Travel, Temple, and Baptisms... oh my!!

August 26, 2015

We left Toboso bright and early for Cebu City last Wednesday morning. We had my first mission conference where Elder Haynie spoke. He is the area Seventy here in the Philippines. It was a good meeting and good to see all the missionaries here on the Negros Island. I met up with my previous MTC companion, Elder Gali there and we spoke about how our first week went and it was really good. I can see that he is happy here out on his mission and that makes me happy to see him happy :) We also got to go to the Temple in Cebu. This means that I got to go twice in one week ;) which is almost unheard of because my mission is a full days travel from the temple.

(The Cebu Temple! It is small but NINDOT!)

Coming home, our ferry was cancelled. We planned to take the 10 a.m. ferry but had to take the 1 p.m. boat and we didn’t get back to Toboso until around 7 p.m. We left Cebu at 7 a.m. and didn't get to Toboso until 7 p.m. The funny thing is if you look at a map, Toboso is less than thirty miles away from Cebu yet it takes us normally 9 hours to travel one way! The American freeway systems... VERY HELPFUL! Oh and it also costs us 1000 pesos of out biweekly 4000 just to travel to Cebu and back! 1000 pesos is about $25 bucks which isn’t a lot in USD but when you live off of $200 a month...$25 is kind of a lot haha!

(On the boat going to Cebu from the Negros Island.)

Last Saturday we had a baptism. A recent convert of ours and a great friend, July, baptized his younger brother who is about 10-12 years old. This Saturday I will have the opportunity to baptize a new convert, Maya. I cannot wait for my first baptism! I know Maya will be blessed throughout her life because of her choice :) 

(July and his brother... and me and my companion!) 

 (Got to play with the baby chickens at Maya's house :) Chickens! Om nom nom!!)

Many great things are happening here. I would like to share a story about this investigator we have named Gabriell. We FTE'd (Find the Elect [street contacted]) him and asked him to come to church. Well he walked three hours one way from his house to the church and there we taught him the first lesson! He then walked three hours back. He showed up the next week as well; walked to and from totaling 6 hours of walking! He is very receptive to us. What is amazing to me is that his religion is this Filippino christian religion that here is a cult and was founded by a former LDS member who left the church to be the prophet of his own church. We are not allowed to Gabriell's house because of this cult and the fact that I'm white...they'll kill me! So for him to come all this way, away from his culture to learn about mine is a testimony to me. If he comes to church the next two weeks he will be eligible for baptism which is great! 

Yesterday I ate this food...it was good! It is called sugar cane - haha! It is harvest season here so there is the stuff everywhere and so we pick up a stick, rip off the bark, and chew the sugary liquids inside:) I also got to eat this fruit called rambotan. It looks like a small dragon fruit in which you rip off the outside shell to reveal this clear white center in which you eat that. it is very sweet and I love it! 


All is going well and I wish the best for you all back at home! Starting next week I would like to send an additional email with a teaching about a doctrine that I have learned about - ie: D&C 93:29, worldly vs godly things, sons of perdition, etc. If you do not wish to receive this second email just let me know sigi? (ok?)

I wish the best for you all back home and I pray for you every day! May the Lord be with you as you go on throughout your days!

- Elder Morris

(Saw the moment and had to take the picture!)

I...Am...Alive!

August 18, 2015

What can I say? Where do I begin? Lets start with Manila.

We arrived at midnight here and everybody in my group of traveling missionaries was dead tired - haha. The city smells very weird. The food is...rice - haha. The Manila Temple, which is right across the street from the MTC, is very BEAUTIFUL! We did not do a session there because it is under construction but we got to walk around and it is gorgeous! We then woke up at 3:00 a.m on the 12th to fly to Cebu. I talked with this catholic guy and this non-religious girl the entire flight and we had a great talk. I was not able to discuss much about the church because they were devout to their own religion but I was able to make two friends:) The missionary purpose is "Invite others to come unto Christ". Even though I wasn't able to convert them or even get in a lesson, I was able to extend the invitation to come unto Christ which is mas importante! 

