Jacob's Birthday

Happy birthday to me! And so is was! I got the package from home on Thursday and loved the pictures! We popped in the new Reflections of Christ CD and the Christmas one (We have a 5 disc changer in our car!) and loved it. I had one of the little blowers you sent me in my mouth all day long blowing it and yelling "It's my birthday!" Elder Davenport was pretty sick of it by the end of the day. The Avichucos came out with there grandson Brandon and took us to lunch. They got me an awesome pocket watch which is great because the watch I us to have I couldn't ware because the metal gave me a rash.

Nice going CV!!! Love. It. What is Richy going to be playing next year? Looking forward to seeing the shows a year and 5 months from now.

So funny story! President Bassett (Mission President) calls Elder Davenport and I on Wednesday and says "What's this I hear about you two watching Transformers 2?!"... And we're all "Ummmm... What?" I was thinking about saying "yeah, it was great President, you should see it" but I didn't. But seriously, had no idea what he was talking about. Then he says "I just got a call from someone that it's one of you Elders birthday and they said something about you going over to a part members house and watching it saying 'nobody will know.' That true" So here's how it went. This part member family I just met were watching Transformers 2 when we showed up to check up on them. We stayed at the door while they paused the movie and talked to us. I told them that my birthday was next week and they wanted to have a BBQ for me. (They are one of the most sarcastic families out there.) And we said, joking around, "oh yeah, we'll come over and share a few beers, watch Transformers 2, nobody will know" they laughed knowing we were kidding and we left. Well the wife shared the story with one of the members in the ward saying how she thought we were funny when we said that. And she told someone, and they told someone who called the Mission President Who called us to rip our guts out. I thought it was pretty funny, but there is a lesson from this ultimate game of telephone that we are constantly being evaluated in everything we do. It was a learning experience for me.

Exchanges are tonight. Elder Jenkins our district leader will be coming to our area and Elder Davenport will be going to his area. I hope I know the area well enough to make our day effective tomorrow.

Thanks for the pics I will look forward to seeing more as well as hearing your about your adventures on the mp3. Great Idea! Glad I thought of it! Ohhh. I'm proud of my humility aren't I.

Hakob

27 Oct 09

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ELDER MORGAN !HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!



You know I think there’s been a few emails that say..."I’ll let Mallory tell you about that" or "That's Richy's story to tell." Ok. That's cool but... I'm not getting anything from them. But hey, if they are doing homework or reading their scriptures rather than writing me that's ok.

Alright, very exciting to hear CV's killer (marching band) season. Can't wait to hear about how they do against the top dogs in the Northwest this weekend. Oh so exciting.

You know I read the most amazing story on prayer in the Old Testament. Genesis 24. Pretty amazing if you ask me. Look at the servant of Abraham and how he praises God in this chapter. I think it's a very good example of giving thanks through our prayers.


Anyway, thanks again for all the prayer, and loves from y'all.


Elder Jacob Frank Morgan

21 Oct 09

I just realized that I forgot to post last weeks letter. I have been trying to get his birthday package put together and ready for the mail tomorrow. His birthday is on Friday, 30 Oct. He will be the big 2-0 ! Wow, I will have a 20-yo! Where does the time go........

"Congrats on the job! I'm excited to make more trips to Hawaii. It's a big thing in this mission. Missionaries play ukuleles and do Tongan dances a lot here. It's pretty cool.

Man! CV is tearing it up (Marching Band)! Yes that's what I like to here! WHOOT! Go Richy Rich.

We have a baptism this week. Yet another 18 year. His name is Jeff Simms. Don't think you could possibly get me the memory card by this Sat. So I can get pictures. It's ok if you don't. No big deal. (We found one on sale at Fred Myer's and FedEx'd him a new card. Zeke chomped on the one he mailed us and we are seeing if we can get anything off of it....YIKES!!)

The Avachucos are coming and taking Elder Davenport and I to dinner on my Birthday. They are such great people.

We had an excellent Zone Conference yesterday. Can I issue a challenge for my family? Next time you have the missionaries over ask them about role play. We do it all the time every week in district meeting. Ask them if you could do a role play on sharing the gospel with some of your friends. So think of someone you could talk to about the church and ask the missionaries to help you in inviting them to come unto Christ. The work we do as missionaries is finding. Teaching and Baptizing is just a side effect of finding. So the real work is finding. Will you do that? I know that when you do, the Lord will bless the lives of those you speak to as well as your own.

Anyway, That's all I got. Oh yeah Nastia Liukin’s (US gymnast) birthday is coming up. Oh Wait it's my birthday too!!!

