October 27, 2014

Hi Folks,

I am staying in the Ocean View ward here in Anchorage for another transfer, but my companion is changing. I am going to be with Sister Ogden. And yes... she is from Utah. That is about all I know about her. She has been out for 4.5 months. She came out with Sister Dall, so it should be fun being with her. We are still the Sister Training Leaders for all the sisters in the mission except for Fairbanks. Sister Dall (my trainee) and her companion are going to be STL's up there. I am so proud of her! It will be fun getting to work closely with her again. I am sad to see Sister Hallmark go to Soldotna, but I know the Lord is calling her there for her last transfer.

This week we did not  have exchanges. It felt a little weird not having a crazy week, but some amazing miracles happened that made it so so busy!

1. We are teaching this man named J. We have had a hard time having him open up about how he really feels about the church. We were finally able to help him open up and share his desires with us! He still wants to learn and asked us to teach him about specific subjects. That was really great thing to get out of him.

2. The Elders called us this week with a referral. Her name is C and she has four cute kids. We knocked on her door and asked if she wanted to learn more about the church. She said yes and we taught the first part of the Restoration. She loved it! We are going back Wednesday to teach her about the Plan of Salvation. She seems golden to me! I cannot wait for another family to enter the waters of baptism!!!! 

3. We had the most tender lesson with an old lady named I who is dying. She told us about how she feels like God doesn't hear all of her prayers. We were able to boldly testify that He does and that He knows her and He cares deeply for her. It was one of the most spiritual lessons I've had on my mission. It was incredible. The spirit was there so strong testifying of God's love for each of His children. Later that day we were able to have the same lesson with another lady in our ward that was admitted to a crisis center.  There is no denying the power of God's love!

4. We were able to have a dinner and really connect with a  less active family. It was incredible. They haven't had missionaries in their home for years. The husband normally leaves the room when we came over. Here is the miracle of the dinner... he stayed to whole time and talked all about how he knows God is watching out for him. We had an incredible lesson. The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways. I love it!

5. My recent converts, the Ks came to Anchorage and we had a wonderful meal with them at Olive Garden. I seriously love them so much. They will be forever friends!!! It is so fun seeing them progress in the gospel.

6. The Lord really blessed us being busy this week. We literally felt like chickens with our heads cut off running from apt to apt. It was the best.

Okay, no for some cool things.

1. We went to Golden Corral with this little old lady. She was excited to take us. Well, Golden Corral is an all you can eat buffet. Each time we excitedly announced that we were going to get another plate she would get so excited I thought she was about to have a seizure. My companion at one point announced that she was going to get a handful of gummy bears and some cotton candy. This cute little old lady died laughing and was excited that we were having such a blast. haha

2. J our investigator and his girlfriend, S, were happy to announce when we showed up at their house that they were going to teach us how to dance. We were a little shocked because J just had knee surgery and they are both like 85. They stood up and died laughing. We didn't know what was funny. They then held hands and stretched as far away from each other as possible. They then said... do you know who is in between us? Jesus! When you go home girls always make sure there is room for Jesus when you dance. It was so cute!

3. Got my flu shot this week! I hope you all did too!

4. I have been busy planning Sister's Training which happens the night of Transfers. It has been a lot of work. The theme is football and integrity. It should be a lot of fun!

5. We are off soon to go and pick up the new missionaries at the airport. Tonight Sister Hallmark and I are staying at the mission home with the new sister. It should be a great slumber party where the lights go out at 10:30 :)

I love you! Look for opportunities to serve. As you do so you will be more in tune with the spirit and you will literally be the angles in God's hand here on Earth blessing the lives of others.

Sister Morrison!

Caroling with the zone!

October 20, 2014

Well Hello there!

I am sitting here in the Anchorage Public Library literally about to fall off my chair, curl up in a little ball and fall asleep. I don't think I have been this tired in a long time. I think 5 days of straight exchanges with other sisters was a little too much. I mean I loved it, but when you are on an exchange you have to be an emotional counselor, be the best missionary example you could possibly be while praising and correcting the sister for any obedience /disobedience.

Anyways, before we went on our exchanges we met with a few less actives and investigators. It went really well. Our investigators are progressing, so that is super exciting. We have an investigator G that wanted to be baptized on December 6th, but turns out she loves church so much she wants to be baptized sooner! Wohooooooo We are going to set an earlier baptism date this week. She doesn't really care what her family thinks about her decision. She wants to do what the Lord expects of her. I love seeing people have a desire to follow the example that Jesus Christ set for them! It's the best!

