So this week was refreshingly boring as far as sketchy goes. One drunk attacked but that is nice compared to the usual 3 or 4. However this week was truly a week of miracles!
This week has been awesome!!! My new comp is life changingly awesome. Basically I was in charge this week and I was a total nervous wreck. I had to plan and lead, but through the grace of God everything went so well. When ever my plans fell, always better other things happened and the most amazing opportunities came up. It was hard because Elder Eslava kinda helped me to weed out some non progressing people, and it's always hard to say good bye to people. I always have this sad feeling of just that I am leaving these people to hell fire. I know its dramatic but whenever people reject me or our message I always just think "well there was your chance, enjoy spirit prison." It's our job to give everyone their chance to accept or reject this message, but sometimes it's hard to go around damming people... but after the goodbyes good things always happen so that helps me to push on.
I was really excited when Elder Eslava came in cause I had so many golden investigators, I thought we were going to just drowned the country because we would have to fill up the font so much. However Elder Eslava is teaching me a valuable lesson. Every bodies a liar... Just about everybody. He has taken all my gold and turned it to coal... So now I am just lost in a pit of despair and sadness. Elder Osorio was kind of afraid of direct questions, However Elder Eslava lives off them. So I went with him to all my good investigators saying "don´t worry this one is golden" we go in and he just tears them apart and then it comes up that they don´t even have a testimony. Por ejemplo I have been teaching Eveling since the first day I got here, and she has wanted baptism ever since our first lessons. However he got out of her that she doesn´t even know if it is true. She hasn´t prayed or read, and she as been telling me for weeks she has. Its happened like five times with lots of different people and I´m just a little bitter that everyone is either lying, or been playing Elder Osorio and the non understanding gringo. So to say the least we have some building to do. However I am learning so much, so that really helps.
Well that's about all I got this week, Love you all and merry Christmas season.
Con todos mi amor, y oracións para ustedes.
Amo tu,
Elder Scott Wayne Morris
ps crazy factoid, I can kinda speak and interact with people in a whole nother language. Can you believe? cause I can´t.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Scott's Address for Mail
Elder Scott Wayne Morris
Honduras Comayaguela Mission
Edificio Plaza America, Contiguo a Sears
una cuadra del Mall Multi Plaza, 3 Nivel
Teguicigalpa, Francisco Morazan
HONDARAS
Honduras Comayaguela Mission
Edificio Plaza America, Contiguo a Sears
una cuadra del Mall Multi Plaza, 3 Nivel
Teguicigalpa, Francisco Morazan
HONDARAS
Monday, December 7, 2009
Como se dice adios Comp! 12-7-09
(note for those that do not speak Spanish "entonces" means then Scott uses the word a lot)
So this week nature kindly reminded me of one truth. In the states we develop this false precept that there are two types of existences. Times we have diarrhea and times we do not. I had come to peace with the fact that I was going to have diarrhea for the next two years. I was over it. However at about 4 am Wednesday I was shown that there are degrees to diarrhea, and these degrees are epically different. So don´t take mild diarrhea for granted, cause facts are with diarrhea, it could always be seat lifting worse... always...
So on to my drama (as if seat lifting diarrhea wasn´t dramatic enough!!!) So once upon time a Gringo Elder lived with his compeanon de Peru. He caused his gringo epic pain with flute music, and constant music. Entonces this gringo now has very little knowledge of his area, his investigators personal needs, and a lot about the mission. Last night changes were announced. He goes, I stay. I went and locked my self in the bath room ( a common ritual when your living in hell) for like an hour. Turns out God has a lot lot lot more confidence in me than I have in my self. Starting Wednesday I am senior comp for a week in an area that I don´t know that well, However God sees fit to try his people. Here I go. Elder Osorio leaves miercoles (Wednesday) and I take over with a new comp. I am happy to have a new comp, but I need a miracle. I am going to have to remember how to get to places miles away I have only been to once, I need to know peoples personal needs who I don´t even know there names. I honestly want to write the president and ask him what the heck he is thinking!!! But he only speaks Spanish so that could prove difficult... basically right when I start doing okay God throws this next huge boulder in my way. But I know that he can help me do it as well. I´m terrified, but I know God wouldn´t purposely mess up the chances of all my investigators to receive the Gospel, so in some crazy way this is a part of his plan. So the impending stress of my new calling to lead my area perhaps has never made me feel more inadequate of a human being, but if God knows I can then I need to at least try. Try with everything I got. Goodbye to Peruvian flute music, hello to self paralyzing stress... Moral of this story? I need prayers. I need revelation and guidance like I never have had before. So as you can imagine I feel pretty alone and helpless. But hey gotta have faith right?
Praying always for you all, and wishing you the merriest of Christmas Seasons,
Elder Scott Wayne Morris
So this week nature kindly reminded me of one truth. In the states we develop this false precept that there are two types of existences. Times we have diarrhea and times we do not. I had come to peace with the fact that I was going to have diarrhea for the next two years. I was over it. However at about 4 am Wednesday I was shown that there are degrees to diarrhea, and these degrees are epically different. So don´t take mild diarrhea for granted, cause facts are with diarrhea, it could always be seat lifting worse... always...
So on to my drama (as if seat lifting diarrhea wasn´t dramatic enough!!!) So once upon time a Gringo Elder lived with his compeanon de Peru. He caused his gringo epic pain with flute music, and constant music. Entonces this gringo now has very little knowledge of his area, his investigators personal needs, and a lot about the mission. Last night changes were announced. He goes, I stay. I went and locked my self in the bath room ( a common ritual when your living in hell) for like an hour. Turns out God has a lot lot lot more confidence in me than I have in my self. Starting Wednesday I am senior comp for a week in an area that I don´t know that well, However God sees fit to try his people. Here I go. Elder Osorio leaves miercoles (Wednesday) and I take over with a new comp. I am happy to have a new comp, but I need a miracle. I am going to have to remember how to get to places miles away I have only been to once, I need to know peoples personal needs who I don´t even know there names. I honestly want to write the president and ask him what the heck he is thinking!!! But he only speaks Spanish so that could prove difficult... basically right when I start doing okay God throws this next huge boulder in my way. But I know that he can help me do it as well. I´m terrified, but I know God wouldn´t purposely mess up the chances of all my investigators to receive the Gospel, so in some crazy way this is a part of his plan. So the impending stress of my new calling to lead my area perhaps has never made me feel more inadequate of a human being, but if God knows I can then I need to at least try. Try with everything I got. Goodbye to Peruvian flute music, hello to self paralyzing stress... Moral of this story? I need prayers. I need revelation and guidance like I never have had before. So as you can imagine I feel pretty alone and helpless. But hey gotta have faith right?
Praying always for you all, and wishing you the merriest of Christmas Seasons,
Elder Scott Wayne Morris
Como se dice ¡lock down! 11-30-09
Pouch is sent from here every two weeks to Salt Lake, and Salt Lake sends their pouch here every two weeks. But I might not get it for up to three. So basically the pouch system is currently competing with the Pony Express for speed and efficiency (if you could actually start sending my mail through the Pony Express that would actually be really helpful cause I have yet to get a letter through pouch...)
Well now for the letter. ¡All is well in Zion!
So I was thinking about my past letters and realized I have been sending home nothing but terrifying information and sketchy stories, so today I really want to portray how much I really do love it here, because of my past letters you probably don´t realize that.
So this week my prays for me and Elder Osorio to finally step it up were answered. To be honest my comp is a little lazy, so its kinda frustrating for me to have to push my trainer to work, but it is what has to be done. This week we busted doors, and ran all over Viento Uno. Our fruits? 26 new investigators!!! Try getting 26 new people to teach in a country with constantly running water, with hot showers, and drinkable tap!!!