I met President McCurdy and his wife. They are very nice people and remind me a lot of uncle Brent - haha! I feel as if I was able to connect easily with the president and that our relationship will extend far beyond our missions (not just because he lives in Twin Falls XD). On my birthday, the day we arrived in Cebu, we got to go through the Cebu Temple! We got to do a session and what can I say? What a blessing to do so on my birthday! 

I was assigned my new kauban, Elder Noprada, at the Presidents house which is RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE TEMPLE! He is very nice and as dedicated to the work as I am:). He is a Filipino from Manila and he has been out a year. He sings very well. We were then assigned to our area, Toboso, which is 30 minutes away from the furthest mission from the mission home on the island of Negros. It took us 9 hours to travel to our house and I was VERY tired and a little sick. We have to drive to Escelante (the furthest mission) to do our shopping, have our zone meetings, drive the sisters to places (me and akong companion don't drive but we drive with the ZL). Me and my companion walk EVERYWHERE! oh and take the bus if there is one . 

Last night we witnessed a tender mercy of the Lord. It gets dark here (night time dark) around 6:30. We were walking home at 8 and we were 4 miles out from our home. The buses had stopped coming and no cars we up and about. We had began our walk home when a light came from behind us. A caravan was coming. We waved our hands hoping there would be a bus or jeepney. A truck stopped and offered us a ride. We got in the bed and was able to see who had offered us a ride. It was a caravan of the Filipino Army! We rode home with the Filipino soldiers... Of all things to help us after a very long day and to save us from over an hour walk through the bukid (jungle/ forest/ wilderness etc) was the army. Interesting. 

Speaking of the army, when we were in Manila, we got to go to the American WW2 cemetery there. There were, to take a guess, about 10000 graves there and it was all very well kept. I found a couple graves of Medal of Honor recipients. What a great honor to receive. 

We hardly eat here. We are out and about A LOT (I wonder why?). I'm not hungry BTW... The food is, to say the least, plain. We don't eat a whole lot and nor do the people here eat a lot. I have taught many lessons in a bamboo house; one room, no water, no bathroom, no kitchen- just a fire pit outside, and this is the condition of just about everybody I have taught. I have already been here for one week and the lessons of humility, gratitude, and selflessness have been made manifest to me. Many people live here and the have NOTHING! yet are happy with their families. I never really understood how third world the Philippines really is!

We as Americans and first world people truly do not understand what we have been blessed with. To take a WARM SHOWER is a blessing! To have a toilet that flushes and (sad to say) to NOT have to use a pail of water and a hand to "clean yourself" is a blessing from God himself to us. To have an oven to bake bread, a pillow to sleep with and, for here, a fan to blow while you sleep are things the people here in my mission do not have that sadly even I have taken for granted. We have to specially buy the water that I drink as well. I have yet to meet one investigator whose teeth aren't rotting out of their head. To meet a family who doesn't share a single bed, a father whose job ISN'T to drive the pedicabs and transport people --- these people have what a first world person would consider to be NOTHING, yet they are happy with what they have, they do not complain about a thing, and their families are happy. The Filipino families consist of more than just the bana ug asawa and their kids. Friends are a huge part in families here and they are respected as such.

I have learned so much from one week here. Hopefully over the next 22 months I have left I can implement these humble Christlike attributes into my life so that when I return home I can be very thankful for what I have and never complain about any living condition I may live in. Trailer parks in the middle of nowhere America are more blessed than what I am currently living in and the conditions of those whom I serve, yet I see what is important. Families, your friends, your religion, protection from the elements- these are all things that matter most in our lives. As you, my family, continue on your lives just remember this, worldly things have NO priority over the Godly things. 

