau. I am excited to see what happens.

My companion has strep throat. Man I am just praying so hard that I don't get it! Someone made us In-and-Out burgers yesterday. Even though they were not exactly like them, it was good to taste something kind of close to home. There are no fast food restaurants (besides a McDonalds in the middle of no where) here in Juneau. It was kind of nice having something greasy for once.

I love you all! I love the gospel! Study the scriptures for at least 5 minutes a day!!! It will change your life !

Love to all!

Sister Morrison!!!!!!!!! 

March 10, 2014

Hello everyone!

Our three investigators are still on date for baptism! M, A and L!!!! They are still progressing and LOVE the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has probably been the happiest time in my entire life teaching these three about the gospel. They are so excited and are asking these amazing questions all of time. It incredible that the Lord trusts me to answer them! M is what we call a GOLDEN investigator. He is so pumped up about church that he even sang in sacrament yesterday!

 So some crazy things happened this week!

We went over and visited a new member on our roster. She didn't live there anymore, but her sister sure did! Guess what she had in her living room? A pole. My companion asked her why she had a fireman's pole in her living room (even though we knew what kind of pole it really was)? She said "oh girls that's a strip pole." Apparently she had taken up belly dancing and pole dancing! 55 year old women should not take that up ever!!!! Even if it is a form of exercise..... Can you imagine.? Thank goodness the elders didn't go over there haha

We were visiting this really old lady. The minute I walked into the room she said that I needed to take my coat off right away because it was too heavy for my tropical skirt. She told my companion that shes looked like she was from CA because of her sun tanned skin, so I asked her where she thought I was from? She said...from under a rock. Man I almost cried. Guess I am getting that white.

Just last night for dessert. People made us eat: 1 piece of pie, 5 scoops of ice cream, 4 pieces of huge cake and a bowl of nasty calorie loaded fruit salad. And that was just for dessert. I think I might die. My stomach was in shambles!  

I had to give a talk this week! Thank goodness I still have my farewell talk. Man that talk has saved me so many times!!! It relates to just about any topic anyone could ever ask me to speak on.

Daylight savings has kicked me in the booty. It's one thing to wake up at 5:55 every morning, but to have to wake up an hour earlier than that? It was quite though!!!Thank goodness I have had enough energy to keep pushing forward.

Awkward moment of the day when the uncle of the 14 and 16 year old boys you are teaching tries to tell you and your companion that you are going to marry them when they get home from their missions. I kept trying to point to my companion telling them that they wanted a Polynesian and my companion kept telling everyone that they for sure wanted a Polagi (a white girl). Man was it awkward and funny!!!!

I love serving the Lord! I love working with people by helping them come closer to the Savior! Keep pressing forward feasting upon the words of Christ because they will tell you all things which you should do! 2 Nephi 31:3

Sister Morrison

March 3, 2014

hello hello hello. Count the number of hello's and that is how many people I put on date for baptism this week!!!! Miracles happen! WOOHOOO!!!!

L: She has been taking the missionary discussions for three years. She is prego with her second baby and has finally decided that this is what she wants in her life. Along with getting baptized on the twenty-second we are also planning her and her finances wedding. Good thing I love planning things!!! She can't wait to be baptized. We meet with her like every day because she is so excited about the gospel!

A and M: They came to Alaska two years ago from Samoa! They are on fire! They are living with their aunt who is a member and said that we need to start teaching them. Every time we teach them M's face just glows. He loves the gospel so much he has even started going to seminary in the morning. A has a hard time understanding English, but is still progressing a lot. They are also getting baptized on the 22nd!

We also are teaching several other people! It is amazing the spirit that you can feel as you teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Teaching is so much fun. I love seeing people progress towards following the example of Jesus Christ.

We have this one guy named B. His daughter got baptized a couple of months ago and I think it hit him pretty hard. He said he is  going to bear his testimony next Sunday and if we don't laugh then we get to teach him the discussions. I think he is just making some kind of excuse to teach him! That is another potential baptism too!

Last P-day was kind of a disaster. Somehow we managed to loose our house key when we were out shopping. We went and got our spare key. Well on the way out we locked our spare key inside our apartment. It was definitely a blonde moment on my part. We ended up having to go to dinner in our work out clothes and didn't get into our apartment until 9:30 at night when the apartment manager let us in. We were going to have to camp out at the senior couples apartment who lives upstairs! Thankfully we got in!

