Elder Derek Morgan: Week 6

Overlooking Tijuana

Hola familia,

I hope all is well. First off, I want to tell you all that I miss and love you!!!! Mexico is crazy different and doesn't feel like home yet.

Elder Morgan

So, how I'm feeling. At times I'm like, I totally got this, and then somebody asks me a question and I'm like, huh???? But, I'm trying to get settled. The hardest part by far is communicating. I'm starting to pick up some, but it's slow and I feel dumb.

Elder Wood, Elder Portillo

So, my companions... yes, we're in a trio! Elder Wood from Utah (got here with me) and my trainer Elder Portillo from Durango Mexico who has been out for 12 months. He's a great guy and he's trained a bunch of missionaries already and they trust him to train two at once so that's great! Man, I feel like I'm so busy all the time. Elder Portillo speaks very very little English.

Ward (Church) Building

Let's see, about Mexico. There are dogs everywhere, and basically to imagine it, take the nastiest mop you can find and put googly eyes on it. Boom! You have the dogs here. They all bark at us, but the dangerous ones are all behind fences :)

We live in a tiny apartment with 1 room and a kitchen. We're trying to look for something a little spacier.

First baptism

So, this week we had a baptismal! The mission's goals are for each companionship to baptize twice a month! WOW!

The very first night we got here was about 8:00pm when we finally got to our house and we had to go to an appointment. So we're running through the streets of Tijuana at night and Elder Wood and I are thinking we're going to die. We didn't. Anyways, it's not at all dangerous here. The people are really nice and now we laugh at the fact that we thought it was dangerous that night!

This has been the most humbling experience for me yet. The houses here are all tiny tiny with either dirt or concrete floors. It's so crazy.

We eat at a member's house every day for lunch.

Looks like a 'rocking' Ward. Elder Morgan has got to feel at home!

Sunday was really great. Elder Wood and I blessed the Sacrament. I think there are like 100 people plus in the ward.

Let's see, for mom. I'm good. Doing well, love you so much and am trying to work hard.

Funny story of the week - we ran into a little boy in the street who asked us what our job was. We told him that we were missionary's for the church. When we told him what church, and he heard Jesucristo, all he said was "amen" and left. Haha, He must have thought we were praying or something.

Another funny story. Last night we were teaching an investigator named Dolores when all of a sudden she started talking about evil spirits and all this stuff. Then this box that was sitting on the floor next to Elder Portillo started rustling and we all thought we were going to die. So Elder Portillo exclaimed, "What's in the box????" Her response - A rat. hahahaha

Merry Christmas to you all. It doesn't at all feel like Christmas. I miss you all and love you so much.
The hardest part of this all is not being able to express or understand what I want, but I know that it comes with time. I´m getting more situated here and trying hard to love the people and the language.

I love love love love love you all. God is our father. We are his children. He loves us and answers prayers.

Love,
Elder Morgan

Below are some of the last pictures before Elder Morgan left the MTC: