December 15, 2014

Let me just start out my apologizing. This letter is going to be kind of short this week. Not too much happened missionary work wise due to transfers.

Well, on Monday we picked up all of the new missionaries. It is so fun picking them all up! They all are glowing with the greenie fire. We spent like five or six hours going through orientation with them. All of the sudden one of the new sisters puked every where. Poor girl wasn't feeling too good, so for the next couple hours I rubbed her head and assured her that everything would be okay until she fell asleep. We then had a testimony meeting and got to bed!

Tuesday was transfer day! Holy macaroni was it crazy! We were up at 5:45. We did some more new missionary training for like 3 hours, had lunch, went to transfer meeting, picked up food to cook, ran people like 50 places, had dinner and were in charge of Sister's training that evening. The spirit was so strong! It was amazing. We talked about Elder Klebengat's talk, "Approaching the throne of God with confidence." You should all read it! After Sister Training we went to the mission home where we got to send off all of the departing missionaries. We were still running people's bags to the airport until like 12:30. All of the zone leaders, us, Sister Dall and Johstun and the AP's all stayed at the mission home that night. We were all up until like 1:30 / 2 am planning things for the next day.

Wednesday was Missionary Leadership Council. We focused all of discipleship and gave two training meetings there. It was amazing to sit with a council of missionaries the same age as me and discuss the needs of the mission. I always learn so much!

The rest of the week was missionary work. We are working with C, our investigator still. Sadly, I think she is liking the Lutheran church more. I feel like she has kind of lost the "fire." She did come to church this Sunday, so that is good. I think we are arranging for some Christmas surprises to show up at her door this next week, so that should be happy!

We met with a few less actives. One is reading the Book of Mormon to help her overcome her fears. She is in love with it and is amazed how much it is changing her life. The Book of Mormon has an incredible power that is undeniable. I love seeing peoples lives change because of the spirit that comes into their lives from reading it.

We had a few less actives at church which was great! We also went caroling with some of the ward members on Sunday. That was a great way to fellowship others.

I love you all! Remember the reason for the Christmas season. Please share the, "He is the Gift" video with as many people as you can! I love you!!!!

Sister Morrison

Picking up all the new missionaries from the airport.

Sister Morrison and Ogden at the Anchorage temple.

Sister Bunn from the ward.

December 8, 2014

Well, it's official. Another transfer in Anchorage with Sister Ogden. I am pretty excited to work another transfer with the ward, the sisters and the Robinsons.

This week we were able to meet with a less active. She has been involved with a LOT of drugs and has had a very hard life. I feel so bad for her. We were able to show her the, "He is the gift" video that brought the spirit like no other! I think it is amazing the see the power that comes from the Savior Jesus Christ. Anytime we teach about him, no matter the environment, the spirit comes racing into the room. I just love it!

Here is another miracle with the, "He is the Gift" video. Sister Ogden and I have been praying for opportunities to be able to talk to people about our Savior this Christmas season. Well, an opportunity definitely presented itself. On Saturday night we were waiting at the temple for a group of missionaries to go caroling with when lo and behold a man walking is dog approached us. He asked us the difference between a church and the temple, because they are both in the same parking lot. We were able to teach him about it, invite him to church and invited him to watch, "He is the Gift." Talk about a miracle moment!

On Wednesday night a lady in our ward planned a missionary night for us. She invited like 15 people over to her house. Three were non-members, five were less-actives and seven were active. We all worked together to make blankets for babies that passed away at birth. It was a great service opportunity for the hospitals that we got to be a part of. One of the non-members said she would like to be involved in more service that our church is doing. Miracle!

This week we had a lesson with our investigator C. She told us that she wants to go to another church with her friend. It's super sad, but she told us that we can still come by and teach her. Hopefully, she will begin to realize the truthfulness of the gospel.

Today, we are picking up the new missionaries at the airport and will spend the day with them. Tuesday is transfer meeting and sister training that evening. Wednesday is Mission Leadership Council all day. It should be a fun busy week!

So sorry I don't have much to report on. 17 days until Christmas! Love you guys!

Sister Morrison

Matching Missionaries!

December 1, 2014

Hello hello! Happy Turkey day! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Hopefully, you were able to ponder about what you were grateful for. I know I sure did.

Well, this week started off attempting to summit Half Top Mountain again for Pday. This week we were able to summit with ice cleats and the whole shebang! It was definitely an adventure. As I was climbing the last stretch of the mountain. I looked down to see some of the other mission missionaries making their way up the mountain. I could see the difficulties that lay ahead for them that they could not. I had a pretty cool impression. Life is like a mountain. Heavenly Father is at the top looking down. He knows the trials that we may face right around the corner of the trail, but he also leading and protecting you from dangers. I don't know... maybe that makes sense to you guys. It made sense to me :)

Well, we had a surprise this week. We went over to an active members house for dinner and guess who they invited? C and her family. It was so exciting. The husband even came! The P's told us that we as missionaries deserve at least one surprise a week. We were able to teach them about prayer and the power of it in a members home! Man that was the best ever. Nothing better that having great fellow shippers for an investigator.