We have set a goal of tracting for 30 minutes a day. It is funny to see the different people's responses with tracting. Mostly it's a nice no thank you and occasionally a slammed door in the face, but I know it is so important. Yesterday we were out tracting and this lady answered the door and said get inside!!! wooohoooo That happens like never. We taught her all about family history. She loved it! We are going to start teaching her how to do that this week!!

MIRACLES HAPPEN! JUST LOOK OUT FOR THEM AND TRUST IN THE LORD!!!! Love to all! Keep reading those scriptures and praying. The Lord will bless you!

Sister Morrison!

February 24, 2014

Well....

I know what you are all are thinking! Tell us about your new area and your new companion.. Well here it is:

My companion in Sister Faupula. She is from Ontario, CA and is a party! Man I love her so much. We just laugh all day. Don't worry our transfer goal is to be exactly obedient, so need to worry about us being disobedient. Sister F. is a boxer. We work out every morning for like 45 minutes at the gym. She has served in Juneua for 7 and half months, so most likely I will be the one staying next transfer.

I got off the plane(after sitting by a lady who taught me just about everything there is to know about glaciers while looking out the plane window) and I literally thought I was entering a postcard. HOLY COW this place just beautiful. I am literally serving in one of the most beautiful places in the world. How did I get so lucky? There are pine trees, glaciers, mountains and islands everywhere. I so surprised more people don't live here. To top off all of that there are bald eagles everywhere! They are so cool. And to make it even better than that there is actually sun here. I am not lying when I say I had not seen the sun in about four months. It's about 45 degrees here everyday. It's the best!

My apartment that I am living in is right down stairs from a senior couple. They are just so cute. They have 15 kids and this is their 3rd mission. Boy oh Boy do they spoil us. Everynight they make us some sort of dessert and we say night time prayer with them. It's nice having them watch out for us. Our apartment in awesome. Another Senior couple apparently lived there before us and they completely furnished it. We have everything from nice leather couches to a clothes steamer to memory foam bed. I am literally living the dream.

My companion and I cover all of the wards here in Juneau. There are 4 elders also in Juneau. We are over three wards  in Juneau and Douglas Island. Being over that much stuff results in 8 hours of church on Sunday. I thought my brain was going to explode trying to learn everyone's names yesterday. The Juneau 3rd ward is all the Polynesians, Spanish and Asain people. That is the main ward that we work in. It has been fun trying to learn everyone's names! The food is so good! The people feed us so much. Polynesian food is what we eat most of!  

There is so much work to do here! About a year ago a lady named L was taking the missionary discussions, but somehow kinda fell through the cracks. This week we knocked on her door and bamb! She said, "Sisters I have been waiting for you. How soon can I get baptized?" WOOOHOOOO!! That is like every missionaries dream come true. Everyone wants us to teach their 9-15 year old kids that have not been baptized. Boy o boy do we have our work cut out for us.

This week we were visiting a lady in an old folks home. As we were walking out a lady in a wheelchair asked us to wheel her outside...sooooo we did. We had just got out the door when about 5 nurses came running. We had accidently helped her escape the facility. Ooops.

Well. I am 25% done with my mission. Can you believe that? It has gone by so fast. I cannot explain how much I have grown. I have learned about the Savior so much more. Every time I teach a simple truths about the gospel I feel the spirit so much knowing that what I am testifying and teaching about is true. I am grateful to be a part of hastening the work of salvation here in Alaska. The Book of Mormon is truly another testament of Jesus Christ whose name I am proud to wear on my name badge. I love sharing the gospel and I couldn't imagine myself doing anything better than what this is preparing me to do with the rest of my life! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!

Love to all!

SISTER MORRISON 

February 18, 2014

Well folks I don't have a lot of time, because yesterday was president's day and today is transfer day.

Here is the news about transfers:

I AM GOING TO JUNEAU, ALASKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! I AM SOOO EXCITED!!!!!!

It's actually pretty warm there. It's a high of like 45 degrees and a low of like 18. My feet might actually be warm for once. The ward I am going into is mainly Polynesian... so you all know what that means.. LOTS AND LOTS OF GOOD FOOD :) Yay! I am sad to be leaving this ward and all of the people I am teaching, but I am so excited to go down to the south east. There are only 6 missionaries in Juneau so we have a LOT of work to do.