Luv ya,

Jacob"

and a letter for mom:

"Hey yesterday was Zone Conference so today is P-day

I'm glad you enjoyed getting my letter and it's totally fine that my card was lost. I have a new plan. So Elder Davenport got a CD from a couple friends at home and they recorded their letter on it. And we listened to it in the car. So I thought of a better idea. I got this 1 GB mp3 player that has voice recording and plugs right into the computer. I'll record a "letter" and send it to you. You can plug it into your computer take the files off, listen to them and record your own letter. You can have friends or/and family record things and then you can send it off to me. Every time I do email I can take the files off (after I listen to them.) and record my responses and send them off again. You would have to remember to take the files off every time though. So it would take less time then writing a letter and people could say whats going on instead of taking time out of there day to write a letter. But of course this doesn't mean you can't send me letters on paper. ( sounds complicated to me....)

You know I think you should take the kids to Huhut! By the way (trunky comment) when I get back that's the first place we're going. They don't have one here! (celebration dinner for Mike getting a new job!)

My study lately has been the Old Testament. Manly Genesis. There are some awesome stories in Genesis. Some messed up ones too. But there is a book I want to read that one of our Ward Mission Leaders has. It's called Life Everlasting. Amazing book. Talks about the Spirit world and visions prophets have had. The stories that he was telling me just strangthend my testimony. My main study that I'm trying to understand is Jacobs Ladder in Genesis 26 I think. I got some of it but I can't figure out what the rest of it means.

Love you too!

Jacob

He sounds good, doesn't he? We were just talking tonight about how it's been 7 months, but seems like a year......love and miss him. Thanks for keeping interested in what he is doing. Love, Jenn =)

13 Oct 09

Well it has been a great first week in my second area. Elder D and I get along great and we have become very good friends. We were good friends even before this transfer. Our personalities and teaching styles mesh great. He's been out a little under a year. He's from Rexburg but went to college in Seattle, and loves Washington. So automatic brownie points for me, he says.

But, man... you should see some of these houses up here. They are absolutely beautiful!! We ate dinner at a member’s house, or should I say mansion, and it was so awesome! I met the founder of Cold Stone the other day. Yep Cold Stone ice cream. He's a member of the church. He's in one of our wards. Donny Sutherland. We're teaching his Mom and sister who both have baptismal dates for later this month.

I got to go to a baptism of one of the people I was teaching in my last area. Elder H and I were the first missionaries to teach him. He is great. We watched him change his life around in 3 whole months. He stopped smoking in 4 days. 4!! He is a man of very few words but when he speaks he says the right words. He is also a very.... large... man. (he took up 3 chairs) It took 2 very tall very buff men to baptize him. His jump suit wouldn't even zip up all the way. They had to angle him diagonally to get him under the water. It took a while to get him positioned with some verbal help and opinions from the congregation and it was the first baptism I've been to where everyone clapped once the ordinance was preformed. It was great. We brought and Investigator named T from our area who has a baptismal date too and she loved it and can't wait to be baptized.

So, yeah, T. Remember Donny Sutherland, the founder of Cold Stone? His daughter was sent to prison for DUI where a fatality was involved (which is a entirely different story and a blessing in itself that she got 4 years instead of life). She met T in prison and they became great friends. T's time was up and she had absolutely nothing and no one to go back to. She went to church in prison and basically told God that she was putting her life in his hands and directly after that service the daughter came to her and said "My mom is going to pick you up." And she did. They gave her an apartment to live in and bought her groceries. It was truly a miracle. And that was 3 weeks ago. The Sutherland's are a great family. Almost all our work in that ward is thanks to them.

Heck. Yes! Way to live up to the Central Valley Bears Awesome Title!! I can't wait to hear about next week’s (marching band) results. I want to know how Evergreen is doing this year. Do we have a chance to beat them?

That is so awesome Elder Bednar is coming to our Stake Center! I want you to tell me all about it. You got it?

There’s a less active member who goes scuba diving in the Salt River and picks up thousands of sunglasses that people drop in there when they go on float trips and he gave me these $125 sunglasses that are awesome except I can't wear them because I don't have contacts soooo... some contacts would be a nice birthday present if possible. And it's not that I want them just for the sunglasses, its because it's Arizona and my eyes are dying and shriveling up from the sun.

So yeah, the work here is great. Amazing members here, really awesome. And I can't wait for the progress to explode in this area.

Love Jacob

Jacob's birthday is on the 30th, right before Halloween, so if you want to send him Birthday wishes, get them ready. Love, Jenn =)

06 Oct 09

I'VE BEEN TRANSFERED!!!! Finally! I'm in a car! And our apartment is huge! I'm in Las Sendas. I went from the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich. My new companion is Elder Davenport from Rexburg Idaho. Which is awesome 'cause he was in my district for my first three transfers out and been on a few exchanges with him. He is great, very down to earth without being in the world. I'm going to miss my “greeny” area.


Dad, have you been to the Phoenix airport before? Did you ever make it outside? Oh wait it was only 87 degrees yesterday so...

Well that’s awesome that CV made second. So they didn't get to play in Finals? Since when does the rain stop CV?

Ah, General Conference. Sooooooooooooo good. My favorite talk is probably Elder Bednar’s talk on hypocrisy and Elder Holland’s talk on the Book of Mormon. He looked torqued during that one. And President Monson’s on service. It was a great Conference.