In my house we have many lizards roaming around. They eat the bugs that never seem to leave! We have a gecko in our house which is very loud, mouse in the kitchen and roosters EVERYWHERE! The Filipinos love cock fights. It smells funky here but hey? that's alright:) Every morning I go outside to the water well, draw up buckets of water, carry them into my house and bathroom and dump them on me. This is how I shower here. Same thing for the use of the restroom --get water and dump it down the toilet to flush. A very fun process haha. 

I love it here and the people are very nice. I can tell that this is going to be the best two years of my life! I wish the best for you all! You don't need to worry about me here on my mission, like I promised in my farewell talk "Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow. Set me free to find my calling and I'll return to you somehow". I promise that I will return safely! 

Never take anything for granted and love everybody that you see! When you lose yourself in the service of others you are able to forget your own pain and be able to bless the lives of others. Strive to serve because this is the best anti-depressant that I have found! I know this to be true.

I love you all!  

-Elder Morris

(This is a picture of my area! Very bukid right? A very convenient thing I have and a lot of people here have are the handkerchiefs to wipe away your  sweat! I sweat more than anything else that comes out haha (ewww!) 

I love you mom, dad, Hannah, Nick, Regan! I wish the best for you!)

An Update on the Book of Mormon Given During the Flight to Portland

(A post by  Zac's Mom) 

On August 13, 2015, I received the most wonderful personal message on Facebook. It was from the individual who sat next to Zac on the flight to Portland (and her daughter). Zac had planned to give out a Book of Mormon on his flight to the Philippines, and was so excited that he succeeded on the first leg of the trip. It was busy and chaotic, so I didn't get to hear the details of how or who he gave it to .... until now. 


"Hello Rachel! You do not know me, but I see that we have common friends in Chris and Emily Hansen. Perhaps they live by you in Lehi? They used to live by us in Layton and are dear friends of ours! (They are our neighbors!!)

I am writing to let you know that my daughter Hannah and I had a wonderful experience sitting by your son Elder Morris on his flight to Portland last week. He told us that you were all on that flight as well and about the fun surprise it was for him! So cute!

It was by no accident that Elder Morris was seated by us on that flight. My daughter is absolutely terrified of flying! We are also members of the Church and when we saw so many missionaries boarding the plane, I told her that there was no way that our plane was going down! Best life insurance ever!!!

Your son is truly the Lord's servant and teaches by the power of the Holy Ghost. He was quoting scriptures and sharing messages from talks as they pertained to our conversation. He told us that in the MTC he was told that 20% of the missionaries would do 80% of the work and 80% of them would do 20% of the work. I know which camp he falls in. He is so well prepared and has such a light about him! Our discussion was so powerful and the Spirit was very strong. My sweet daughter was totally calm the entire flight and gained a lot of strength and understanding from the message that your son was teaching.

Elder Morris shared with us a little bit about his life story after asking questions about us and our family. When my daughter discussed some of the issues she was struggling with he would tell us about something from his past that she could draw strength from. He shared with us his triumphant story of his track career. About the moments of disappointment after training so hard and then not being able to compete because of injuries. Talk about enduring to the end! How rewarding it must have been his senior year to take 1st place in the state in the 200 meter dash! He was so cute as he relayed the story. He said that he didn't want to seem boastful, but he wanted to illustrate a point; that when we go through times of struggle, Heavenly Father is preparing us for something good. He's molding us and making us stronger. It was powerful.

Another topic of discussion was depression. My daughter suffered from a pretty severe case of that last year. He was very open and shared with us his story. There were times when all 3 of us were in tears. He was able to get through to Hannah in a way that nobody has been able to so far. I know that he will be an amazing missionary to the people in the Philippines, but I have to tell you, fresh out of the MTC he was an outstanding missionary to a daughter of God who needed to be uplifted and strengthened. His effect on her has been profound. If for no other reason, Elder Morris' willingness to serve the Lord has greatly blessed the life of my daughter. He said that in the MTC they were challenged to read the Book of Mormon with a specific purpose, or to have a specific question in mind and search for answers to that question. His was, "How do I get over my depression?" He pulled out his copy and showed it to us. He had highlighted scriptures and made notes in the margins that taught about having joy, peace, strength...etc. He is a very wise young man. He only made it to chapter 5 in 1 Nephi which is too bad because it was all very insightful. He gave this copy to Hannah and\ challenged her to read through the rest of the book and continue the process that he started. He wants her to sign her name under his in the front cover and then pass it along to someone else who is suffering from depression so that they can find strength in the scriptures as well. He also taught her that it is when we serve others that we find our greatest joy.