When I first got here my assumption was that this place was closer to hell. Even though I have yet to prove the assumption wrong, I am now discovering that perhaps this place is just as close (if not closer) to heaven. People are just so accepting, you tell them this story about how a 14 year old saw Dios y Jesucristo, and how he found some gold plates and translated a book and all they have to say is tell me more. I could imagine the usual response anywhere else is get out of my house crazy. But here they are just so many ready to accept. Now if we can get half them to marry we can count on some awesome baptisms very soon.
Its crazy how much I have changed in 3 months. its amazing what a tag, a title and authority from God can do to a person. I am semi fluent in another language (I still can´t believe what I can say), I can even read the scriptures in Spanish (which is actually really hard cause the language is so different. Even yesterday I sewed a whole bunch of stuff! can you believe? Scooter Morris can sew! I always considered my self very domesticated because I knew how to yell "mom". But now the difference is crazy. Remember what a pig I was with my stuff? I am now like a clean freak!! seriously you would never believe. I clean the house every day, and all my stuff is in like perfect order, or else I go OCD crazy and fix it. Its amazing what a mission has done to me in such a short time, and I sometimes wish I could just fly you all down here and see what I can do!!! I can survive in Honduras! If you had shown me what the place was like God had called me to serve I would have told you straight up I can´t live there. But here I am, not only surviving but thriving. Its amazing what trials teach us about ourselves, and our strength. They teach that we have absolutely none. We are powerless, ignorant, and weak. But with just a little help from God we can stand up and climb mountains. (8 times a day actually)
Oh so for the presidential election we got lock down in our house. Everything was fine during the day, but about 8 o´clock I was praying with my comp, when I said "por favor bendice Honduras con paz..." (please bless Honduras with peace) the very moment I said "paz" there was this huge explosion... It was pretty heart racing, and the ensuing gun fire was unnerving, but everything really calmed down after. We are out today and everything seems good, so I guess all went well. Some people were really worried what might happen, but nothing is on fire, and we are out and about today, so it can´t be that bad.
oh uno mas funny story.So I have yet to go into a house at 8 o´clock and not see the same soap opera on. Always always it is the same one. With a ton of hot Latino people, and some one is always yelling, hitting someone, in a hospital bed and or coma, and handing each other money, so you know it has to be super juicy cause the whole country is watching. I so desperately want to just lay and watch but I always have to advert my eyes for the sake of righteousness. Dang obedience... any ways.
All my love and prays, xoxo
Elder Scott Wayne Morris, The Gringo that could
Well now for the letter. ¡All is well in Zion!
So I was thinking about my past letters and realized I have been sending home nothing but terrifying information and sketchy stories, so today I really want to portray how much I really do love it here, because of my past letters you probably don´t realize that.
So this week my prays for me and Elder Osorio to finally step it up were answered. To be honest my comp is a little lazy, so its kinda frustrating for me to have to push my trainer to work, but it is what has to be done. This week we busted doors, and ran all over Viento Uno. Our fruits? 26 new investigators!!! Try getting 26 new people to teach in a country with constantly running water, with hot showers, and drinkable tap!!!
When I first got here my assumption was that this place was closer to hell. Even though I have yet to prove the assumption wrong, I am now discovering that perhaps this place is just as close (if not closer) to heaven. People are just so accepting, you tell them this story about how a 14 year old saw Dios y Jesucristo, and how he found some gold plates and translated a book and all they have to say is tell me more. I could imagine the usual response anywhere else is get out of my house crazy. But here they are just so many ready to accept. Now if we can get half them to marry we can count on some awesome baptisms very soon.
Its crazy how much I have changed in 3 months. its amazing what a tag, a title and authority from God can do to a person. I am semi fluent in another language (I still can´t believe what I can say), I can even read the scriptures in Spanish (which is actually really hard cause the language is so different. Even yesterday I sewed a whole bunch of stuff! can you believe? Scooter Morris can sew! I always considered my self very domesticated because I knew how to yell "mom". But now the difference is crazy. Remember what a pig I was with my stuff? I am now like a clean freak!! seriously you would never believe. I clean the house every day, and all my stuff is in like perfect order, or else I go OCD crazy and fix it. Its amazing what a mission has done to me in such a short time, and I sometimes wish I could just fly you all down here and see what I can do!!! I can survive in Honduras! If you had shown me what the place was like God had called me to serve I would have told you straight up I can´t live there. But here I am, not only surviving but thriving. Its amazing what trials teach us about ourselves, and our strength. They teach that we have absolutely none. We are powerless, ignorant, and weak. But with just a little help from God we can stand up and climb mountains. (8 times a day actually)
Oh so for the presidential election we got lock down in our house. Everything was fine during the day, but about 8 o´clock I was praying with my comp, when I said "por favor bendice Honduras con paz..." (please bless Honduras with peace) the very moment I said "paz" there was this huge explosion... It was pretty heart racing, and the ensuing gun fire was unnerving, but everything really calmed down after. We are out today and everything seems good, so I guess all went well. Some people were really worried what might happen, but nothing is on fire, and we are out and about today, so it can´t be that bad.
oh uno mas funny story.So I have yet to go into a house at 8 o´clock and not see the same soap opera on. Always always it is the same one. With a ton of hot Latino people, and some one is always yelling, hitting someone, in a hospital bed and or coma, and handing each other money, so you know it has to be super juicy cause the whole country is watching. I so desperately want to just lay and watch but I always have to advert my eyes for the sake of righteousness. Dang obedience... any ways.
All my love and prays, xoxo
Elder Scott Wayne Morris, The Gringo that could
Como Se Dici Gigantic Jesus Statue!!! 11-23-09
So today we went for p-day to this huge Jesus statue that over looks Honduras, kind of like that big one in Brazil. It was fun and pretty interesting to see what culture can do to a religion.
Everyone here (no matter how poor, seriously it's weird) has a huge sound system (from the oldest grandpa to the youngest child, a shack isn´t complete with out a system). They love music,
A baptism is interesting. You take this precious precious person, with a recent beautiful testimony of the gospel, and then dunk them into freezing cold water, that you can´t even drink with out almost dieing. It was such an incredible experience. As I held back tears as I changed back into my clothes I just had nothing but a sense of being so grateful, that the Lord saw fit to use such a terrible, lacking servant to bring at least one soul to him. I am just so grateful to be out here serving the Lord, I don´t think I have ever been this happy, and fulfilled feeling in my life, which is totally crazy cause I´m basically in my "cupid.com" perfect match for personal hell.
I´m so shocked at my strength. Honestly I think if someone had shown me what this was like when I was 16, 17 possibly 18, I would not be here. But I´m here. My Spanish is getting better every day, and its all getting easier, and more enjoyable. Just the other day I don´t think I was scared for my life over 5 times! it was awesome!
I honestly believe the Latino people are some how closer to the veil and God then us gringos. I believe that the time for the Anglo Saxon world to accept the gospel is quickly passing, and the Lord is now ready to fulfill his covenants he made to the Laminate people. To bring the ready people the gospel to bless there lives.
It's crazy how trials build your testimony. Nothing has brought me closer to God than him asking me to speak another language, and struggling to do so. I´m learning that you really can depend on the Lord for everything! Its so amazing, the gift of tongues is real, I feel its blessing in my life every day.
So more about my area. it's called Viente Uno de Febero (the 21 of February, they are really good with names here. Really creative. Just ask the county Gracias A Dios, Thanks to God, and Comayagua, ps it rains there all the time) Have you all seen mayan temples with the stairs steeply ascending into heaven? that is my area, a mountain of a mayan temple. My area is basically a huge stair master, that is currently mastering me. However it all gets better with time.
So my comp, is literally a speed walker. He is a Peruvian equivalent of state champion in speed walking. When he turns it on I am literally running next to him while he is walking! its crazy and I show up to houses panting like a dog with a river of sweat in my shirt.
okay, there is so much more to talk about, but there are only 7 computers here and 8 Elders. I feel terrible that this elder is missing out on his family so I´m going to give up my other half hour cause we only have an hour a week. Hope you enjoy the blessings of my sacrifice. I love you all, and miss you tons, sorry I´m giving up my time. Guess people never change.
Amor Siempre (love always)
Elder Morris
ps if I don't write next week its cause we aren't allowed to leave the house. Elections are this week.
Everyone here (no matter how poor, seriously it's weird) has a huge sound system (from the oldest grandpa to the youngest child, a shack isn´t complete with out a system). They love music,
A baptism is interesting. You take this precious precious person, with a recent beautiful testimony of the gospel, and then dunk them into freezing cold water, that you can´t even drink with out almost dieing. It was such an incredible experience. As I held back tears as I changed back into my clothes I just had nothing but a sense of being so grateful, that the Lord saw fit to use such a terrible, lacking servant to bring at least one soul to him. I am just so grateful to be out here serving the Lord, I don´t think I have ever been this happy, and fulfilled feeling in my life, which is totally crazy cause I´m basically in my "cupid.com" perfect match for personal hell.
I´m so shocked at my strength. Honestly I think if someone had shown me what this was like when I was 16, 17 possibly 18, I would not be here. But I´m here. My Spanish is getting better every day, and its all getting easier, and more enjoyable. Just the other day I don´t think I was scared for my life over 5 times! it was awesome!
I honestly believe the Latino people are some how closer to the veil and God then us gringos. I believe that the time for the Anglo Saxon world to accept the gospel is quickly passing, and the Lord is now ready to fulfill his covenants he made to the Laminate people. To bring the ready people the gospel to bless there lives.
It's crazy how trials build your testimony. Nothing has brought me closer to God than him asking me to speak another language, and struggling to do so. I´m learning that you really can depend on the Lord for everything! Its so amazing, the gift of tongues is real, I feel its blessing in my life every day.
So more about my area. it's called Viente Uno de Febero (the 21 of February, they are really good with names here. Really creative. Just ask the county Gracias A Dios, Thanks to God, and Comayagua, ps it rains there all the time) Have you all seen mayan temples with the stairs steeply ascending into heaven? that is my area, a mountain of a mayan temple. My area is basically a huge stair master, that is currently mastering me. However it all gets better with time.
So my comp, is literally a speed walker. He is a Peruvian equivalent of state champion in speed walking. When he turns it on I am literally running next to him while he is walking! its crazy and I show up to houses panting like a dog with a river of sweat in my shirt.
okay, there is so much more to talk about, but there are only 7 computers here and 8 Elders. I feel terrible that this elder is missing out on his family so I´m going to give up my other half hour cause we only have an hour a week. Hope you enjoy the blessings of my sacrifice. I love you all, and miss you tons, sorry I´m giving up my time. Guess people never change.
Amor Siempre (love always)
Elder Morris
ps if I don't write next week its cause we aren't allowed to leave the house. Elections are this week.
Como se dice Sketchy (Translation "how do you say sketchy") 11-16-09
There is a God. He loves his children and protects them through the thoughts, and feelings, he gives them and through the holy spirit. My testimony of this was so strengthened in an event I will never forget.
Backup: Its Monday, I was having the worst day. I lost my email to my family (which was totally golden) I felt pretty terrible. We were walking around the market, possibly ( no actually for sure) the single sketchiest place I have ever been. Its like Tijuana, and NYC´s Chinatown had some deformed baby. I thought I was going to have a panic attack when a gringo with me, my personal savior , Elder Lloyd told me I had nothing to worry about. The side of the street we were on was totally safe. As soon as he had finished that sentence my comp started to cross the street. He had spent about 40 minutes shoe shopping as I stood there just trying to remind myself to breath.
Crossing the street here is like playing frogger, expect far more terrifying cause you are the frog. You go from spot to spot of safety and do your best to predict the cars. And just like in frogger, if you guess wrong, they don't stop.
We were now across the street, and the sketchiness was most abundant. Shacks, with roaming gangs, and the stench there made me wonder where they buried their dead. My comp found a shack with cool shoes and started to talk to the lady, when I was flooded with the most terrible feeling. I simply had a thought "leave". I quickly washed away the thought (something of which I have had to sorely repent and ask God for forgiveness for ignoring the protection he tried to give me). I simply just thought the feeling was my gringo self, filled with fear. I have since made a covenant with the Lord to always listen when he speaks, for the following experience nearly broke me.
It all started with a touch. some one simply just touched my arm. I turned to see a laughing teenage girl who smiled and then walked back to her gang of friends. I thought nothing of it. I thought they were playing "touch the gringo" a game surprisingly popular amongst the youth here. The spirit again, stronger than I have ever felt it before "leave now". In my panic I turned to my companion and barfed out in English " I need to go, ahora (now)." he gave me a weird look, and then the lady asked him a question and his attention turned back to the shoes. However it was to late. I took a few steps back trying to think of where to run and how to take my comp with me, when it happened.... hands... hands hands hands and hands. Shrieking teenage girls saying words I don't think I want to know the meaning of. They pulled and grabbed and yanked. I was stuck in shock as I was being pulled into a female mass of virtue less hell. I have since thanked God for his servant Elder Lloyd, who came bursting into the group, screaming out Spanish, and grabbing me by the arm and pulling me free. They tried to grab him too but before I knew it he had taken me between shacks and alleys to a safer place. My comp during this whole traumatic event continued to buy his shoes. (in his defense they are pretty awesome shoes.)
As I sat against a shack wall watching my comp buy shoes, and the women continued to hiss, and make kissing noises I simply tried to pull it together. Flea bitten, dirty, sweaty, in the sketchiest place probably ever, tired, not knowing the language, having walked through sewers, been attacked by huge dogs, angry drunks, crazy buses, high mountains, terrible water, open sewers, hurricane level rains. I was done. I was more prepared to go home then I had ever been before.
I went back to the house to collect our things for our lesson that night, and I laid in my bed. Its not like I missed home, I just hated here. All the craziness. I just didn't think I could do it. I was listening to my favorite song on my boom box "senor, te neccisito" (its the Spanish I need thee every hour p.s. I swear the song is better in Spanish which is totally a sign) when the next song came on, a piano version of "Did You Think to Pray. I said a simple prayer. "Nuestro Padre Celestial, por favor da me con razon para me quedar aqui" God please give me a reason to stay here.
Back ground, The night before we had a lesson with a Hermana Sara (the most precious old lady in all of Honduras with this huge family of like 30 extended who are all converting.) She talked about how she had a dream that her family needs to be baptized, but she hadn´t received an answer if she should get baptized. I proceeded to have the gift of tongues, and literally poured out my heart to her about the the importance of baptism, and what her salvation mean´t to me. I used words I didn´t know I knew and conjugated with perfection. I nearly cried and I just poured out the spirit. Ever since I had met this women I knew that I would baptize her, and so I knew I just had to try everything. note this happened Sunday.
Monday night we walked to her house and she was standing on the steps, she asked me "are you ready to baptize me" I didn't understand her and my companion had to translate for me. I responded that its her choice not mine, then she said simply " I feel I should". My first baptism will be this Saturday, baptizing the women who the first time I met the spirit told me I would baptize. I had my reason, simply and swiftly. Its moments like those I can just remember why I´m here and forget the craziness and remember the Lord.