Wednesday I was with Sister Harrison in her area. She is serving in the Inlet View ward, the ward I was in last January. It was so fun to be back, yet a little sad. Literally, everyone I used to visit had either a stroke, heart attack or cancer. It was super sad to see the people I love so much struggling, but it was really good to be back in the area. I love those people so much.

Thursday, Sister Hallmark and I flew to Fairbanks and spent the day in North Pole. Oh man was it happy! It had been exactly a year since I had arrived in the area on the day I was there. So much has changed in the year. I saw a few active families that I loved so much. It was a great day with Sister Smith. We were able to teach a investigator family whose fellow-shippers used to be less active, but are now active. That was super awesome to see.

Friday, we headed back up to Fairbanks where I spent the day with Sister Moore. Just because our names were so close we instantly became pretty good friends! It was a fun day visiting lots of less actives in the freezing cold!

Saturday, I spent the day with Sister Faupula. It was so much fun seeing her again. I just love her so much! We had a grand ole time talking all about Juneau, laughing and teaching some amazing people/lessons. She goes home next week. It will be sad to see her go.

Sunday, I was planning on going to church in North Pole, but sadly Sister Smith came down with the flu, so it was a no go. I was pretty bummed going to church in Fairbanks, but that is okay. I just had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't about me, it was about the work. We then flew home just in time to unpack and go to sleep. It was truly was a great week!

I hope all is well! This week we get transfer calls. Pray for me. You know me., always nervous. Sister Hallmark and I are pretty sure that we will be staying in the Ocean View ward. I hope that happens! We get along great and she is an incredible missionary.

Remember to constantly be looking for opportunities to share the gospel! I found this quote and feel inspired to share it with you. Maybe one of need it.

"Rather than solve the problem Himself, the Lord wants us to develop faith that will help us rely upon Him in solving our problems and trust Him. Then we can feel His love more constantly, more powerfully, more clearly and more personally. We become unified with Him, and we can become like Him. For us to be like Him is His goal. In fact, His glory as well as His work" - Elder Terence M. Vinson

Love you all!

Sister Morrison.

Sister Morrison in Fairbanks again.

All the Fairbanks sisters.

The H Family from the North Pole

Sister Thacker, Hallmark, Morrison, and Harrison

October 13, 2014

Well, winter is starting. Thankfully, there has been no snow yet, but sadly it is about to start.

This week I went down to Soldotna for an exchange with Sister Farmer. It went super good. The K's recently moved to Kenai which is right outside of Soldotna, so I got to go over to their new beautiful home right on the beach and have lunch with them. It was the best thing ever. They are so involved in the gospel and it just makes me so happy. M is going to seminary and loves it. A watches a BYU devotional every morning for her personal study. M is reading the scriptures and V just got a calling. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing that family progress in the gospel. In Soldotna it started snowing, so I know it is coming to Anchorage soon. Soldotna is like the woods of Alaska. I feel like people really go there to hide. We had to drive miles on dirt roads trying to find people's houses. It sure was adventure. While there we also got work at a food bank serving homeless people food.

On Friday it was Sister Hallmark's birthday. It was a blast!!!!!! I arranged for members in our ward to throw birthday parties and the sisters in the mission to buy her some of her favorite things. Let's just say by the end of the night we were sugar high, due to the fact that we had to eat like 7 pieces of giant cake. We did wrap a Book of Mormon as a present and left it on the table for our lunch waitress. We hope she calls us and wants to learn more.

Man oh man. This was a week of miracles!!!

1. J. He is this 70 year old man who has a girlfriend that is a member. She has introduced him to the gospel and honestly he hasn't been too interested until this week when he expressed the desire to be baptized because he wants to live with his family forever. We are so excited. He should be getting baptized here in the next few months!

2. G! She is still progressing in the gospel. This week we set a baptismal date for December 10th with her. She is very excited, but very nervous about her family rejecting her for joining the church. Pray for her if you can. She even came to church this Sunday!

3. Yesterday, was fast Sunday for us. I was fasting that we could increase our teaching pool. Well, last night at about 8:45 p.m. we got a call form the elders telling us they found us a new investigator that is golden and has been the church eight times. She is moving into our ward on Wednesday. Does fasting work or what?! It was truly an answer to our prayers. We are excited to meet M this week.

4. This week we were visiting a lady in the hospital that is on bed rest. While we were visiting her one of her friends came in. We were able to talk to S all about the gospel. Turns out she has already attended a baptism and seems pretty interested. Hopefully, we can start teaching her.