At our Young Women's activity this week I was sharing this experience with the girls. Afterwards, one of my Mia Maids came and talked to me. With tears in her eyes she told me that she hadn't really felt like going to our activity that night but she thanked me for what I shared and said that that was exactly what she needed to hear. Your sons words and example are blessing the lives of people he hasn't even met. When Hannah finishes reading and marking up his Book of Mormon, she will pass it onto this darling  girl.

If you wouldn't mind, Hannah and I would love to get Elder Morris' address so that we can send him a letter expressing our gratitude to him for that day. You must be thrilled to see him at this point in his life! He is well prepared, the Spirit is with him, and he is intelligent and kind. He is going to do great things and bless the lives of many. Thank you for being a wonderful example in his life. It was apparent in the things that he shared with us how much he loves and cherishes you.

Sincerely - "

My heart was warmed and my eyes were wet by the time I finished reading this message. I am truly grateful for who Zac is and what he is so rapidly becoming. I'm so grateful he can be part of the good in this world.

Happy Birthday to Me... I Made it to Cebu!

Aug 12, 2015

(My first day in Cebu - with President and Sister McCurdy)

Today I am in Cebu! The place of my assignment and here I am! Oh there is SO much I wish to tell you about the Philippines so far! I have already gone out tracting in Quezon City. Talked to three peeps in the one hour that we were out. Kids were playing with spiders. Lots of people... Rice for every meal....

The Manila MTC is right across the street from the Manila temple! BEAUTIFUL but undergoing work so we didn't get to go inside:( Today in Cebu, as we were driving to the mission home, the president called and he and his wife sang happy birthday to me via the phone. When we got to the home we had KFC for lunch and everyone sang happy birthday to me:) We then walked right across the street to the Cebu Temple! The temple is in the same parking lot as the mission home! We did a session there and it was beautiful. It is small like the Draper temple but just as powerful in spirit. Tomorrow I will meet my trainer and we will go to our mission and begin the Lord's work. 

All is well here and I am loving it! I wish the best for you my family and thanks again for all that you do for me! Good luck in all that you do and tell Hannah, Nick, & Regan that I love them! Love you Mom and Dad!

-your 19 year old elder, Elder Morris 

Diri Ko!

August 7, 2015

I arrived here in Manila at 1:30 a.m. The flights were very long and I dry heaved right when I landed here in Manila - haha. It is very hot and very humid here. I am ok; very tired right now. Later today we are going out into Manila to proselyte to the Filipinos. Maayo ang tanan, all is well. I will be leaving to Cebu on Wednesday. It is Saturday here. Wednesday is akong birthday so I will be traveling to akong mission on akong birthday-  haha. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! I wish the best for you all while I am away! Salamat again para sa visiting ko at sa airport! It honestly made nako mas happier!

I love you all!

-Elder Morris

Airport Surprise!

August 6, 2015

(A post from Elder Morris' Mom...)

We are very blessed that Elder Morris' dad works part time for Delta. Because of this, we are able to travel wherever Delta flies - as long as there are seats available. We decided to book a day trip to Portland, Oregon on Thursday, 8/6, and have lunch, see some sights, and then fly home. Well, guess who we ran into at the airport!!! (Ok, it wasn't purely coincidental!) Elder Morris had called while we were in the airport parking lot, but 3 minutes into the call, the call dropped and he wasn't able to call back. I was so excited knowing that we were going to surprise him, as I know he was extremely disappointed not to be able to talk on the phone. We made is through security and found the gate. It was packed. I finally spotted Elder Morris. Actually, he was looking down and I spotted his new tie we got him for his birthday! He looked up and saw me and Hannah and was SO surprised!! He got up and gave me a big hug. It felt so good to see him and hug him again. The rest of the family spotted us and came over also. We met his companion and other missionaries from his zone. There was about 30 of them flying to the Philippines. Only three were going to Cebu.

