Tues, 28 Jul 09

Well golfing was fun. Elder Stewart and I beat Elder Page and Elder Hoopes by one point. It was awesome. We got some good pictures too. The Golf carts were by far the best part. By the way I'm planning on learning how to play the ukulele. You know the little Hawaiian guitar. Yeah, Elder page had one and I thought it was pretty cool. Don't worry it won’t affect the work at all. I'll only play it during the free time that we have.

Tomorrow we're going on splits with the Zone Leaders. I'm pretty excited 'cause I'm going with Elder Page. He is so cool. I'll get pictures of us to send home. Zone Conference is this week and I haven't seen a package from home on our porch yet so hopefully I'll see one at Zone Conference. But if you haven't sent one yet that’s ok. Elder Hoopes gets packages from his mom every 2 weeks that has a news letter about all the missionaries from his home town and what’s going on with them. His Sister went to France and sent him a beret which I wore golfing. He also gets cookies from his sister which are pretty good but I'm sure Mallory’s are better. Not to say that mom should get together a news letter and sugerie goodies and send it in a cardboard box. I'm looking forward to seeing the next installment in the Fingerpainting Missionary Stories. (We were told after he some time in May that he didn't want any treats, misses them now I think! I'm baking tomorrow before it gets too hot.)

Wondering about Lisa. I wish I could say she is doing great...But she is very bipolar. She was very depressed this weekend wallowing about how she is such a bad mother and how she needs to get out of those apartments she's in. They are not good apartments, lots of drugs involved in that place. She was saying how if it weren’t for the motivation of having her kids back she would have committed suicide which kind of scared us. We thought we saw her last night with the "drugies" and we knocked on her door today and one of them answered (A guy we've been trying to meet with) and said she was at work, which is good 'cause she needs to work to get out of there. She knows what’s right and wrong. Thanks for the scripture dad. Next time we meet with her we will defiantly share that with her. Pray for her. She really is a good woman. She’s just like the rest of us.

Don't worry about making me trunky (We told him that his gramma & grampa’s release date from their mission was on his birthday). I didn't even know what that was until I met Elder Brumwell who was the most trunky missionary I've met. He's been home for about 2 months now but, I consider trunky to be shoving things in missionaries faces like "I have less weeks then you have years" or "How far away do you think that plane is up there?” “I don’t know maybe 2 miles?” “ Nope, 2 Months baby!" That’s what I call trunky. But talking about stuff you’re going to do after your mission I don't consider trunky. We talk about that all the time.

Any way time is short and Elder Hoopes wants to play B ball today. Talk to you next week. THE GOSPELS TRUE!!! Elder Morgan

21 July 09

I have decided that I can't get caught up, so I'm just starting where I am. I sent him an email this morning, and as I was writing, Mike got the email. He is such a great kid!

(Random photo from his card taken in April)

"We had a baptism Saturday and finally got Tymes under the water! That was great!

This morning we had a breakfast at Stake President David Palmers house and Ty came along with a few priests in the stake and President Palmer stressed the importance of a mission. It was wonderful and I'm full. Sister Palmer makes the best buttermilk syrup I've ever had!

Yes it's been extremely hot this week we got to 119 degrees. SO HOT!! But I had my first couple Monsoons this week and one dust storm. That was cool. When the dust storm came it was like a wall of sand coming at us. We watched the sun slowly disappear behind it as we took cover in an investigators house. The Monsoon last night was cool, until the lightning strikes right outside our house woke us up at 4am and kept us up till our alarms went off. INSANITY!! But the good news is the temperature this morning was 84 degrees. Perfect for golfing! Elder Hoopes and I called the Zone leaders yesterday and asked if they wanted to go golfing. They said I don't think we have the money. We said they let missionaries golf for free. They said “Hey Elders let’s go golfing”. So we're going golfing.

We had a lesson with Lisa Sunday night. We went in there having no idea what we were going to teach her cause we'd taught her all the lessons. So I had this thought. She's had about 3 or 4 set baptism dates and all of them fell through so I felt like we should teach a lesson on baptism and stress the importance of this covenant. We shared 3 Nephi 11 where the Nephites cry Hosanna to Jesus or Save Us Now! And what does he do? He calls Nephi forward and gives him the authority to Baptize. We said “Lisa, you need to be baptized.” And she said “I know, no more screw-ups this time. I'll try my hardest to keep the Word of Wisdom, read my scriptures read the Ensign, say my prayers” and all this stuff is basically what she committed herself to. Elder Hoopes gave her my favorite talk in April General Conference that Elder Holland gave about being alone. ( None Were with Him ) And she read the whole thing. This woman is awesome. If she keeps her commitment to be baptized on the 8th of August, she will be my first baptism where we taught her from the beginning. You can do it Lisa!......