Now this whole story is back ground for the craziest feelings of my life. its Saturday we were walking to our house after a lesson at 9:30, we were walking down the street we have been down a million times before. We were talking about our previous lesson when I felt it. IIt felt as if something was crawling its way up my back, and into my heart. I had never felt so bad in my life, and the feeling was rapidly increasing. I knew there was something behind me, but I dare not look. I honestly didn't have the courage to simply turn my head I felt so scared and terrible. I thought if I turned around I would honestly see the gates of hell themselves open to accept me. I turned to my companion who had the same fear in his eyes. Then the voice in my head "corra!" I had learned my lesson Monday about ignoring the spirit. I turned to my companion and said the same "corra!" Corra is the command form of run, and did we run. We took off as fast as legs can carry some one, down a steep hill, and across a bridge. the whole time praying daring not to look back. It was as if I was Ichabod Crane, the moment I crossed the bridge I turned to see the solo silhouette of a man walking across the path we were on. I looked at my companion and back and it was gone.
As I prayed that night saying the most sincere thanks, thanking God for protecting me the spirit came again with great strength. It testified again that it will help me whenever I need it, If I work hard and remain obedient. I thank God for protecting and preserving my life for another day. It was the most spiritual experience of my life, I have never felt the spirit so strong in my life.
My first baptism is Saturday. The Monday after hermana Sara accepted, she received her answer that Tuesday night. She dreamed she was trapped in jail, and she was screaming out for the Elders to come and baptize her.
Finding people to teach here is like shopping for stuff on sale, super easy. However the problem is no one comes to church or is married! I feel like running door to door writing citations and commanding people to get married! its so frustrating!
Funny factoid: My mission manual has how to get robbed! its moments like these that I just laugh for A:there are rules for how to get robbed B:that it is actually frequent enough in our mission for it to be in the manual. ha ha
God Bless Love Elder Scott Wayne Morris
Backup: Its Monday, I was having the worst day. I lost my email to my family (which was totally golden) I felt pretty terrible. We were walking around the market, possibly ( no actually for sure) the single sketchiest place I have ever been. Its like Tijuana, and NYC´s Chinatown had some deformed baby. I thought I was going to have a panic attack when a gringo with me, my personal savior , Elder Lloyd told me I had nothing to worry about. The side of the street we were on was totally safe. As soon as he had finished that sentence my comp started to cross the street. He had spent about 40 minutes shoe shopping as I stood there just trying to remind myself to breath.
Crossing the street here is like playing frogger, expect far more terrifying cause you are the frog. You go from spot to spot of safety and do your best to predict the cars. And just like in frogger, if you guess wrong, they don't stop.
We were now across the street, and the sketchiness was most abundant. Shacks, with roaming gangs, and the stench there made me wonder where they buried their dead. My comp found a shack with cool shoes and started to talk to the lady, when I was flooded with the most terrible feeling. I simply had a thought "leave". I quickly washed away the thought (something of which I have had to sorely repent and ask God for forgiveness for ignoring the protection he tried to give me). I simply just thought the feeling was my gringo self, filled with fear. I have since made a covenant with the Lord to always listen when he speaks, for the following experience nearly broke me.
It all started with a touch. some one simply just touched my arm. I turned to see a laughing teenage girl who smiled and then walked back to her gang of friends. I thought nothing of it. I thought they were playing "touch the gringo" a game surprisingly popular amongst the youth here. The spirit again, stronger than I have ever felt it before "leave now". In my panic I turned to my companion and barfed out in English " I need to go, ahora (now)." he gave me a weird look, and then the lady asked him a question and his attention turned back to the shoes. However it was to late. I took a few steps back trying to think of where to run and how to take my comp with me, when it happened.... hands... hands hands hands and hands. Shrieking teenage girls saying words I don't think I want to know the meaning of. They pulled and grabbed and yanked. I was stuck in shock as I was being pulled into a female mass of virtue less hell. I have since thanked God for his servant Elder Lloyd, who came bursting into the group, screaming out Spanish, and grabbing me by the arm and pulling me free. They tried to grab him too but before I knew it he had taken me between shacks and alleys to a safer place. My comp during this whole traumatic event continued to buy his shoes. (in his defense they are pretty awesome shoes.)
As I sat against a shack wall watching my comp buy shoes, and the women continued to hiss, and make kissing noises I simply tried to pull it together. Flea bitten, dirty, sweaty, in the sketchiest place probably ever, tired, not knowing the language, having walked through sewers, been attacked by huge dogs, angry drunks, crazy buses, high mountains, terrible water, open sewers, hurricane level rains. I was done. I was more prepared to go home then I had ever been before.
I went back to the house to collect our things for our lesson that night, and I laid in my bed. Its not like I missed home, I just hated here. All the craziness. I just didn't think I could do it. I was listening to my favorite song on my boom box "senor, te neccisito" (its the Spanish I need thee every hour p.s. I swear the song is better in Spanish which is totally a sign) when the next song came on, a piano version of "Did You Think to Pray. I said a simple prayer. "Nuestro Padre Celestial, por favor da me con razon para me quedar aqui" God please give me a reason to stay here.
Back ground, The night before we had a lesson with a Hermana Sara (the most precious old lady in all of Honduras with this huge family of like 30 extended who are all converting.) She talked about how she had a dream that her family needs to be baptized, but she hadn´t received an answer if she should get baptized. I proceeded to have the gift of tongues, and literally poured out my heart to her about the the importance of baptism, and what her salvation mean´t to me. I used words I didn´t know I knew and conjugated with perfection. I nearly cried and I just poured out the spirit. Ever since I had met this women I knew that I would baptize her, and so I knew I just had to try everything. note this happened Sunday.
Monday night we walked to her house and she was standing on the steps, she asked me "are you ready to baptize me" I didn't understand her and my companion had to translate for me. I responded that its her choice not mine, then she said simply " I feel I should". My first baptism will be this Saturday, baptizing the women who the first time I met the spirit told me I would baptize. I had my reason, simply and swiftly. Its moments like those I can just remember why I´m here and forget the craziness and remember the Lord.
Now this whole story is back ground for the craziest feelings of my life. its Saturday we were walking to our house after a lesson at 9:30, we were walking down the street we have been down a million times before. We were talking about our previous lesson when I felt it. IIt felt as if something was crawling its way up my back, and into my heart. I had never felt so bad in my life, and the feeling was rapidly increasing. I knew there was something behind me, but I dare not look. I honestly didn't have the courage to simply turn my head I felt so scared and terrible. I thought if I turned around I would honestly see the gates of hell themselves open to accept me. I turned to my companion who had the same fear in his eyes. Then the voice in my head "corra!" I had learned my lesson Monday about ignoring the spirit. I turned to my companion and said the same "corra!" Corra is the command form of run, and did we run. We took off as fast as legs can carry some one, down a steep hill, and across a bridge. the whole time praying daring not to look back. It was as if I was Ichabod Crane, the moment I crossed the bridge I turned to see the solo silhouette of a man walking across the path we were on. I looked at my companion and back and it was gone.
As I prayed that night saying the most sincere thanks, thanking God for protecting me the spirit came again with great strength. It testified again that it will help me whenever I need it, If I work hard and remain obedient. I thank God for protecting and preserving my life for another day. It was the most spiritual experience of my life, I have never felt the spirit so strong in my life.
My first baptism is Saturday. The Monday after hermana Sara accepted, she received her answer that Tuesday night. She dreamed she was trapped in jail, and she was screaming out for the Elders to come and baptize her.
Finding people to teach here is like shopping for stuff on sale, super easy. However the problem is no one comes to church or is married! I feel like running door to door writing citations and commanding people to get married! its so frustrating!