This week Sister Ogden and I went on two exchanges this week. I went to the Jewel Lake ward to be with Sister Honey for the day. It was a day full of miracles. Well, let me tell you about a huge miracle. We were teaching a lady, named M, the Restoration. She loved it so much. As we testified of the Joseph Smith story her face lit up bigger than anyone's I have ever seen. As we were ending the lesson she kept saying, "Teach me more, teach me more!" That is what missionary work is about. That was so happy. Okay, and here is the other miracle that happened at M's. She knows we can only drink herbal tea. Well, she gave everyone herbal tea except for me on accident. She accidently gave me black tea. I didn't want to be rude and not drink it, but I was no way no how breaking the word of wisdom. I was praying so hard the entire lesson for an opportunity to some how get rid of the tea without her noticing. Well, half way through the lesson the Lord answered my prayer in a way I did not expect at all. Mary has a giant pitbull that was laying under the table when all of the sudden the dog had a giant twitch launching it into the air resulting it to bang its body on the table perfectly underneath my cup, knocking my cup of black tea all over me and the table. Funny thing is... no one else's cups knocked over. Just mine. The Lord really does answer prayers. So... I taught the rest of the lesson  gladly with a soaking wet dress. Pretty cool right?

I was also able to go on exchanges with Sister Harrison. You all know that is always a good time. We always have so many miracles happen and just have the best days ever. I sure hope we are companions one day. Well, here are so miracles that happened. We decided that we were going tracting early in the morning telling people about the new Christmas video that the church has put out. It is called, He is the gift. You should all watch it. Anyway! I felt really inspired that we needed to go to a certain street to tract. Lo and behold, on the second to last door a man answered in tears. He explained that he was going through a really hard time and didn't really want to talk. We told him we would pray for him and shared with him the, He is the gift video. Who knows if anything will ever come of it, but it truly amazing to see the Lord leading us to the right doors at the right times.

This week we met with a less active in our ward that suffers from severe anxiety. Last week we were able to have a lesson about the Book of Mormon with her. We taught her that the Book of Mormon can solve any problem that we are facing. Well, this week she had a fear of heights and was anxious at work thinking about the giant hill she had to drive down to get home from work. She was so anxious she could barely function until she remembered the promise we had given her about the Book of Mormon. She pulled the Book of Mormon out from under her desk and read the introduction page. A line stuck out to her that promised everlasting peace. She was then able to drive home with that everlasting peace the Book of Mormon promised without any anxiety. True blessings come from reading the Book of Mormon.

Thanksgiving was kinda a bummer, but that is okay. We spent the morning handing out "Thank you" cards to the ward council and then my companion got really sick. She had to stay in bed until dinner. It gave me the opportunity to organize our files and clean the apartment. We then were able to go to the M's for dinner. It was a fancy feast. We had a lot of fun. After dinner we then continued to pass out more cards.

It snowed in Anchorage and sadly it is sticking. Watch out Anchorage! Here comes a California driver!

Hope all is well! Make sure to check out Christmas.mormon.org :) Share it with everyone! Can't wait to Skype in 24 days. Can you all believe it is already December?

Love you all!

Sister Morrison

Half Top Mountain Summit with Sister Ogden

Head Stand on the top of the Mountain

The missionaries showing their appreciation for their President

Sister Morrison's zone.

November 24, 2014

Well hello friends and family!

This week has flown by. I seriously cannot believe it is Monday again. My prayers are  still being answered. It still hasn't snowed in Anchorage. hallelujah!!!! It is only about 30 degrees everyday, but I will take it. I heard a lady a little earlier in the library say that this is the warmest winter that she has seen in 30 years. I am more than happy about that! Watch me get transferred to Fairbanks next transfer because I am basking in the Anchorage warmth.

Well, we had our last lesson with J for the winter :( He is going down south for the winter to be with some of his family. I guess since he is 85, he has the right to go wherever he wants, but we will miss him. We taught an awesome lesson about family history and challenged him to find out some more information about his family history when he went to his brother's 95th birthday party. haha I will miss teaching J the gospel each week.

Wednesday Sister Ogden and I jumped in the car with President, Sister Robinson and the AP's. We drove up to Wasilla for their zone conference. Sister Ogden and I did a training on receiving Christ's image in our countenance. I think it went over pretty well. It fun being with the Wasilla zone for the day. We were able to be with all the sisters and see how they were doing. That night we headed back to Anchorage and as soon as we arrived Sister Ogden and I hit the road for Soldotna to do exchanges with them. Sister Hallmark got to come back to Anchorage with me for the day. It was a great day! We saw lots of miracles.

While with Sister Ogden we had to opportunity to spend part of the day with a sister in our ward that just got back from serving in the one and only Carlsbad, California mission. She talked all about California, and it did make me miss home a little, but that is okay. We were able to learn a lot about finding from her so that was super happy!

On Friday, Sister Ogden and I asked C and T if they wanted to be baptized and follow the example of Jesus Christ. There is always a special spirit within the walls of someone's home when you ask that question. They both said YES!!! They just want to learn more about the religion before they decide an official date. We were beaming with Joy! Miracles are happening.

We had a few miracles with some less active people, so that is really happy! We had a whole less active family come back to church. Nothing is better than looking down a bench at church seeing a family come closer to the Savior. Two ladies that have recently been coming back to church got callings on Sunday. They are both very excited. It is fun seeing people progress in the gospel!

31 days until Christmas. I cannot wait to see you all! This whole Mother's Day to Christmas gap has been way too long.

Love you all! On November 28th check out the new website the church is putting out... Christmas.mormon.org :) Share it with everyone you know! You will love it!

Love,

Sister Morrison