SO.. something super embarrassing happened this week. I have been a super clean freak on my mission. Always following Grandma Morrison's counsel to never let my clothes hit the floor. I always make my bed and do the dishes. Well, this week was crazy. We literally had no time at home from meetings, to exchanges to appointments, so our apartment got pretty messy. Well, lo and behold the clean check missionaries came to inspect our apartment on literally the only day it has ever been messy. Oh man. I just wanted to die. Needless to say we failed clean checks.

This Saturday we went Hymn caroling again with the Zone. it is amazing to see people feel the spirit with the Hymn "I am a child of God." The words are just amazing and pure.

The work is going good. This Thursday, Sister Hallmark and I are flying up to Fairbanks to do exchanges with the sisters. We will be gone until Sunday night. It should be super fun. I get to go back to the North Pole ward on Sunday. It has been exactly a year since I walked into that ward. I am excited to see everyone and see how they've progressed in the gospel.

I am glad you all loved Meet the Mormons. It is a SUPER good movie. It brings the spirit. If you have more non-member friends then bring them to see it. It will change people's lives. I love you all! Keep teaching and preaching the gospel!

Sister Morrison

Outdoor activities for P-Day

The K family Sister Morrison baptized!

The start of winter in Alaska

Sister Morrison, Farmer, Ogden, and Hallmark

Walrus tusk

Sister Morrison and Hallmark also got to hold the bone inside a whale's penis!

October 6, 2014

Hello friends!!!! I am officially a year old missionary. You read that right. I am 2/3 of the way done. I will be home right after the next conference. Holy cow!!!!!! I cannot believe how quickly a year goes on a mission. I feel like Heavenly Father plays with time will you are serving him.  I have learned more in this year than I ever have in my whole life. The Lord is in our lives. He will guide and direct us. He wants to help us and all we have to do is follow His commandments. It is that easy!

This past Monday, we went with our Bishop, his wife, and their granddaughter out to a glacier. It was so beautiful. All of the trees are changing colors! I love fall, but I am getting quite worried due to the fact that it is supposed to snow this week. I am dreading the snow and the cold. I am definitely a California girl!

This week we had some amazing miracles. We re-picked up an investigator. Her name is K. Her husband is pretty less active and not very interested. We had a wonderful lesson with her about God's love. She just starting balling. It is incredible to see people feel the love of our Father in Heaven. She should be coming to church on Sunday!!!

Next Miracle. We are teaching this lady named G. She has the same kind of situation as K. We taught her the Plan of Salvation. She just loved it so much. She said that life finally makes sense to her! Wohooo That is what the gospel is all about. We committed her to baptism and she said yes!!! She should be getting baptized here in couple of weeks. I am so excited!

This week I had the privledge of cleaning the Anchorage Temple. They gave our district the assignment of cleaning the Celestial Room chandelier. Who knew those things had so many pieces. It had 6,000 pieces that had to be individually cleaned. It was amazing to spend 8 hours cleaning in the Lord's house this week. I don't think I have ever loved doing a chore more!

This week I went on an exchange with Sister Applegate in the Jewel Lake ward here in Anchorage. It was fun. We got to teach a lot of active member families about The Family: A Proclamation to the World. It was great day. On Thursday I went on an exchange with Sister Dill. That was actually super great. It was my one year mark so we went out to lunch with Sister Harrison and her companion, Sister Thacker, to Arby's. You can bet your bottom dollar I got two roast beef sandwiches with sauce. It tasted just so good!  

This week was also Zone Conference. For Zone Conference we got to watch Meet the Mormons. Guys it was just sooooo good! You have to go and see it. Bring all of your friends. It will totally convert them. and if that doesn't then give them Elder Bednar's talk from conference. Wasn't that just so good?

Okay conference. It was just sooo good! I think it was just what the church totally needed to hear. It was incredible. We watched it at the church both days. One session we had a less active family, the H's come. That was seriously a miracle. I think they got a lot out of it! Sunday afternoon a less active from Juneau that hasn't been to church in years was in town and she came to a session with us. This is the same lady who Stister Dall and I poured the alcohol down the drain for. It was seriously the best thing ever. She cried the entire time and then we taught her one of the most powerful lessons It was nice getting a little but of Juneau back. This week I am going out to Soldotna and having lunch with the K's! I am sooo pumped.

Well, I hope you all enjoyed conference as much as I did. The talks were incredible. Study them. They were so inspiring and just what we needed to hear as a church. If you haven't watched it yet go and do it!

I love you guys!!!!

Sister Morrison

Byron Glacier

Byron Glacier

Huge Snow Drift

Sister Hallmark, Morrison, and Leah

Meet the Mormons at the mission home!