Elder Erickson went home today. He is my idle. I know, I know the 2nd commandment. But he was amazing.

I'll send my video card home tomorrow with all my pictures and videos.

Birthday presents. My light board would be really nice. The Avichucos are getting me a pocket watch. My Zune has been acting up lately but it still works fine. It's not necessary for my salvation. As I think of them I'll write them down and let you know next week.

I love you all and look forward to talking with you next week.

Elder Jacob Frank Morgan

He sounds so up beat today! Makes my heart sing.....Love, Jenn =)

28 Sept 09

Hey loved ones.
We're having our Zone Development Meeting tomorrow and it will take all day so we moved p day to today.

The Avichuco's baptism went awesome! Many members of the ward showed up and so did all of the Avichuco's kids and grandkids. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost which I guess was amazing. I shared the scripture in Mosiah 18: 30 which talks about how beautiful were they who came to the knowledge of their Redeemer. How truly beautiful were the Avichuco’s dressed in their white clothes holding hands and smiling at each other because they came to the knowledge of their Redeemer. I can't wait for the day when they’re Sealed in the temple for time and all eternity. Afterwards we went to their house for a party and their kids were asking questions about marriage and baptism. We are hoping to teach some of them so they can teach their kids as well.

That was the high part of this week. We really have been struggling as a companionship this week following our schedule. ......And yet the Lord is blessing us with awesome investigators and members. I seriously don't feel worthy of these blessings.

Anyway, sorry for the short letter. Talk to you next week where we'll find out transfer news.

Elder Jacob Frank Morgan

22 Sept 09

Well Dad, I've been helping people find jobs for 5 1/2 months and I've learned that no matter what it is a job is a job. If it's not the best job for paying the bills then keep it till you find a better one. Keep up the good work in seeking for inspiration from the Lord.

Shut up! Bryson (Toth) is NOT home yet! It has not been 2 years! Really? Wow, well I've been telling people at dinner appointments now that I've been out about 6 months, so I guess time doesn't matter when your not on other peoples time.

You know, I would love to hear a little about what went on with Mal. Dose Mom have a side of the story too? What about that conversion story of hers? And as much as I know that my family has lives of their own, remember that a missionaries life isn't as exciting (in their respective lifestyles) and gets pretty exciting when we open a mailbox and see MAIL! Not just adds and wedding announcements galor! Seriously! Send me something! I don't care if it's a package or a Christmas card! It might just be me and my lack of missionary experience, but hey, give me a break!

You know I'm not mad. I'm just trying to be funny. (Hey, I think I'm funny.)

So we have the Avichucos getting baptized this week. Soooooo AWESOME! This will be the first baptism were I've taught them from start to finish. Man, they’re amazing people. I've watched them learn and grow. Give up tea and coffee, hopefully we can work on their kids soon. But we are so excited for them. I'll make sure you get the chance to meet them when you come down.

Lisa is moved and doing great. She confessed to us that she has broken the Word of Wisdom and a few other commandments that she is continuing to battle with Satan with, but her spirits are up and she knows that she can overcome these vices. I don't think I'll see her baptized. Maybe if I get transferred to a close area. But she has told me that when she does get baptized she wants me to do it.

More and more blessings flow from doing the best we can. My bike gears were busted the other day and one of our investigators who lives in a half-way-house says he could fix our bikes free of charge if we ever get in a jam. He use to work on bikes when he was a kid and, man, does he know how to work on bikes. I took my bike to him and he looks at it and says "hey, you can barrow my bike for the week because this thing is messed up. It will be a while before I can fix it." So he lets me ride his bike. Wow! I tell you this bike is nice! You know the saying that a mechanics car is the best car? Well there you go. Anyway, he comes up to me on Sunday. John is his name. He says “hey come by my place after church I have something for you." I'm thinking man, it's only been 2 days and he's got my bike all ready for me. We go over to see him. He reaches into his pocket hands me the keys to the lock on HIS bike and says "Congratulations you have a new bike." He gave me his bike! He told me that my bike was so bad he didn't even bother finding parts for it. He would have had to replace every screw, nut, bolt, and part to get my bike working right. So basically he had to replace the whole thing, and he did!

Now John’s situation is pretty difficult. This is a man who was converted to the church IN prison. He is on parole till next September. Which means he has to get First Presidency approval for baptism. And President Bassett has agreed to interview him this Saturday to send off the letter. John is the strongest investigator I have ever met. He donated his bike to the Lord, for Heaven sakes. I'm so excited for him.

Sorry but I've got to go preach the word unto the Gentiles. Talk to you next week.

Elder Jacob Frank Morgan

Yes, the family needs to repent. We think since Mike is writing every week that there is nothing more to say. He just wants stuff in his mailbox, so we are repenting and going to do better for him. I get bogged down and all of a sudden its next Tuesday again. I'm going to put it up there on the things to do list and see if I can get more down to him. Thanks for reading and supporting Jacob. Love, Jenn =)