We were able to fly to Portland with him and see him off as he boarded the next leg of the flight to Norita - Tokyo. He was very happy that he was able to give out a Book of Mormon on the flight to Portland.  Gonna miss him so much over the next two years, but so proud of him.

Read About Typhoon Haiyan

Aug 5, 2015

If you want a story to read, search up Typhoon Haiyan – the super typhoon that hit the Philippines in 2013 when my MTC teachers were there. Their testimony on how to never lose faith when you lose LITERALLY EVERYTHING is mas maayo! My teachers were in the middle of this super typhoon and they said that no church going member lost their life in that storm, that God was watching over them the whole time. I wish you can hear how my teacher, Sister Henshaw, tells it. The story commands total attention if you are listening! 

All is well with me and I will give you a call tomorrow morning when I'm at the airport! I have 1 hour to do so. 

-Elder Morris 

(Sister Henshaw is in the middle (my teacher and first investigator Emily). Left to right are Sisters Huxtable, Hagadorn, and Moyes, To her left are Elder Gali and myself)

Ready to Leave the MTC... and I saw Elder Nelson!

Aug 5, 2015

They taught us that we learn 10 years of maturity here in the next two years. I sure hope that I am able to learn how to deal with people and be able to gain their trust. The hardest thing I've found is correction of behavior. In a place without immediate or physical punishment it is hard for people to see the need for behavioral correction. I need to learn how to correct behavior without upsetting people and this is difficult because at least somebody gets offended. 

This week was a very interesting one. I don't even know where to begin. (He then wrote of a personal situation with another Elder.)  We all go through our own Gethsemane and I feel like he is going through his right now. He said that all his actions were not thought out and were out of anger. Like I said before, I do feel that he is striving to do his best. We shall see. I have hope for him.

I leave at 6:30 tomorrow morning and have over 24 hours of traveling until I am in Manila. I will give you a call tomorrow when I am at the airport waiting. We leave at 11:33. I sent home a letter with a leadership thing I went through and it definitely humbled me haha. The best thing I can do with all these experiences is to see them at different angles, and look at them as learning chances. I respect all of my fellow friends here and take each chance to better myself. I know that I have truly changed so far and am scared about the changes within the next 22 1/2 months haha! This time here has been the best lime of my life! I am glad to leave here but I am thankful for what I have received here. 

Last night I saw my first apostle in the flesh. Elder Russell M. Nelson came! The president of the Quorum of the Twelve! He gave his FIRST talk as the president to US! It was insane! I am so glad that before I left I was able to see an apostle in the flesh! 

I am glad for the choice to serve a mission. I thank you so much for helping me with this opportunity. I promise that I will not let you down!

-Elder Morris 

Intro to Leadership

July 31, 2015

I went to the Provo temple this morning and had a great time. I've had a lot on my mind lately. Some in my district have made it difficult to be a DL – commenting how it is their agency if they choose not to follow rules, and how they want me to quit worrying about them and if they are upset or not and they called me a tattle tale cuz they thought I was ratting them out to the branch pres (which I wasn’t). It wasn’t fun, but alas I have gotten over it and things are good now. I am the DL for only 3 weeks here in the MTC. I am not sure if I will get a position of leadership while i am out but I do hope so.

(He wrote more about this situation in a letter mailed home. He was deeply hurt by reactions and words of some in his district. He said, "The interesting thing is that the prior night, I asked God for an opportunity to learn humility. Well I can say that my prayer was answered!" He also said, "I have learned now that everyone serves their own mission. If they don't want to follow the rules, then that isn't going to affect my mission. I am to serve the Lord, not myself. I am going to do what has been asked and nothing less. I dedicated these 24 months to the Lord when I submitted my papers.")