Funny factoid: My mission manual has how to get robbed! its moments like these that I just laugh for A:there are rules for how to get robbed B:that it is actually frequent enough in our mission for it to be in the manual. ha ha
God Bless Love Elder Scott Wayne Morris
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Were not in Kansas Anymore 11-2-09
I'm not sure when it happened. I´m not sure the moment that everything I have ever known fell into the opened gates of hell.
Perhaps as I drove across the city in a crazy taxi that was bobbing and weaving through two lane roads no larger than a lane and a half in the states at 60 miles an hour. Oh perhaps it was as we passed by the man guarding his tires with the largest shotgun I have ever seen. Or when I passed the truck packed with men with huge machine guns that looked like terrorists, only to find out they are the police. Maybe it was when I entered my house, tiny, smelly and a huge vat of water in the middle of the kitchen that we used for ever thing, cause we didn´t have running water. Or was it when I literally climbed up hundreds of stairs to reach my new area.
Possibly the second day when it rained harder on me then it ever has before in my entire life, drenching me to my very core in seconds, and later being told that it was actually a very light rain that night. It might have been as I waded, calf deep in overflowing sewage water across what was once a bridge to get back to my house that night. Maybe it happened as I have yet to teach a lesson to an investigating family that lives in a house (or shack) that is larger than my room back home. Maybe it's while I climb monstrous hills and mountains to get to our lessons, that when I arrive I'm so covered in sweat my shirt is nearly totally soaked through. Possibly my bus ride to this Internet cafe as we were stuffed into a bus so full I could barely stand as the bus battled its way through crazy traffic and drivers, and up hills steeper then I thought buses could even climb, let alone while being over capacity. However I know exactly the moment that it did happen.
During lessons I tend to get bored because I can't understand most of the language and I was starting to doze off because of the heat and exhaustion.
In an attempt to stay awake I started looking out the window at the pretty blue sky and huge white clouds. When I returned my gaze back to the family (a grandma like lady, a mom, her husband, and two small kids) I did the only thing I really could do during the lessons. I just smiled and tried to look happy and like I know what is going on. However I wasn´t getting a word. So I just looked at the grandma and smiled, and she gave me a huge smile back. But then I looked down... I looked down and to the greatest shock in my entire life her boob was hanging out of her shirt, and there was a child attached to it. I almost died and quickly averted my eyes. I started sweating even more (which is amazing because I didn't think I could sweat anymore) and I averted my gaze to the other half of the room. As the panic began to subside I looked at the mother and saw as the child in her arms began to tug at her shirt. Before I could even think to look away pop! it was done. There I was staring at the ground. I think it's the first time in my life I had seen a real boob. The father realized that I was basically having a panic attack and started laughing, and I just stayed with my eyes fixed on my shoes. What kind of people feed there children in front of two religious strangers!!!!!
As I walked down the mountain I just wanted to cry. I probably could have because you wouldn't have even been able to tell because of the sweat pouring down my face, but it was horrible. I couldn´t understand anything. My compañero is from Peru, and speaks about as good of English as Yoda, and I speak about as good as Spanish as Isabella my 2 1/2 year old niece. Its like there was the Great Wall of China between me and the planet these people were on. I know I fell asleep on the flight, but I'm fairly sure we weren´t teleported to another planet during the flight. At least they spoke English in OZ.
As we ate lunch (after the boob incident) I just sat there in total culture shock... however realize the word culture shock does not do it justice. It was more like a culture coma... I sat there eating my soup with mystery fruit, a piece of cow spine, and bananas (yeah bananas go in everything here, even meat soup) I just fought back tears. I thought of how I could pack my bags and if I knew enough Spanish or had enough lamperas (currency) to buy a ticket home. I just decided to suck it up for a little longer before my breakdown and go to the next house.
God bless the people of Honduras. Bless them for their kindness, for their humility, their patients, their huge hearts, their charity, their willingness to love God, and build his kingdom. The next lesson was nothing short of amazing. I received the gift of tongues as I bore my testimony to this family, the most beautiful family ever.
They were so patient with me and my terrible Spanish, they were nice and offered me food and drink and I wondered if they even had food for themselves. Sure it tasted like trash, and gave me violent stomach pains, but it was so incredibly kind of them. How can they wear such smiles with nothing but a small tin roof over head and a concrete and dirt floor? How can they be so nice, when life for them has been so hard?
Once I finally took the time to come out of my culture coma and see this place for what it really was, only then could I start to love it. I may not even love this place yet, but these people must be Gods people. Everyone one of them deserves the knowledge of the Gospel. Once I realized this everything changed. I went to church the next day and felt of there beautiful spirit. Sure they were wearing worn out flip flops and torn old jeans, but their spirit was like nothing I have ever felt before in a church. These people are so amazing. Once I started to devote myself to them a miracle happened. The river next to my house didn´t smell like sewage, my nightly bug bites didn´t hurt as bad, the houses weren´t so small, the water didn´t taste like dirt, their accents weren't intolerable, the fire works and gun shots that go off 24/7 weren´t as loud and making me jump, the stupid rooster that used to wake me up at 5:30 every morning I know sleep through, and Spanish is simply becoming easier. Sure I may be on a whole different planet but the spirit is here to, Gods here and so is his church. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve these people with all my heart, and if that means showering with a cold bucket shower every morning, and washing my own clothes on a washing board then so be it.
I love you all so much. I need your prayers especially for my Spanish, and our golden investigator Hermana Sara. She is waiting for an answer to her prays about baptism. (she reminds me of that tree on Pocahantas, so wise, so old, and the nicest lady ever)
This is hands down the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but I know God can make it easy.
With all my love, Elder Scott Wayne Morris
Perhaps as I drove across the city in a crazy taxi that was bobbing and weaving through two lane roads no larger than a lane and a half in the states at 60 miles an hour. Oh perhaps it was as we passed by the man guarding his tires with the largest shotgun I have ever seen. Or when I passed the truck packed with men with huge machine guns that looked like terrorists, only to find out they are the police. Maybe it was when I entered my house, tiny, smelly and a huge vat of water in the middle of the kitchen that we used for ever thing, cause we didn´t have running water. Or was it when I literally climbed up hundreds of stairs to reach my new area.
Possibly the second day when it rained harder on me then it ever has before in my entire life, drenching me to my very core in seconds, and later being told that it was actually a very light rain that night. It might have been as I waded, calf deep in overflowing sewage water across what was once a bridge to get back to my house that night. Maybe it happened as I have yet to teach a lesson to an investigating family that lives in a house (or shack) that is larger than my room back home. Maybe it's while I climb monstrous hills and mountains to get to our lessons, that when I arrive I'm so covered in sweat my shirt is nearly totally soaked through. Possibly my bus ride to this Internet cafe as we were stuffed into a bus so full I could barely stand as the bus battled its way through crazy traffic and drivers, and up hills steeper then I thought buses could even climb, let alone while being over capacity. However I know exactly the moment that it did happen.
During lessons I tend to get bored because I can't understand most of the language and I was starting to doze off because of the heat and exhaustion.
In an attempt to stay awake I started looking out the window at the pretty blue sky and huge white clouds. When I returned my gaze back to the family (a grandma like lady, a mom, her husband, and two small kids) I did the only thing I really could do during the lessons. I just smiled and tried to look happy and like I know what is going on. However I wasn´t getting a word. So I just looked at the grandma and smiled, and she gave me a huge smile back. But then I looked down... I looked down and to the greatest shock in my entire life her boob was hanging out of her shirt, and there was a child attached to it. I almost died and quickly averted my eyes. I started sweating even more (which is amazing because I didn't think I could sweat anymore) and I averted my gaze to the other half of the room. As the panic began to subside I looked at the mother and saw as the child in her arms began to tug at her shirt. Before I could even think to look away pop! it was done. There I was staring at the ground. I think it's the first time in my life I had seen a real boob. The father realized that I was basically having a panic attack and started laughing, and I just stayed with my eyes fixed on my shoes. What kind of people feed there children in front of two religious strangers!!!!!