My companion is going to be Sister Faupula!!!!!! She is Togan and is from Ontario, CA.....So, I have a feeling it is going to be super fun! I fly out tomorrow! WOOHOO

I let you know on more updates once I get there. But for everyone that is reading this. Every day have a meaningful conversation with at least one person you don't know this week. It will bring amazing blessings. You might just have a missionary experience!

Love to all! Bring lots and lots of Miracles!

Sister Morrison!!

February 10, 2014

Okay.. This transfer has been absolutely nuts.

1. I was greenie broken

2. I trained a sister missionary

3. I was in a trio companionship

4. One of my companions left the companionship half way through

5. I got a new companion that is going home in like a week.

That all results in not the normal schedule of a missionary, but it has been really fun trying to juggle a whole bunch of random stuff that keeps getting thrown at me. The work is going great in the Inlet View ward. B was supposed to get baptized on Saturday, but sadly that fell threw because she was admitted into the hospital. She has pnemonia. It's super sad. We pushed her baptism back to February 22nd. Everyone please pray super hard that she gets better. This week we taught her the Word of Wisdom. The minute we taught that to her she said I wil never smoke and drink ever again in my life. It is such a testimony builder to me how much people love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sister Dill and I survived on our own for a couple of days this week. Let me remind you.. Sister Dill has been out for 2 months and I have only been out for 4, but let me tell you some crazy miracles happened. We went and taught a lesson to a lady that has read a whole bunch of Anti-Mormon stuff and has completely left the church. Apparently, what we taught her was just what she needed. In the lesson she broke down crying and said after a year of not being at church... I AM COMING BACK. Guys. She is coming back to church. It was so happy. She is now reading her scriptures like every single day. Miracles totally happen!!!

I am an official member of the Ididarod dog sled race volunteer group. I even have an official badge. This week we bundled and bagged straw and hay for all of the dogs to sleep on during the race. Sometimes it is really fun doing service. It gives you a fun little break from your day to day routine.

I got a new companion this week. I am still in a trio for the rest of the transfer. My new comp is Sister Claspbell. She goes home in 10 days. It has been really cool to see all of the miracles that she has brought into the ward again. We have been able to meet with some people that she used to meet with that I guess kind of fell through the cracks. It is amazing to see the Lord's hand in his work. I can definitely tell she is in our companionship for a reason.

Another crazy cat stroy for the week. I was driving down the road and all of the sudden I screamed stop. We all looked to left and there was a cat fence. It was a fence made of cat wood carvings. Who in their right mind would EVER have a cat fence. I am going to take a picture of it this week and send it to you all.

Okay. I have started something these past couple of weeks that has made a profound inpact on my life and I would just like to invite all of you to do it. The minute you wake up in the morning tell yourself that you are LIVING THE DREAM! Anytime someone asks you how you are you just tell them you are living the dream. People will want to know why are so happy. It really brings miracles of happiness in your life and the people around you. Warning. The only time you can't ask someone if they are living the dream is at a McDonalds drive through. The lady at the window will probably start yelling and saying stuff like.. do you see where I work? Does it look like a living the dream? Ya... that didn't go over so well, but everywhere else you should totally say it to everyone!

I love you all! You are a wonderful example to me. Missionary work is the best. President's day is next week, so I probably will not be able to e-mail on Monday. Transfers are this upcoming week. Pray that I get a normal companion!!!!!

Love to all!

Sister Morrison 

February 3, 2014

I MADE IT FOUR MONTHS!!!!!!!!!! YAY! TIME FLIES WHEN YOU ARE HAVING FUN!!!!!!!!!

So sad. Mom, you must have given me a migraine through the computer last week. It was P-day and I was in the middle of playing basketball and all of the sudden I could not see about half the stuff I was looking at and I started to get SUPER nauseous (mom spell check that word). Well, I went and laid on the stage and about an hour later I was experiencing a raging migraine. I told my companions that we needed to go the store and get some medicine ASAP. So... I ruined two hours of their P-day. They went and got me some medicine and they dropped me off at the mission home where I laid in pain and tried to sleep until they picked me up that night around 9. Man it totally sucked to not being able to work, but it was nice to have a place to stay and my companions could still go out and work.