I am thankful for the package Erin sent; tell her how happy it made me too. I sent her and Donna a letter in response to the ones they sent me.

The letter I sent you last week was reviewed by my teacher so I know that the translation was a crappy Google thing. It pretty much stated that last November, I went through a tough trial due to the accusations of another individual. At this time my mother also lost her job. With her out of work I feel that this was the Lord's plan to help us grow closer and to help me learn this lesson. All ended well. I am thankful for my parents both for helping me through this issue and for the Savior Jesus Christ. I know that forgiveness is what he wants me to do in response to the situation I was in, and so I have forgiven the individual.  

I will be leaving for Manila on Thursday. I am going to try my best to call you when I am at the airport as well. I think my flight leaves around 11, so I will try to call before then. I hope all goes well for you guys at home! My prayers go out to you all and I hope that things will begin got look up for you all!

-Elder Morris

Another Week Down

July 24, 2015

Another week down. I have one and a half more weeks left! I just got my travel plans and we are flying out of SLC all the way to Tokyo and then to Manila. I have sent home a letter about my testimony and it is all in Cebuano :) good luck!  I’ll send an email with the gist of the translation next week if you so desire to decode my writing. 

So this week was interesting. I am now the District Leader and so in my letter to the President I have pointed some issues out.  (Issues left out here to protect the innocent!) Other than that all is well. Thanks for the letters mom and Hannah and I can’t wait to hear from everybody else. Tell Erin thanks for the support package and that I will be writing to her and Scotlyn and Xavier as well. I hope you all have a good week!

Love,

Elder Morris

Elder Bednar Talk

July 17, 2015

This week has been a long week. Sunday pretty much changed my whole week with a talk by Elder David Bednar called Character of Christ. (He didn’t come; we just watched it). It was painful to hear him share this story about a single mother who lost her child in a car accident and STILL turned outward to help those in need. You as a family should read it together if you could or watch it...that would probably be better. I also read a passage called The Richard II Letter. It has helped me realize what type of missionary I need to be. I have also come to learn that I should have been studying the scriptures a lot more before I came here. I very much enjoy reading them but don’t have a whole lot of time to read them here… my mistake:/.

Thank you for all that you have done. I hope that you are or were able to get my letters!Until next week I bid thee adieu.

-Elder Morris 

More MTC Week 1

July 5, 2015

To my family,

Having just finished reading ang Basahon ni Mormon, pag tudlo ko tinuod ang Basahan ni Mormon. It is a great book; very sad ending. If you don’t know for yourself or have forgotten, I challenge you to read the book within the next four weeks of receiving this letter. I accept my challenge. I bet I will be the first to finish too. Challenge starts July 10^th.

I have had a whole new experience here at the MTC. I am not a fan of the whole ‘companion’ idea. I prefer to be alone and /or at least be able to listen to my music. I don’t know how girls like guys; guys are weird and loud. I have a few stories I will share and a testimony I hope you all can read and know that it is true.

The Islander people are very energetic and talkative. My companion, Elder Gali, is a rambunctious one. He jokes around a lot. He keeps racing me, which I think is quite funny, and doesn’t come close to beating me. The other Elders I am with are from New Zealand and Samoa.

I will tell you about my first lesson teaching our investigator Emily. Elder Gali ug ko taught Emily in Cebua-nglish two days after being assigned. We were horrible to say the least. As we headed back to the classroom we devised a plan of which we would boast in the gift of tongues. We did so to our district sisters (who taught Emily right before us) and they began to cry! We couldn’t tell if they were mad at us or if something else had happened. One of the sisters said that it was because they sucked at their message and they weren’t upset with us.