As I walked down the mountain I just wanted to cry. I probably could have because you wouldn't have even been able to tell because of the sweat pouring down my face, but it was horrible. I couldn´t understand anything. My compañero is from Peru, and speaks about as good of English as Yoda, and I speak about as good as Spanish as Isabella my 2 1/2 year old niece. Its like there was the Great Wall of China between me and the planet these people were on. I know I fell asleep on the flight, but I'm fairly sure we weren´t teleported to another planet during the flight. At least they spoke English in OZ.
As we ate lunch (after the boob incident) I just sat there in total culture shock... however realize the word culture shock does not do it justice. It was more like a culture coma... I sat there eating my soup with mystery fruit, a piece of cow spine, and bananas (yeah bananas go in everything here, even meat soup) I just fought back tears. I thought of how I could pack my bags and if I knew enough Spanish or had enough lamperas (currency) to buy a ticket home. I just decided to suck it up for a little longer before my breakdown and go to the next house.
God bless the people of Honduras. Bless them for their kindness, for their humility, their patients, their huge hearts, their charity, their willingness to love God, and build his kingdom. The next lesson was nothing short of amazing. I received the gift of tongues as I bore my testimony to this family, the most beautiful family ever.
They were so patient with me and my terrible Spanish, they were nice and offered me food and drink and I wondered if they even had food for themselves. Sure it tasted like trash, and gave me violent stomach pains, but it was so incredibly kind of them. How can they wear such smiles with nothing but a small tin roof over head and a concrete and dirt floor? How can they be so nice, when life for them has been so hard?
Once I finally took the time to come out of my culture coma and see this place for what it really was, only then could I start to love it. I may not even love this place yet, but these people must be Gods people. Everyone one of them deserves the knowledge of the Gospel. Once I realized this everything changed. I went to church the next day and felt of there beautiful spirit. Sure they were wearing worn out flip flops and torn old jeans, but their spirit was like nothing I have ever felt before in a church. These people are so amazing. Once I started to devote myself to them a miracle happened. The river next to my house didn´t smell like sewage, my nightly bug bites didn´t hurt as bad, the houses weren´t so small, the water didn´t taste like dirt, their accents weren't intolerable, the fire works and gun shots that go off 24/7 weren´t as loud and making me jump, the stupid rooster that used to wake me up at 5:30 every morning I know sleep through, and Spanish is simply becoming easier. Sure I may be on a whole different planet but the spirit is here to, Gods here and so is his church. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve these people with all my heart, and if that means showering with a cold bucket shower every morning, and washing my own clothes on a washing board then so be it.
I love you all so much. I need your prayers especially for my Spanish, and our golden investigator Hermana Sara. She is waiting for an answer to her prays about baptism. (she reminds me of that tree on Pocahantas, so wise, so old, and the nicest lady ever)
This is hands down the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but I know God can make it easy.
With all my love, Elder Scott Wayne Morris
Quarantine and Good Bye MTC 10-26-09
I was only coughing and couldn't sleep, but they are so crazy here about that stuff so when I asked for a sleep aid they freaked and stuck me in quarantine! So lame... The reason it was so good was that I literally spent two whole days sitting in an empty bathtub with a towel as a pillow reading the Book of Mormon. I have read the whole book while in the MTC and quarantine was a blessing in disguise, because I got through over 300 pages! It was amazing.
So now I am done with the book, and did the challenge as Moroni directs. I have read the BOM before, however I have never personally performed the challenge. It's weird, because I know it's true, I'm just waiting for God to tell me it's true. It makes sense in my head, I know it's true, but now I want that same kind of belief engraved on my heart... so we will see how that goes.
So today is the day. At 8:30p.m. I leave for the airport, my flight leaves at 12:50 a.m., and after 3 lay overs by this time tomorrow I will be on my mission serving the Lord in the place he called me. Its crazy to think that the MTC actually ends, but here we are. My bags are packed and I'm physically ready to go. I'm really scared. But every time I feel fear it's instantly replaced by faith. I may not realize that I can do something this hard, but God does. He has faith in me, so I need to have enough faith in him to be able to be a successful missionary for him. I will need all the help and prays I can get for this first month because I heard that it's "all hell breaks lose" month. So gift of tongues, protection, and patients will be a must have!!! I have faith, sure I'm nervous, but with faith I know I can conquer. Next time I'll be writing from Honduras. I had no idea a Mission would be this hard. It is seriously death at times, but no one ever told me it would be this amazing. The joy this work brings into my whole soul is incredible.
With all my love,
Elder Scott Wayne Morris
So now I am done with the book, and did the challenge as Moroni directs. I have read the BOM before, however I have never personally performed the challenge. It's weird, because I know it's true, I'm just waiting for God to tell me it's true. It makes sense in my head, I know it's true, but now I want that same kind of belief engraved on my heart... so we will see how that goes.
So today is the day. At 8:30p.m. I leave for the airport, my flight leaves at 12:50 a.m., and after 3 lay overs by this time tomorrow I will be on my mission serving the Lord in the place he called me. Its crazy to think that the MTC actually ends, but here we are. My bags are packed and I'm physically ready to go. I'm really scared. But every time I feel fear it's instantly replaced by faith. I may not realize that I can do something this hard, but God does. He has faith in me, so I need to have enough faith in him to be able to be a successful missionary for him. I will need all the help and prays I can get for this first month because I heard that it's "all hell breaks lose" month. So gift of tongues, protection, and patients will be a must have!!! I have faith, sure I'm nervous, but with faith I know I can conquer. Next time I'll be writing from Honduras. I had no idea a Mission would be this hard. It is seriously death at times, but no one ever told me it would be this amazing. The joy this work brings into my whole soul is incredible.
With all my love,
Elder Scott Wayne Morris
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Native 10-12-09
Once upon a time there was an Elder (me). When he first came to the MTC he was the worst in his class at Spanish, and his teachers marveled at his basic lack of language skills. This Elder quickly learned to humble himself and pray with all of his heart might mind and strength for the gift of tongues. Through his hard work devotion and faith he was able to sky rocket at Spanish. He quickly climbed the ladder and soon rested amongst the top three rungs in his class (major improvement). After teaching the first lesson totally in Spanish the Elder was feeling good. He had made it! He could express his feelings in Spanish, and portray the message of God to those who spoke another language. Things were good. However this Elder made a terrible mistake. His heart swelled with pride over HIS accomplishment and HIS achievements. He received a nick name the "native" for his latino-esq features and his Spanish skills.
Just as in times of old the Lord will have a humble people. We can choose to be humble and thank the Lord for our achievements, or we can be compelled to humble ourselves before the Lord and come crawling to him begging for forgiveness. Through my actions and pride, I chose the latter course.
Two days after rocking leccion uno (lesson one) in Spanish we were to teach it again. When we showed up to our appointment we were shocked to see an Elder in the room. I don't remember his name but this Elder was from Lima Peru, a native Spanish speaker. I heard of the dreaded Spanish teaching appointments with the natives. The machine gun Spanish can destroy even the greatest of Spanish speakers in the MTC. However I felt in my head I was prepared for what a native could throw at us and walked into the room with a high head and proud heart.
