Week 15 - Another Wonderful Week

I have like no time today!!! ahhhhh.

Baptism of the Reyes Family

I love you all so so so so much!!! I think of you all often and know that this work is so important.

This week was awesome! The Reyes family got baptized!!! This was the first time I was ever able to baptize someone and it was so cool. The only hard part is that everyone here has 4 names so I got to baptize Manual Gabriel Reyes Breceda! haha. It was so cool. I gave one of the CTR rings to Alonso (the son), he loved it! They all got confirmed this week in church and right after, Alonso got the priesthood and was able to pass the sacrament in church! This family is seriously AWESOME. Manual also got the priesthood and is ordained a priest. We met with them last night and they were watching the Work and the Glory and reading church manuals!!!! What the... Where did these guys come from???  I LOVE IT!

Reyes Family

Happy!!

We were supposed to have another baptism, but it fell through because of some weird things. We're hoping to have it later on.

This week we had a zone conference and the President had me bear my testimony of the Sacrament and my first time passing as a Deacon on the fly in front of the whole zone. After I did, he said to the whole zone, "Wow. I could feel the Spirit in that." I was just hoping he could understand me!!! haha

One thing that I have been studying and thinking about this week is Faith. The way that we can have faith is through action. Faith without works is dead, as we know. This means that we can't just sit idly by and wait for something to happen and say, "Oh I have faith." NO! We need to go out and do our part. If I have faith in tithing, I pay my tithing! If I have faith in missionary work, I go talk to my friends and neighbors! If I have faith in the Gift of Tongues, I open my mouth and the Spirit will give me what I need to say.

Off to do more work, and exercise more Faith!

I love you all, and I know that this church is true.  I hope you all have a great week!

Love,
Elder Morgan

Week 14 - Birthday Week

Baptism of Roberto

Familia!

Love you all sooooooo much!

The work here is going great. I´m loving the work more and more each day. Obviously there are ups and downs and the work is really hard at times, but when you see the success of someone's life changed, it´s so worth it!

A Birthday picture from Elder Morgan's niece Sydney!!

Okay, first off. Thank you all for the birthday gifts!!! They´re sooooooo awesome!

Everyone in Mexico thinks Elder Morgan looks like Superman!

This week I'll share some spiritual experiences. We went to the house of an elderly woman in the ward originally just as a plan for the day to see if she had any references for us. When we arrived, in the middle of us talking with her, she started to wince and cry and asked us for a blessing. She has rheumatoid arthritis and she was all alone in the house. She told us that that night it started to hurt her really bad. She told us she knew that God had put us in her path because she needed a blessing. We gave her a blessing and immediately she calmed down and the pain subsided. I know that the Priesthood is real and that miracles are wrought by way of faith.


Okay, this week was my birthday for those of you who didn't know. The truth is that a birthday on the mission is just another day of work! However, this day of work was particularly special because we had a baptism! Roberto was baptized this week, confirmed, and given the priesthood. He's 21, just had a baby last month, and got married this week! It's crazy. He's so ready and prepared to move forward in the church. It was such an amazing birthday present.

Roberto's Family

Also, this week on valentines day we got to go to 2 weddings. Basically all the wedding was was a bunch of people got together and there was some representative that got up and pretty much just said, Okay you're all married now! haha. But it was cool to go see.

Mass weddings

Elder's Wood, Portilo, and Morgan at the weddings

Reyes Family Wedding

Reyes Family Wedding

Roberto's Family Wedding

Roberto's Family Wedding

Editorial note: Elder Morgan emailed me separately and said that about 500 people got married.  The marriages are conducted by some government official.

This week we have 5 baptisms planned, so we'll see how it goes!

Cake!!!!!

For my birthday we bought a chocolate cake and ate it.

Today we got permission to go to a plaza here in town which is basically just a shopping mall. It was really weird because it was like being back in the states, but I got to eat a couple of western bacon cheeseburgers at Carls Jr..... HEAVEN.

Elder Wood contemplating calling home! (Just kidding :-) )

This work is so special and I know that it is lead by The Lord. He is the one who is preparing these people to receive our message, and our only responsibility is to find these people and teach in such a manner that the Spirit can touch the hearts of those we teach.


I love you all so much and want you to have a great week!

Love,
Elder Morgan

Week 13 - Great Successes

Family of mine!!!

Oh how I care for each and every one of you.

I love you all so much. I really do.

This week was good. Right now we're doing well.

We are teaching a family right now that is absolutely awesome! At first, they just seemed so-so like every other person that listens to us, but we returned and they READ!!!! That is so rare. They've been to church for the past 3 weeks and they're awesome. Every time we leave them something to read, they do it! And not just some of them, but every single member of the family reads on their own accord! There's 3 of them and a possible 4th that we'll be teaching. The only thing that is keeping them back from getting baptized is that they are not married. That's very common here. They've been together for 22 years and have kids together, but never got married. This month though, for Valentines Day they're doing free weddings!! That means that we're working with many families to get married, haha. I think that we're actually going to one of the wedding's this week :)

Another painting that reminds me of home!!!