So there ended up being an arm wrestling tournament and we had USA vs. New Zealand on this particular night around 10:00 pm. A group of us (about 10-15) gathered outside our door and screamed and cheered on as New Zealand won. This was all caught on camera btw. Right as it ended and elder from down the hall came and yelled at us all and said, “Will you all be quiet! We are trying to give a blessing in here!” From behind us came the voice of one of the mission presidents telling us, “You aren’t the only ones who live here”. Me and Elder Gali saw our roommates walking back to the residence, so what did we do? We ran to the room before them, hid behind the door and bed next to the door, and as soon as our roommates came in, we jumped out and scared the living daylights out of them! A few days later they made a similar attempt on us except we saw them turn off the light so we knew what they were doing. I opened the door and peered on in to see the Elder hiding behind a towel. He peered out to see me just staring him down. It was comical.

I participated in my first blessing too. We blessed a sister. Good times.

Now I will share a final testimony. On the last Tuesday in June, I was just racked with not being able to find joy. I find joy when I feel the Spirit, but being a natural man, I don’t feel it 24/7. Depression is a funny thing, I’ve learned. I feel as if us depressed people received that gift so that we can know when we feel the Holy Spirit, because we aren’t sad. Well, on this particular Tuesday, I was struggling. I laid in my bed in agony, a feeling I know all too well, as I felt so empty and lonely. I envisioned me in the next life sitting on a bench. I watched the Savior come and I cried unto him, begging him to help me; pleading with him to help me feel love and no more emptiness. Right then, a feeling of peace overcame me. That night I learned that God will not suffer us to be racked and tormented by the pains of this world if we show a little faith and come unto Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He answered my prayers immediately. I can testify the love Jesukristo has for us. It is the opposite of depression and I’m grateful for every time I am happy. Put faith in God and he will answer. It may not be answered as quickly as my pleas were, but they will still be answered when the right and appropriate time comes. I slept well that night; first time I was happy while going to sleep in a long time.

Salamat! Thank you for all your support over the past several years. I cannot express how grateful I am to have a family who has sacrificed so much so that I may experience what I have.

I love you all!

Elder Morris

End of Week 1

July 3, 2015

Salamat! A lot has already happened in our first week. We had four lessons with our first investigator, did temple work, drank the orange juice that all missionaries advise to not drink (I was in the bathroom all day yesterday due to that). I wish to send the more spiritual messages through letters, I feel as though receiving a letter that one has taken the time out of the day to write is better than through email. My testimony has been strengthened so much already, I finished reading ang Basahon ni Mormon today.  I have experienced the gift of tongues so far in my lessons I've prepared. The days go by as all one big blur. We do the exact same thing every day and it is very structured. I cannot wait until I get to leave here and go to the Philippines. 

I will send a letter with my gratitude and a few stories to share so far. It should be in by the end of next week. I wish you all the best! Gugma kita!   

First Email in the MTC!

June 26, 2015

Dear Family,   
   I am pleased to announce that my Cebuano has been enhanced. I can now attempt to pronounce it. I am not good enough to type it only because I started learning it two days ago. On day one, they dropped my stuff off in my room and took me straight to class where the teacher does not speak English (so baptism by fire). It was there that I have received my companion Elder Gali. He is a full Polynesian from Australia. My other two roommates are from New Zealand. I have come in contact with my SUU friends who are here in attendance as well as Elder Empey and Elder Mellior. They are good people. I miss you all and wish you the best of luck while I am away.      

Tschues!
Elder Morris

Me on the right, Elder Gali (Australia) to my left, then Elder Tyrell (New Zealand), on the left is Elder Richards (New Zealand)  

MTC Day

June 24, 2015

A day of mixed emotion... sad to say good-bye for two years, but so happy for him.  I couldn't be more proud of the choice he has made and his decision and desire to serve the Lord. He is super excited! I know he will be a great example, teacher, and servant to the people in the Philippines.

Mission Call!!

May 5, 2015

"Dear Elder Morris,
    You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Philippines, Cebu mission. You will serve for a period of 24 months. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, June 24. You will prepare to teach the gospel in the Cebuano language."