Sister Morrison and Hallmark matching again!

Sister Morrison and L from Juneau at the Anchorage Temple

Sister Morrison celebrating her one year mark with her old companion, Sister DIll

September 29, 2014

Well, I guess I will start off with the most awkward experience of the week. We went to go and visit a less active. We knocked on the door and quickly a man in just his whitie tighties answered the door. His face was just about as shocked as ours was I am sure! He told us quickly that he thought we were his wife knocking on the door. Then he started to tell us how awkward he felt. We said, "Ya, we will come back" Well, just as we were walking off the porch his wife walked up. All we could do was die from laughing. It was just soooo awkward.

This week we met more and more of the less actives. I forgot how long it takes to get to know a ward. I was just so comfortable in Juneau and knew everything about everyone. This week we received three referrals which was super happy. I have never received that many in a week. Elder Evans asked us to ask for referrals from everyone. And looks like it is working!

We have an investigator named G who I have never met, but we are meeting with her on Tuesday. Apparently, she wants to get baptized super soon! I am so excited to meet with her.

Saturday, Sister Hallmark had a prompting to go to a less actives house whose door she has knocked on like 100 times and they have never answered. Guess who answered the door this time?! The family did! We had a wonderful lesson with them. It is amazing to see how the Lord works. The Holy Ghost really does guide and direct our work!

Wasn't Women's Conference so good!?! If you haven't seen go and watch it; it was incredible. It was just what I needed to hear.

Oh... there was an earthquake here in Anchorage this week. It was  6.1 which is pretty big. I thought I was going to die because everything was shaking so hard. A few windows were blown out of nearby buildings, but other than that everything was safe after the earthquake. I don't think anyone was harmed. 

I have found that there is a lot to learn from Sister missionaries from going on exchanges this week. I have a lot to learn and lot of things I need to work on to become a better missionary! I am going to be with Sister Dill for my one year mark. I think the K are coming to the Anchorage temple to do baptisms. What could be a better way to spend your one year mark as a missionary!?!

I love you guys! Keep looking for opportunities to share the gospel!!!!!!!!!

Sister Morrison!!! 

Sister Hallmark and Morrison in their matching outfits

Hiking Mt. Girdwood

Sister Morrison on exchanges with Sister Schoppman 

Tram ride down Mt. Girdwood with the zone

September 22, 2014

Well, I was right. Leaving Juneau was definitely harder than leaving home, sorry family! I think I had a little nervous break down leaving. Monday night the ward threw this little FHE/going away party for me. It was great to see all of the families on last time. We had a great time laughing and talking about the gospel, which is the most important thing.

Tuesday was transfer meeting. It was one crazy day. It was good to be back with missionaries again. Sadly, my trainer Sister Hewitt went home Tuesday, so saying goodbye was pretty tough. Sister Hallmark, who I just love already had to conduct a Sister Missionary meeting. We talked all about how we need to let others let their light shine. Another sister gave a training on treating everyone as if it was their birthday. I thought that was great advise!!! So, now the new goal is treating everyone as if it was their birthday. It has been fun doing that and seeing the reactions out of people when you give them tons of compliments.

Wednesday was literally all day meetings. From 8:00 a.m.-930 p.m. Elders Evans from the Quorum of the 70 came to our mission and taught us. He is the head of the missionary department for the whole church. It was a little intimidating being in his presence, but I seriously learned SO much. I learned this importance of asking for referrals from everyone and just being bold while showing love and concern. It was just what I needed to help myself grow a missionary. From about 7:00 -9:30 p.m. that night was something called Missionary Leadership Council. We worked one on one with him and were able to ask him several questions. We were with the Assistants to the President, Zone Leaders, and President and Sister Robinson. I think it is amazing how general authorities teach. I want to become like that!!!!

This week has been spent basically meeting the members of the ward and trying to get to know everyone. We had a few miracles this week with getting into peoples doors where missionaries have never been, so that was super cool. We had one investigator at church and a whole less active family show up. The ward is great. Our mission president's son and family are in our ward so we have to be on our best behavior haha.

Sister Hallmark and I are doing great. She is so sweet and is from Texas. She goes home in 11 weeks!!! It is crazy how fast time flies. We have already have a blast together! Elder Evans changed a lot of our role as Sister Training Leaders when he came, so tonight we are having a meeting with President to talk about our role, so I'll let you know more details later. We do know we are in charge on going on exchanges with sisters. This next week we have two exchanges planned with the sisters in Wasilla and Palmer. It should be fun!

Love you all! Sorry it's short this week! Keep sharing the gospel with everyone around! Love you!!!!!!!!!