We taught a less active couple this week. They are 90 years old and are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. Can you believe that? The down side about teaching them is that we have to literally scream the lesson at the top of our lungs in order to teach them anything. I think they might just need to get those hearing aids adjusted. It's kinda hard to keep the spirit when you have to scream, but my comps and I always come out of their lessons dying laughing!

We picked up a new investigator this week. His name is P and is a native man. He lives in the basement of a members home and joined us for dinner at the members home. We shared a message about diligence and that brought up him talking about diligence in working out. It was so funny! He is obsessed with working out and brags all about how buff he is. Well... his muscles are about the size of mine. AKA... he has no muscles. On the bright side because of that we were able to relate it to the gospel and he agreed to meet with us again. It's amazing the different ways you can pick up investigators.

This week we met with some less actives that have been faithful members of the gospel their whole lives and recently read a whole bunch of anti Mormon crap online and have completely left the church because of it. NEVER READ THAT STUFF ONLINE. It will literally destroy you. It was so sad to see the effect that has had on their lives. It was probably one of the hardest lessons I have ever had to teach. I had to rely completely on the Holy Ghost. We came out of the lesson having borne powerful testimonies of the truthfulness of gospel. I think the lord really helped us because they totally showed up to church on Sunday after about a year! WOOOOHOOOOOO

We are teaching a lady that used to live in Dutch Harbor. Only my dream place to live. The best part about it is that she totally knows all of the people from Deadliest Catch. Every time we go over to her house we always talk Deadliest Catch for the first 10 minutes. Man it is the best!

Okay. We are meeting with two families. Both the husbands are less active and the wives are non-members. After years of meeting with missionaries the spirit is finally working with them! Both the wives are finally progressing! We are so excited. Their hearts are being softened! They are building testimonies about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and are now finally considering coming to church. I am so grateful that the Lord is letting the Dream Team be those instruments in helping others finding the truthfulness of the gospel!

Fun fact of the day! I finally have my Alaska drivers license. I only had to take the test one time to pass! I started driving this week. I must say the roads are a lot different from nice California dry roads. I have officially driven on ice and I am feeling a lot more comfortable about it. If anyone remembers my license picture from California we all know that is the worst picture ever taken in the history of the DMV. Well... sadly my Alaska picture beats the California picture. IT IS EVEN WORSE! I look like a 500 pound white ghost. Oh well.

Saturday was quite the eventful day. We got a call from our mission president. He told us a girl in the crisis center requested sister missionaries to come and visit her. We we all a little panicked not knowing what to expected. Man I prayed so hard trying to know exactly what she needed to hear. We ended up meeting with her. She was a little timid, but ended up being totally normal. Turns out she was baptized in the North Pole ward like 5 years ago. We were able to talk all about the people there. It was awesome. She was able to come to church on Sunday and is going to start attending mutual! It's the best! Then we got another call from the mission president. He asked us and the the other missionaries in our ward to come and meet with him. We all pretty nervous and were trying to think of what we did wrong... We got to their house and he called my comp upstairs first...She came back down BALLING. Well... we all know I have anxiety, so I just about peed my pants I was so nervous. He told us that she was being transferred up to Fairbanks early. The sister in Fairbanks will be with us for two weeks. The dream team is getting split up! We are SOOO sad! It's nothing that we did wrong. It's just that the sister in Fairbanks is coming down this week for meetings and is going home in two weeks...so there is no point in flying her back up to Fairbanks just to fly her down again in a couple days.

I am kind of worried about it since she is the senior companion and we have SUPER tough investigators. It will make me the senior companion. You bet your bottom dollar I have not prayed harder in my life these past few days for the Holy Ghost to be by my side. Things get a lot harder when you have responsibility to lead out the lessons. I know it will all work out. I did meet with the mission president Saturday night also. He said I was most likely going to be the missionary that stays in Anchorage next transfer. So..that was a little nice getting transfer calls early!

Best part about this week. I sat on a members cat and almost killed it. It was an accident,but I really hope I injured that thing. I know... probably not missionary approved mind, but oh well!

Love to all! Keep teaching and preachin' the gospel friends and family! You never know who the Lord is preparing for you to share the gospel with!!!!

Sister Morrison