...Anyway, got a letter from Elder Ward, He pretty much was going through the same hectic first week in the MTC as I was but says "I'm actually starting to enjoy myself" Oh Jason. Jason. Jason.

Happy "perfect weather to go golfing on a P-day".....Day.

Elder Morgan"

He is doing just fine. Thanks for reading and being patient with me. Love, Jenn =)

(Random photo, thought it might go with the "sand storm" story!)

I've got another one set up ready to post tomorrow, too. Waiting for a piece of information from relatives.

Here is a picture from the MTC of singing in the hallway.

Our call for Mother's Day was awesome! Melany and Logan were here and we all sat around the speaker phone hanging on every word we said to each other. Ok, just me! He sounded so happy and good. Anytime someone asks me, "How is Jacob doing?" I always respond, "He is doing FABULOUS!!!! He is so happy, loves the hot weather and working hard." And I truly believe that he is. All his letters are up beat telling us how busy he is. We are glad he is writing us back every week, knowing he has other emails to respond to.

Here is one of my favorite flower pictures from the MTC, there are a few from when it snowed in April. I bet he wishes for some snow now! (It was 110+ this past weekend!)

Love to all, Jenn =)

Letter 6 May 09

Well, I'm starting to get caught up. Hopefully now that school is out I can post portions of his letters every day until I am... We got a nice call today from the Mission President telling Mike what a great missionary Jacob is and that Mike did a great job preparing Jacob. It was the highlight of Mike's Father's Day. When I get there in the messages I will post it. We were not home from church yet, so it is on our answering machine. It's a keeper!

"Sorry about not emailing you on Monday. We had what was called Training Blitz Monday and Tuesday. That's where all the missionaries in the area get together in the Stake Center in the morning and the President and the Assistants teach us about how to improve our teaching. On top of that we have a missionary join our companionship for 2 days and coach us on our teaching. You want to know the best part? We get a car!! Even better the 3 of use got the assistants van!

Our Coach was Elder Gomez who's been out for 11 months and is from South Jordon UT. He was great. While he was with us we revisited a new investigator named Lisa. She was avoiding us for a while now but since she lost her job and feels lost altogether she gave us a call. We taught her the Restoration and committed her to read the Book of Mormon, come to church, pray about Joseph Smith, and to be Baptised! The Spirit was soo strong it was fantastic!

Thanks for sending my cards, (we sent him his YuGiOh/Pokemon cards) haven't gotten them yet. hopefully I'll get them today. Arturo was feeling really down the other day, almost to the point were he told us not to come back. He was saying that he didn't believe any more. But after we left he called us and told us he was sorry and didn't mean it. He's bi-polar and goes through depression a lot. He's studying to be a nurse and has trouble with the tests. We encourage him to read his scriptures before he studies and last night he did! He was very proud of himself for doing that. He gets lonely and calls us a lot. It feels good to go and teach him and play Pokemon with him. He really appreciates it. Some of the games get pretty intense and heated. But it's fun to be with him.

I'll be calling around 6 on Sunday. I'll get about an hour to talk to you so have everyone home."

He is talking about calling home on Mother's Day. It was great! Melany and Logan were here for most of the call. We talked for almost the full hour on speaker so all could listen and share. It was so good to hear his voice and hear his excitement and maturity. He told of a story in the MTC with his companions where one of them pretended to be blind for the new guys and some of the jokes and fun they had in the MTC. He sent his camera card home last week and I down loaded them and sent it right back. I have a few here to show you.

Jacob and his MTC companion, Elder Gilbert from Idaho Falls, ID.

Schedule

Spring in Provo. (Dad, he has some spactacular pictures, I will get my favs posted as I get there)

Love to all, Jenn =)

Letter to Mallory

I'm getting caught up now that school is out in 2 days. Finally! Getting caught up on the home blog too.