From the second word (which I had no idea what it meant) I realized I was doomed. His machine gun Spanish was not only fast, but like a whisper. His timid voice combined with the fast words was a nightmare. Here is how it would basically go:
I would ask a simple question in Spanish
He would then stare at me having no idea what I just said cause of my bad conjugating and thick American accent.
I would then struggle, re-phrase and re-conjugate.
The puzzled look on his face would slightly diminish and then he would then reply in a fast whisper
I would ask "repeato por favor" he would again respond
My comp and I would look at each other and mouth things like "I have no idea" or "what the crap"
We would then say "otro ves" (one more time)and even softer he would respond.
I had never been so frustrated in my life. My eyes began to swell with tears as I looked at the disaster of a lesson. We just sat there in silence staring at each other. My mind was taken away of thoughts of how if I just ran out the door there is no way my teacher could catch me, and if I made it to the dorms she is a female, and therefore could not come in after me.
Once the native saw my eyes were welling up with frustration he tried to be nice and talk to us in English. However his English was just as bad as our Spanish... So we just laughed. I have sobbed, and have laughed at the situation feeling so defeated, so useless, and a failure of a missionary.
It was two days later I would receive a letter from Elder Blake which saved my soul from the depressing pits of hell. He had enclosed a story about a man who saw a new missionary leaving and a missionary coming home. And how you could see how hard the missionary coming home had worked.
I resolved that I would be able to look at my mission as something I did with my all. I humbled myself. Tearfully prayed for help and since then have been doing so good.
I know things will be hard, and I know situations will come that I will not know what to say and do in my head. But I know if I am humble and working hard and willing to listen the Lord can put the words into my heart. I have been called to repentance by the Lord, but I am grateful.
I know the situation may seem lame, but it was something that was definitely hard to endure. Spanish has been such a humbling experience, but I know the Lord needs me to learn this language for a reason, so I will put my whole heart into it. I know I will fall short, but that’s why I am so grateful for an atonement that can make up for all of my natural man like faults.
I love you all so much and pray for you always.
Just as in times of old the Lord will have a humble people. We can choose to be humble and thank the Lord for our achievements, or we can be compelled to humble ourselves before the Lord and come crawling to him begging for forgiveness. Through my actions and pride, I chose the latter course.
Two days after rocking leccion uno (lesson one) in Spanish we were to teach it again. When we showed up to our appointment we were shocked to see an Elder in the room. I don't remember his name but this Elder was from Lima Peru, a native Spanish speaker. I heard of the dreaded Spanish teaching appointments with the natives. The machine gun Spanish can destroy even the greatest of Spanish speakers in the MTC. However I felt in my head I was prepared for what a native could throw at us and walked into the room with a high head and proud heart.
From the second word (which I had no idea what it meant) I realized I was doomed. His machine gun Spanish was not only fast, but like a whisper. His timid voice combined with the fast words was a nightmare. Here is how it would basically go:
I would ask a simple question in Spanish
He would then stare at me having no idea what I just said cause of my bad conjugating and thick American accent.
I would then struggle, re-phrase and re-conjugate.
The puzzled look on his face would slightly diminish and then he would then reply in a fast whisper
I would ask "repeato por favor" he would again respond
My comp and I would look at each other and mouth things like "I have no idea" or "what the crap"
We would then say "otro ves" (one more time)and even softer he would respond.
I had never been so frustrated in my life. My eyes began to swell with tears as I looked at the disaster of a lesson. We just sat there in silence staring at each other. My mind was taken away of thoughts of how if I just ran out the door there is no way my teacher could catch me, and if I made it to the dorms she is a female, and therefore could not come in after me.
Once the native saw my eyes were welling up with frustration he tried to be nice and talk to us in English. However his English was just as bad as our Spanish... So we just laughed. I have sobbed, and have laughed at the situation feeling so defeated, so useless, and a failure of a missionary.
It was two days later I would receive a letter from Elder Blake which saved my soul from the depressing pits of hell. He had enclosed a story about a man who saw a new missionary leaving and a missionary coming home. And how you could see how hard the missionary coming home had worked.
I resolved that I would be able to look at my mission as something I did with my all. I humbled myself. Tearfully prayed for help and since then have been doing so good.
I know things will be hard, and I know situations will come that I will not know what to say and do in my head. But I know if I am humble and working hard and willing to listen the Lord can put the words into my heart. I have been called to repentance by the Lord, but I am grateful.
I know the situation may seem lame, but it was something that was definitely hard to endure. Spanish has been such a humbling experience, but I know the Lord needs me to learn this language for a reason, so I will put my whole heart into it. I know I will fall short, but that’s why I am so grateful for an atonement that can make up for all of my natural man like faults.
I love you all so much and pray for you always.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Side Effects of MTC Food 9-28-09
So anyway, life in MTC remains just that. Wake up crazy early and shower get ready, bagels for breakfast, class, gym (volleyball), lunch (first plate for food, second plate to eat my feelings), class dinner (first plate for hunger, second plate for feelings, third plate for Spanish frustrations!). The food like substance here is really different from any other food like product out there. Side affects of MTC food include:
1. A 200% increase in gas
2. Incredible regular "bathroom" times (no joke we have times to go to the bathroom accurately scheduled into our daily planners)
3. A rapidly expanding waste line (11 pounds and counting)
4. Extreme mood swings (depending on quality of food)
5. Spontaneous breakdowns (depending the size of food lines)
6. Upset stomach
7. An increased respect for the Word of Wisdom and how not following it in the MTC cafeteria can literally destroy your body.
So as my heart continues to become cushioned in a pillow of cholesterol and fat, my spirit continues to grow! The things you feel in the MTC are truly amazing! the spirit here is just so strong all the time. So as for mission miracles, Spanish is coming along great! Everyday I am doing better and better and I am quickly rising in the language. To take my Spanish to the next level tomorrow I have planned a 24 hour English fast! So we will see how my broken Spanish can get me through a whole day here.
Also a minor miracle was my oral surgery. I went and got the flap under my tongue clipped (I was tongue tied) so I could use my tongue in speakeing Spanish better. I really felt like that was holding me back. I was way worried about the recover so my Comp gave me an amazing blessing and it was truly a miracle. I was talking a ton that day with no pain meds. It was amazing how quickly it healed and how much better I was able to do in Spanish. A real testimony builder for me.
Gosh I'm sorry I have nothing to say. Reporting on someones time at the MTC is like a newspaper article about a local event in the Spectrum. Its terribly boring, and no one really cares, but you write about it anyways... So send me some questions about things you want to know and I will make sure to answer them. but as far as news goes, the MTC leaves me little to report. God Bless, Elder Morris
1. A 200% increase in gas
2. Incredible regular "bathroom" times (no joke we have times to go to the bathroom accurately scheduled into our daily planners)
3. A rapidly expanding waste line (11 pounds and counting)
4. Extreme mood swings (depending on quality of food)
5. Spontaneous breakdowns (depending the size of food lines)
6. Upset stomach
7. An increased respect for the Word of Wisdom and how not following it in the MTC cafeteria can literally destroy your body.
So as my heart continues to become cushioned in a pillow of cholesterol and fat, my spirit continues to grow! The things you feel in the MTC are truly amazing! the spirit here is just so strong all the time. So as for mission miracles, Spanish is coming along great! Everyday I am doing better and better and I am quickly rising in the language. To take my Spanish to the next level tomorrow I have planned a 24 hour English fast! So we will see how my broken Spanish can get me through a whole day here.
Also a minor miracle was my oral surgery. I went and got the flap under my tongue clipped (I was tongue tied) so I could use my tongue in speakeing Spanish better. I really felt like that was holding me back. I was way worried about the recover so my Comp gave me an amazing blessing and it was truly a miracle. I was talking a ton that day with no pain meds. It was amazing how quickly it healed and how much better I was able to do in Spanish. A real testimony builder for me.