Sister Morrison

Bishop and Sister Leavitt

Cunningham Family

Mikesell Family

Overson Family

Elders Castro, Cooper and Sister Dill (her old companion) at the Training Meetings

Sister Morrison and Hallmark at the Temple

September 15, 2014

What a week of emotions, let me tell you! I got the call... I am sadly leaving Juneau. I am going to Anchorage. I will be serving in the Ocean View ward with Sister Hallmark. We are the Sister Training Leaders for the mission. Basically, we are like sister AP's. I am so excited! It will be a fun adventure. I am pretty sure I get to travel all around Alaska this next transfer and go on splits with all the sisters around the mission. I am taking the place of my trainer, Sister Hewitt who goes home tomorrow :(

This past P-day our district decided to go on a bike ride. I figured it would be a nice stroll around Juneau. Let me tell you. It totally wasn't. We rode like 15 miles. That was a BAD mistake. Every time I tried to sit down for the next 3 days my little booty was soooooo sore. haha It was fun being out in the sun though. 

Okay a miracle happened with one of our less actives! We walked into her house and she said, "Sisters, I need you to do a really big favor for me." We were like sure. She said, "Go in the back of my freezer, get all of the alcohol out, and dump it down the drain; then, go take the bottles outside so I am not tempted."  We gladly accepted and did the honors. It was so cool. We have been working with her for a long time. It was so happy to see the progress that she is making! 

We got our transfer calls super early, which was a HUGE blessing. There are some fake missionaries in Juneau right now and the newspaper wanted to do an article on it, so we were asking our mission president what he thought about that. He said no, but at the end... he was like sisters can you keep a secret until the end of the week? Do you want your transfer calls early? We shouted YES!!!!!! We got our calls Tuesday afternoon and the rest of the mission got theirs Friday. Can you believe how lucky we are? 

On Wednesday night we had a Relief Society self-defense class! We had a less active teach the class that hasn't been to church for years. We learned some cool moves! I now know how to take down crazy's that try and attack me. I guess the knife I was required to bring won't be needed as much anymore! We also had three non-members come which was even better! 

I know I have talked about this before, but I was able to help pick peas that I planted here back in March. Sadly, this week the plant stopped producing so we had to tear it up. I just can't believe I was here long enough to plant a seed, have the plant grow/produce and have it die. Craziness! 

This week Sister Dall and I were invited to the Filipino Community Center to be honored at a dinner by our investigators L and L. It was way cool! We got to introduce ourselves to the whole Filipino Community here in Juneau. They then talked about our new church building, a little bit about what we do and invited everyone to church. MIRACLE!!!!! 

We had another amazing miracle this week. We went to teach S our investigator. I had been prompted to teach on testimonies and sister Dall had been prompted to teach the Restoration again. We just combined the two and made a lesson. Well, we showed up and along with Sarah and her kids her friend B was there. Maybe you remember that name from a couple of weeks back? Well, we weren't sure how the lesson was going to go with B being there, but we went for it anyway. We started off by saying that we were going to be talking about testimonies. B gasped and said, "I knew I was supposed to come today. Something woke me up and said go to S's and meet with the Mormon Sisters this morning. I have been trying to work on my testimony and wasn't quite sure what it was and how I could strengthen it." We then talked about testimonies and had them bear theirs. Well, as S was bearing hers, her anti-mormon husband walked in and listened to the whole thing. He then went on to say how he knew God had answered his prayers this morning. He participated in a lesson with us. Miracle!!!! We talked about the importance of knowing that Joesph Smith is a prophet of God. We left them with the Restoration DVD to watch. They were so excited to watch it! S and B are both coming to Anchorage in the next couple of months and want me to take them on a tour around the temple grounds. I can't wait to see them again. 

This week has been so sad. I have had to say goodbye to my dear friends, the people of Juneau. I will miss them forever. I have had many people offering their closets in their homes to let me hide in so I don't have to leave. I think leaving Juneau is going to be harder than leaving home(no offense family). Tonight the ward is going to have a going away party for me at the Bishops house. I am excited to say one last goodbye, except I feel like it might be kinda awkward. It won't be a permanent goodbye though, because I already know I am going to party it up with them in Heaven one day. Maybe I'll move back here one day.. just kidding. TOO MUCH RAIN. 

Keep preaching the gospel my friends. Heavenly Father is preparing people right now for you to bring unto him. Be on the look out for those special people this week my friends. LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! 

Sister Morrison

Last view for Sister Morrison in Juneau 

Sister Morrison and her zone

P-Day bike ride