This family is so awesome though! They're seriously so converted already. They accept everything and I feel the Spirit so strong with them. The mom told us the other day that the first time that we came to their house, she felt a really warm feeling go all through her body when she saw us. She has felt that same feeling ever since with us, and when she reads. I know that they all can feel the spirit. One of the members of their family is like 14 and he's so cool. The first time that they came to church he was wearing like a purple shirt and no tie, but on the second and third time by his own accord he showed up in a white shirt and tie! He told us that even if his parents have to wait to get baptized if they don't get married this week, he wants to get baptized! Seriously this family is legit. They're already doing missionary work with their family. They're so excited to get sealed one day and know that their family can be forever! This is why I'm here. If I have no more success my whole mission, I will know at least that I helped this one family change their lives forever.


So, last week for P-Day we went to Carl's Jr.  It was like the most fancy Carl's Jr. I've ever seen. It was also like I was in the States because they were playing English music. It was really weird, but sooooo good to eat a Double Western :))

This week for P-Day: today we gathered a bunch of ingredients and missionaries, and we had an activity in the chapel where we made a dish that's basically just every kind of meat imaginable together in a huge pan that's cooked over a open flame. This open flame thing was in the church and Jerry-rigged with rocks and a trash can. I wish I had taken a picture, but I didn't!!!! Argh. It was fun though. We also played some B-Ball.

I found this toy at an investigators house and about fell out of my chair!!! I remember playing with this thing when I was little!!!

One of the things that I have learned is the importance of families. I am so thankful for the knowledge I have that we will be together forever. Family, I encourage every one of you to have Family Home Evening EVERY WEEK! This is a special time when we can build the foundation of our families on the principles of the gospel. I know that this will help our families in every aspect. If you are doing FHE already, great! Continue! If you aren't, please start! This is a great time to take a night to be together. That's the one thing I miss the most. Being together as a family!

Thank you all for the birthday wishes. I know that this birthday will not feel like it, but I think we're going to have a baptism that day. The best gift I could ever ask for.

Thank you everyone for the birthday packages. I'm waiting to open them on my birthday! 20 years old. Holy smokes. Time flies. In a few years I'll be married.................... OH MY WORD. My poor wife.

Anyways family,

I love you all so much! Stay strong and hold to the Iron Rod!

Love
Elder Morgan

Week 12 - Settling in

Hello Family!!!

Elder Wood and Elder Morgan (They both have the first name of Derek!)

Love you all so much. 

This week we have transfers, but I'm still here with Elder Portillo and Elder Wood.

Elder Morgan and Elder Wood on their second day in Mexico

Not much to report on this week. Right now we're having some great success. We had 11 investigators at church with us this week. We are teaching a family right now that is GOLD! They are loving the Gospel. They're all reading every day from the Book of Mormon and going to church! It's only a few more weeks until they'll be baptized. I can see the happiness that the Gospel is bringing their family. There's a boy that's like 14 or so and he practically memorized a whole verse from the Book of Mormon!!! Whoo!!!!!! Golden Investigators. 

We're doing well here and each day I feel more and more comfortable. Thanks for all the prayers there!

Elder Morgan being gangsta in TJ (There's graffiti everywhere here)

I love you all.  Something that has really struck me this week is my purpose here. This is the work of salvation. In the Bible it tells us that unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, they cannot enter into the kingdom of God. I am here to proclaim that our Loving Father in Heaven has given us a way to return back to his presence. We are here for a purpose. We lived with God before this life and we are here to prepare ourselves to return to his loving arms, but we need to do our part. We need to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need faith, repentance, baptism, The Holy Ghost, and we need to persevere to the end. For those of you who may not be living this right now. I invite you to start doing it!!! Talk with some missionaries. They're here to help you!

Elder Morgan found a car with Washington plates!!  :-)

Family and friends, I love you all so much! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Morgan

Week 11 - Crazy fast week

PDay hike

Hola familia!

First off I love all of you so much!! I miss you and think about you.

This week flew by! This week some crazy things happened!

Elder Morgan at Burger King - Yum!

First off, on PDay last week we went to Burger King!! A little American food, yummy yummy.  I seriously stuffed myself. 2 burgers, fries, chicken strips, and 3 sodas. haha. Coupons! We also went to Walmart to find Elder Portillo space bags!

This week I found a tooth in the road. Like a whole tooth, with root and all. I thought of Dave :)

There was this loco guy at church this week that got baptized like 3 years ago but now is doing like hard drugs and his brain is fried. He wears like 5 pairs of shirts and pants and talks to himself in English.

Elder Morgan's District

This week we had a zone conference! It was so great. We learned a whole ton! President Carreon and Sister Carreon are the best!!! I love them so much! President Carreon tells me that I look like Superman, haha. He also in front of the whole conference told me, "man, we brought a whole bunch of packages for you Elder, your family must love you!" haha They do!!! and I love them too! Keep 'em coming! haha. I also was picked as 1 of 4 people to go in front of all the zone and teach a lesson! Of course it was on a topic that I'm sometimes shaky on! But it went well. I was the only one up there to have been out less then like 3 months! haha.

