5/30/2016 Cut out the FuFu!

Good afternoon, everyone on this wonderful Memorial Day Monday!! 

I hope everyone is staying safe and having a great time where ever you might be!!

I’ll get right down to it. 2 weeks ago I said I was kind of struggling finding people to teach and not much changed this week ha-ha. I was feeling really sick and just lazy, not really motivated to work hard. Then I changed a few things this week and it seemed to help. I used to be eating really unhealthy like bread and butter with sugar for breakfast and FUFU for lunch all the time. I was really just eating simple sugars and carbs, no protein. This past week I changed that up. I started eating healthier foods. For breakfast, I’m having oatmeal with peanuts and bananas or sometimes boiled eggs. It changed my entire mood. This week I’ve been the happiest even during some of our hardest times!! Saturday we had all but 2 of our lessons fall through. While my comp was bummed I was surprisingly still smiling, staying happy and positive!! It felt so much better. It was just awesome!! So, I’ll definitely try to keep that up from now on. I felt more confident while teaching this week as well and just overall much better.

A cool story from this last week, Saturday afternoon we stopped by the chapel because they were having a wedding and we went to get a member to see if he could help us teach a recent convert of ours who we needed translation. He wasn’t able to come so we decided to leave. As we walked out we met our bishop at the road side. He asked what we were up to and we told him we were headed to see our recent convert. He said he was just headed to work. (By the way, he’s a fire fighter.) All of the sudden a taxi went flying down the road honking and flashing his lights. We thought it was weird, even though it happens a lot here. So we look to the right, towards the junction where a lot of shops are. The taxi, and trotro run is there also. We saw a bunch of smoke coming from a car. The bishop started running over and we followed to see what was up. Next thing you know the bishop was calling the fire service and as we approached we saw a small car on fire! Ghanaians were circled around the car trying to put out the fire with wet towels and small buckets of water. That wasn’t working. Soon the fire truck pulled up and people jumped out (not in any fire protective gear because that’s not how they do things in Ghana ha-ha). They grabbed a fire hose and just start going at the fire. Random people were jumping in to hold the hose and trying to spray the car. It was all very interesting because as you know, back home they would rope off the area and have people stay back. Not here! hahaha People just kept getting closer and closer to the car. People had their phones out filming it. It was amazing to see our Bishop in action. It all turned out okay. The people were rescued from Bishop and the fire crew that arrived.

Another small story, on Sunday, our ward mission leader was asked to conduct the music for Sacrament meeting. During the rest hymn he was nowhere to be found. Bishop and I made eye contact and I started walking towards the front…he gave me a nod of approval. Next thing I knew, I was the conductor for the music. Ha-ha! I was actually pretty nervous because I didn’t want to mess up but I’d just like to say thank you for all those times I was asked to lead the hymn in Sunday school, Priesthood and Seminary. It came in handy that day!

We’re still searching to find people to teach. I’m staying positive about it. I know that all will be well. We just have to keep working hard and keep our heads up! I finally finished reading the New Testament this last week!! And now I will begin to read the Book of Mormon again. This time I’m going to try and really study instead of just trying to get through it.

I’m hoping to learn something new each time I read the scriptures and know that I will. As we study the scriptures and try to apply the things we learn into our own lives, we'll grow to be stronger disciples of Jesus Christ and feel more happiness and love in our lives. Our love for those around us will increase as well.

I love and miss y’all! Thanks for the letters and I hope everyone has a great week!!

God bless you all,

Elder Morris

5/23/2016

Hey everyone!! 

After being sick last week, I feel a lot better this week!! Once we went back to the apartment last week after emailing, I had some type of attack, body paralysis and fever. It didn't last too long but I still had a fever on Tuesday so we had to stay in. Things aren’t easy. There’s a lot of sickness going around because of the rainy season. It’s rained a lot this week, almost every other day. The cooler weather is great but the down side is it makes the roads super muddy and it floods really easily here which makes it’s hard to get around. How grateful I am for my "thick soled mission shoes" that I brought. They're unstoppable!

Highlight of the week was yesterday. Lawrence was FINALLY BAPTIZED!!!!! After weeks of waiting, it finally happened. A shout out of big congrats to him for waiting it out. Now we'll start preparing him for the temple!

It’s so interesting how many are prepared for baptism out here.  It's starting to feel like a normal occurrence. You may not have a baptism for a few months and then you'll have around 7 or 8. It’s almost like God is handing them to us, prepared and ready. But I wouldn’t say it's really anything we do as missionaries, but that Ghana is in a "religious revolution." Everyone is interested in God. They all want to hear about the gospel. That’s probably the thing that is talked about the most in Ghana is GOD. So it makes that part easy. The biggest problem is THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT CHURCHES!!!!!!!! People become pastors just to make money. I don’t understand how people are blinded by false prophets and how they can’t see and feel that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is back on the earth in its fullness!! And that fullness is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Not much more to report. Just trying to find more people to start teaching!! We’ve been struggling with having lessons. My comp and I fasted a few weeks ago for the area and we it hope it will pick up again soon!

Hum... so yeah that’s about it! I hope everyone is doing well! Thanks for the pics that y’all send and for your love and support!

Have a great week

Love y’all,  

Elder Morris

5/16/2016

Hey y'alll! 

I hope everyone had a great week! Things are going just fine out here in Africa! To be honest, I’m not feeling so good today. I’ve got some small sickness coming on. Hopefully it won’t be anything to bad.

 Anyway an update from this past week: it rained really hard one day right as we went out to proselyte. We actually go stuck under a small shop hiding from the rain! It went from about 11 to 3. But let me just say how amazing the cool breeze was! A big relief from the hot sun!  The locals say the weather will start cooling down now and we'll have more rain.

This past week we didn’t have very many lessons but did have a great opportunity to attend the Temple with our recent converts. It was so relaxing and was such a great day! I had the chance to actually do the confirmations for some of the people there that day. It’s definitely a goal to attend the temple every month with a recent convert!

You remember Lawrence?? We were teaching him a while back but left to Cape Coast for break. Well he’s back and we're preparing him for baptism!!

Speaking of baptism, Kwesie Aggrey was finally baptized in the Kojo Bedu ward this past Sunday. I guess they got permission from the wife to be baptized. So that feels like a big pile of rocks was lifted off our shoulders.

So yeah, not doing so good right now so I’m gonna cut it a little short today!

Love and miss y’all so much!

Keep your heads up because everything will work out in the end!

Love,

Elder Morris

5/9/2016 MOTHER'S DAY

GOOD AFTERNOON!!!!! First, Happy Mother’s day to all MOTHERS and future mothers out there!! Thank you for being Awesome!!! I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say, I don’t know what we'd do without you!!!

So this last week was the last week before transfer... Well nothing surprising... President said we're all staying in our areas till we get to know the members better and work with them more. So I guess it’s a good thing and somehow a bad thing if you wanted your comp to leave... Not saying names’ ha-ha

It’s okay though, it’s the challenges that build us and make us stronger!!

A quote by someone who I love so much once said “I choose to be happy.  The most fun part about life is trying to figure it out.  If something is not working, change and do it a different way until you find something that does work and makes you happy.  Missions are hard, but so is life.  So make the most of it." -Charles Morris AKA DAD!!

It’s so true though. We can choose to be happy or not. Thank goodness I like being optimistic ha ha-ha. When life gets hard I remind myself that it’s only for a small time and I still have great moments ahead of me!

Any who so the rest of last week on Wednesday we went to Accra to Have Zone Conference. It was great to see old friends and also great to hear from Elder Stanfill from the 70. We received great inspiration and guidance on how to be better missionaries when it comes to working with members. That’s why we'll be staying in our areas for a long time ha-ha.

We've been teaching a lot of good people and then.... sadness. We have to postpone or can’t baptize because of issues. Like Okay I won’t say names but

One person didn’t tell us he was married and there’s been talk of him cheating on his wife so we have to postpone till things calm down and we get approval from the wife,

Another is married to a polygamist man so she can’t be baptized.

Another is a polygamist so we can’t baptize him or his wife.

One is Pregnant so we have to wait till she delivers but she’ll go to Kenya till then and then come back in like August.

So, I’d just like to prove that there truly is opposition in all things!!

We'll just go back to work now. We are working with members trying to get referrals (because that’s been the most successful tool in baptizing, is through member referrals!!).

A cool experience from last week. I GOT TO HOLD A MONKEY!!!!! Like the small one in the movie, Night at the Museum. It was adorable and I picked him up and put him on my shoulder! Just so no one is alarmed, it’s a pet of a member. So it’s not wild ha-ha

Then in the end I finished the week calling my family for mother’s day!! It was so good to hear their voices and chat with them for a small time!

I hope everyone has a great week!! Pray for rain here in Ghana!! We need it!! Ha-ha-ha

Love and miss y’all!!

Elder Morris!

5/2/2016

Another fast fast week here in Africa!! The sun is shining bright, but we did get some rain last week which felt really nice!! It was great to have cool weather for a change.

I just like to say, like Nephi I am not mighty in writing but rather in speech. So if any part of this email seems out of place, that’s why ha-ha

So a good week! We had the opportunity to set a baptismal date for a Sis Mary, who is by far now my favorite investigator ever!!!! Here’s why!

After she attended church Sunday, which she said she really enjoyed all the classes and learning, we went to her place to start teaching her about the plan of salvation. As we sit down with her she started telling us her story when she was reading the "plan of salvation" pamphlet. She said I was reading when I just started to cry. Tears were flowing down my face and I couldn’t figure out why!!! That moment I knew that this was the true church I had been looking for! Everything is true that you’ve taught me, Joseph smith, restoration of the priesthood, everything!!

I was so happy to hear those words!! I knew she knew this is the only true church of Jesus Christ on the earth!! We extended a baptismal date earlier in the week for May 22nd. She accepted!

She keeps commitments and everything, truly prepared by the Lord beforehand!!

For Kwesi we had some issues come up (probably shouldn’t write) but we have postponed his baptism. Hopefully he’s able to work out the situation soon. But we know there is OPPOSITION IN ALL THINGS! Ha-ha-ha where would the fun be without it.

This coming Wednesday we're having a zone conference and Elder Stanfill from the 70 will be joining us!

Also to all missionaries, WE CALL HOME THIS WEEK!!!!!!! Can’t wait to talk with the Family!

So this week I was reading about some church history and I came across the history of the Book of Mormon. It was interesting to read that Mormon added the small plates of Nephi "for a wise purpose". Little did I know it relates to Martin Harris losing the Manuscript of the 116 pages from the book of Lehi. It was the voice of the spirit which had told Mormon to add the small plates of Nephi. This was because the lord new in due time, the 116 pages would be lost.

So I thought... When the spirit whispers something to me, do I listen and follow the guidance or do I just pass it over. Is there a "wise purpose" that the lord is trying to put in place? So just a little thought.

I definitely feel that I’m able to recognize the voice of the spirit more than before my mission. Which I’m very grateful for because I know that will help me in my decision making.

We had our monthly Fast and Testimony meeting this last Sunday and I felt prompted to share my test. I read a quote somewhere one time that a "Testimony shared is a testimony kept". So wanting to share and build my testimony I followed the prompting of sharing. From God is our loving Heavenly Father to Families are ordained of God.

My love for this Gospel is strong! I know it comes with promised blessings as we use our agency and choose to follow the example or our savior Jesus Christ.

I hope y’all have a great week!! Love and miss you a lot!!