The next letter we received was to Mallory, here is a funny story he shared with her:

"The hardest thing especially her in 90 degree weather is not to look at girls. Elder Hoopes and I were trying to meet our goal for street contacts last night, and were riding our bikes home in the dark and see a person walking down the street towards us. I say, "OK, I got this one, Elder Hoopes." So, I vear closer and say hello and the person responds in a very feminine voice. It's dark so I take a close look and spot the hourglass shape and other common female characteristics in a very tight jogging outfit. I let off the brake and peddle faster.

Elder Hoopes yells, "What happened?"

"Did you not see that girl?"

"Oh, it was a girl?"

"Well, it definitely wasn't a guy!"

It's kinda weird for 2 missionaries to come up to a girl our age at might and ask if we could come and visit them at their home some time."

Good Missionary! Love, Jenn =)

From a Stake President

This is the 3rd post of the day, Tues, so make sure you get to all of them!

We received this email today, I'm so grateful to this Stake President and his wife to think of the families. I inserted the pictures in places where the text supported the picture, this just made me smile!

"Dear Parents of the elder serving in the Maricopa North Stake,

This past Sat. Kathy and I had your sons over for breakfast so that we could get to know the elders serving in our stake. When the other members in the stake presidency heard what we were doing they all wanted to come also. So my good councilors, clerk, and exc. sec. were all there.


We had such a good time visiting and hearing about the missionary work in the stake. I need you to know that I felt like we were on holy ground when 9 elders were all in our house. Knowing that they are giving 2 years to the Lord makes one humble when you are around them. The same day I was able to go to a baptism with Elder Phillips and Guileman. Then a baptism with elder Brumwell, Davenport and Craig. Later that night I was with them at a reception. I know that elder Hoopes and Morgan had a baptism on Thursday that I was not able to attend. I met will all the elders on Sunday morning where they reported all the work they are doing in the stake. I want you to know that they are all great elders, working hard, they look good and act like one that represents the Lord. I love to work with them. Thanks for supporting them and sending them to us. You all have great sons.
President Palmer Maricopa North Stake.

Dear Parents, I just needed to let you know that President Palmer and I had your wonderful sons in our home for breakfast last Sat. morning. What a joy they all are. They are working hard, obeying the rules, and have a wonderful spirit with them. It is fun to see their personalities come out when they are together. We have a son on a mission and it is so fun to hear from members that see them and have him come and eat. Thank you for your wonderful support for your sons. They feel your love and prayers and that helps the work progress. Thank you again for your sacrifice and your sons sacrifice.

Love, Sister Palmer"

I loved the part where Sis. Palmer talked about their personalities and then I added their silly picture! Love, Jenn =)

ps - I got this picture from the Stake Clerk about 15 minutes after I posted so I quick added it. We love that look on Jacob's face and had just talked about it tonight at the dinner table. hehe

Monday's E-mail

We got a great email from Jacob on Monday. Here is most of the letter:

"So I'm here in Arizona, it reminds me of Hawaii a lot because of the smell of sunscreen and all the palm trees. They definitely don't have cactus in Hawaii, it's still pretty cool. Cool as in awesome, not cold. My new companion is Elder Hoopes from Boise. He's been out for 7 1/2 months. He's awesome.

We are staying with a couple named the Hareses. Nicest people in the world! They have a 3 legged dog, she's little and cute. Her hopping around makes her even more cute. I'll try to get a video of her but she's afraid of cameras. I'm using Sister Hareses bike to ride around and on my second day was chased by my first dog! I was so excited! But anyway, P day's are now Monday's. Today we went to Walmart and spent a lot of time there. We looked at bikes and found one thats about $120. But Elder Hoopes called a Bishop that owns a bike shop to see if we can't get me a cheaper one.

I had my first Baptism this week. Debbie Dean. She's a wonderful lady and has a very funny redneck husband. We've made visits to a guy named David who is very strong in the church and wants to set up a baptismal date. There's a guy named Arturo who is very lonely and calls us alot just to talk but he really likes having us over. He likes to play Pokemon cards alot and Elder Hoopes had his mom send us his cards. So if it's not too much trouble do you think you could send me my Pokemon and Yu gi oh cards so we could visit him more and teach him. I'll send them right back once I get transferred.

No life changing experiences yet but I'm keeping my ears open for the Spirit. Thank you for all your love. Looking forward to hearing about your job hunting, dad. I know the Lord will bless you. He blessed me with parents who love the Lord and taught me well in proper worship. Love you all!

Elder Jacob Frank Morgan

Great to see him happy and excited! I think getting chased a dog is hilarious! Love, Jenn =)