I also gave a talk in church this week on the work of salvation! It was awesome. I hope that I inspired the ward members to share the gospel. Because members play such a huge role in this work!!! 

Elder Morgan with two of the ward members (Ceaser and Max)

Ceaser and Max

Also, we had the humbling experience this week of helping an elderly man in our ward who is crippled bathe himself. We gave him a bath. It was very humbling and all I could think of was how The Savior, the greatest man to ever live, washed the feet of His disciples. I literally teared up afterwards. It was such a great way to serve and makes me feel so blessed for all I have.

Thanks for the packages everyone! I got Mom's and Amber's!!! Woot woot. I have enough candy for the rest of the mission! I love you guys!

Elder Portillo, Elder Morgan, Elder Wood (on PDay of course)

Elder Wood and I also got to go around solo this week a little bit while Elder Portillio had to do an interview with someone else. It went well and we placed 3 baptismal dates haha. We're doing well with the help of The Spirit and gifts of tongues.

Overlooking Tijuana

Thank you everyone for everything.

Funny story of the week: Elder Wood was dumping out a bucket where the old man who is crippled uses the bathroom, and Elder Wood got poop all over his pants and shoes. :)

Elder Morgan in the back of a members car

I know that this church is true. That we have all the things that we need to return to live with a loving Heavenly Father again! I love you all and hope all of you are reading your scriptures, praying, and going to church. These things are essential to our progression and growth of our faith!


Love you,

Elder Morgan

Week 10 - Another week bites the dust!

Family!!!

I love love love love love love love you all!

Okay, this week:

The covers that a member here in TJ made for the missionaries! Cool uh?

Spiritual stuff first:

This week we were going to go to an investigators house and we were thinking, "Man, what member could we have come with us?" Well, we thought of a member, but he lives far from where we were so we were contemplating what we should do when all of a sudden this member literally walked up to us in the middle of this abandoned street and was like, "Hey Elders"! Haha. Sometimes the Lord literally puts people in our paths!!!

Another spiritual thing. This week we met with a less active family of the ward. The family has been going through some hard things between the family. I felt very prompted to share the scripture in Mosiah 24 that talks about how the Lord is with us in our afflictions. As I shared this scripture, the mom started to cry. After the lesson she told me that she feels as though there is a special connection between her and me. That I was sent here to TJ specifically for her! I know that I was called by a prophet of God to this mission. There are people that I need to find!

This week we also did exchanges again. It was really hard because Elder Portillo left Elder Wood, me, and another Spanish missionary who doesn't know our area at all, alone. I was terrified because we still don't know our area well and this was the first time we were flying solo. I was on my knees like all night and studying the map of our area like crazy, but I felt comforted by the Spirit that everything would be alright! And it was. We were able to find everyone we needed to teach and I was able to understand them all as well! I know that the Lord is here to guide us.

Us drinking out of wine glasses (water of course!)

Funny things of the week:

So I guess my middle of the night stories are going to continue. This week I guess Elder Wood got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and I was sitting up in my bed and just starring at him. When he asked me, "is something wrong?" I answered, "No se ingles, Yo hablo espanol?" and then went back to bed. haaha. I guess I'm picking it up or something.

It was Elder Proitillo's 1 year in the mission anniversary day. The tradition is that you burn a white shirt!

All his different companions on the left, and the areas he's served in on the right.

Also something cool. A sister in the ward here opened her call this week and she is going to Florida! haha. Spanish speaking. We were able to help her pronounce the words!

The things that I've learned this week are that when we have FAITH in the Lord, we have Hope. when we have Hope, we are happy because we know that everything is going to turn out for the best. It's been my goal this week to be happy all the time. No matter how miserable things are going. I've really seen results! I am doing much better now!

Okay, well family! I love you all so so so so much!! I hope you all have a great week and do something good for someone else!

I know that this church is true and that I am here to find The Lord's Chosen.

Love you all,

Elder Morgan

(PS. Dead dog count is now 9. White people still 3.)

Editor's note: Elder Morgan also shared with me his typical daily schedule.  I include it below - busy, busy!!

6:30 wake up and 30 min of exercise (we've started running in the mornings)

7:00 Prepare (shower and make breakfast)

8:00 Study personal (normally preach my gospel, Book of Mormon, and studying the lessons (all in Spanish of course))

9:00 Companion study (normally practice the lessons)

10:00 Additional study (this is only during my training and we use a book specifically for training)

11:00 Study of Language (normally read out loud, study my language books and stuff)

12:00 We start proselyting. Normally we are pretty busy with appointments all day.

2:00 We take lunch at a member's home according to a list that the Relief Society has (we always get fed really well)

3:00 Continue proselyting

9:00 Back to the apartment to plan for a half hour

10:30 In bed sleeping