Gosh I'm sorry I have nothing to say. Reporting on someones time at the MTC is like a newspaper article about a local event in the Spectrum. Its terribly boring, and no one really cares, but you write about it anyways... So send me some questions about things you want to know and I will make sure to answer them. but as far as news goes, the MTC leaves me little to report. God Bless, Elder Morris
Monday, September 21, 2009
No Deliverance 9-21-09
So no big changes here in the MTC. Elder Bergen leaves for the Philippines today however he won't get there till Thursday! A 15 hour plane ride and a 20 hour lay over es no bueno. With his leaving, we have the arrival of Elder Camp. I haven't had much chance to talk to him but he seems great. So as a part of our proud tradition of the class of 2009 filling the MTC we have begun "a brotherhood of the traveling tie" sort of deal. It was started by Elder Bergen and has only gone through Elder Hine, and now to me. Its one of those ties that is so ugly and weird (like really it looks so ugly) that its so cool! In the MTC your only option to accessories and attempt at least a slight form of individuality lies in your tie, making such an ugly different tie a prized posses ion. Fashion tip for any one back home: rock the paisley, it is all the rage! Seriously if you don't have a paisley tie something is wrong with you! Well I guess the only other change is my rapidly expanding waist! Its not that the food here is like so good, its just super unhealthy, and your so depressed from sitting in class all day you feel a constant need to eat, so then you get seconds then just sit on it and feel your self just grow in class, which makes you depressed... This is truly a vicious cycle that I fear there is no deliverance.
As far as huge epic life changing news goes, last Tuesday we had the incredible experience from hearing from an Apostle of the Lord! The dynamic hilarious Elder Jeffery R. Holland came and spoke at the MTC for a whole hour. His talk was so inspiring and he speaks in a way that just makes you want to be the best missionary you can be. However even more inspiring to me was the feeling of hearing from a man the Lord himself had chosen to be his disciple. Its sad what we take for granted in the church. No other group of people have the blessing of hearing from a group of men truly called by the lord to reveal his work unto us. It was just amazing to feel of his spirit, and witness his power as an Apostle.
God Bless,
Elder Morris
As far as huge epic life changing news goes, last Tuesday we had the incredible experience from hearing from an Apostle of the Lord! The dynamic hilarious Elder Jeffery R. Holland came and spoke at the MTC for a whole hour. His talk was so inspiring and he speaks in a way that just makes you want to be the best missionary you can be. However even more inspiring to me was the feeling of hearing from a man the Lord himself had chosen to be his disciple. Its sad what we take for granted in the church. No other group of people have the blessing of hearing from a group of men truly called by the lord to reveal his work unto us. It was just amazing to feel of his spirit, and witness his power as an Apostle.
God Bless,
Elder Morris
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
No news is good news 9-14-09
Hola,
Everything is going great at the MTC, therefore I have very little news to report, and you know what they say about no news... Well lets just say there is a lot of good news here simply cause nothing happens! The Church of Jesus Christ is working towards officially mastering micro management, and there testing ground is the MTC. I'm just glad they haven't scheduled bathroom breaks, or when I am allowed to laugh. (However they do suggest that all laughter be done during your MDT time, and not during class or other doctrine and language focused activities.) But all is well.
Everything is going great at the MTC, therefore I have very little news to report, and you know what they say about no news... Well lets just say there is a lot of good news here simply cause nothing happens! The Church of Jesus Christ is working towards officially mastering micro management, and there testing ground is the MTC. I'm just glad they haven't scheduled bathroom breaks, or when I am allowed to laugh. (However they do suggest that all laughter be done during your MDT time, and not during class or other doctrine and language focused activities.) But all is well.
Saved from the grips 9-7-09
I am truly having an amazing time here at the MTC! Now I believe God prepares you for eternity in several ways (sacrament meetings, high school musical concerts, ward actitvies) but I believe the closest the Lord has come to creating eternity on earth would be the first three days of the MTC. We have realated it to the First Vision. We have come to pray in the MTC and at the very first satan decsends upon you with all his furry, but if you with all your might pray the Lord can appear and save you! I testify that I have been saved from the very grips of Satan and now I am fully enjoying my MTC expreince.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
I have arrived
Hola Everyone,
So its day 5 at the MTC, and it looks like he just might make it. Goodness where to start.... Being a missionary is really more amazing then I have words to explain! Having the spirit with me like this all the time is so great. I feel like I'm at a super charged EFY, except no one is hooking up with the "Talented, Lovely, and Spirited" sisters (we are only allowed to use those three words to describe the sisters here.) So the first 3 days may have been the longest days ever, up at 6:30 (no big deal) and then it is non stop til 10:00 pm. Running from one place to the next, not to mention 6 hours of Spanish/Gospel class. The first day of Spanish is something like the First Vision. The wrath of hell itself descended upon, and I feared it may have consumed my soul! It was horrible. My whole district is speaking like they just fell out of an A.P. Spanish program to come on a mission and I know nothing. Everyone was asking questions about "subjunctives" and "command form" and I wanted to ask questions along the line of "what's a verb again?" To this point on my mission that was my low point. I didn't want to go home, but I just felt over whelmed. It had been hours since I arrived and I was already struggling. It was just a feeling that there was no way I could learn Spanish, and that I would just be wasting my time. After reading the scripture about with God all things are possible in class I just prayed and incredible heart felt prayer, asking God that if I stayed obedient to all the mission rules, and worked so hard to learn Spanish that if he would help me I know I could do it. Since that prayer my ability to speak and learn has improved in strides nothing short of a miracle. I can't believe it! That night I prayed in Spanish and the next day I bore my testimony in Spanish. I am catching up so fast and learning so much about myself, the gospel, and the language. It's so hard, and I am so tired, but I am truly loving it. I welcome your prayers, and letters. I hope all is well back home, and I'll make sure to keep everyone informed.
Yo se que mi padre celestial vive y yo si que el amas yo. Yo agradesco evangeclio y el expiacion. Estoy agradecido por opportunidad servio. En el nombre Jesus Christo, Amen.
Quote of the week "I have faith to move mountains, now where is a shovel"
Love Elder Morris
So its day 5 at the MTC, and it looks like he just might make it. Goodness where to start.... Being a missionary is really more amazing then I have words to explain! Having the spirit with me like this all the time is so great. I feel like I'm at a super charged EFY, except no one is hooking up with the "Talented, Lovely, and Spirited" sisters (we are only allowed to use those three words to describe the sisters here.) So the first 3 days may have been the longest days ever, up at 6:30 (no big deal) and then it is non stop til 10:00 pm. Running from one place to the next, not to mention 6 hours of Spanish/Gospel class. The first day of Spanish is something like the First Vision. The wrath of hell itself descended upon, and I feared it may have consumed my soul! It was horrible. My whole district is speaking like they just fell out of an A.P. Spanish program to come on a mission and I know nothing. Everyone was asking questions about "subjunctives" and "command form" and I wanted to ask questions along the line of "what's a verb again?" To this point on my mission that was my low point. I didn't want to go home, but I just felt over whelmed. It had been hours since I arrived and I was already struggling. It was just a feeling that there was no way I could learn Spanish, and that I would just be wasting my time. After reading the scripture about with God all things are possible in class I just prayed and incredible heart felt prayer, asking God that if I stayed obedient to all the mission rules, and worked so hard to learn Spanish that if he would help me I know I could do it. Since that prayer my ability to speak and learn has improved in strides nothing short of a miracle. I can't believe it! That night I prayed in Spanish and the next day I bore my testimony in Spanish. I am catching up so fast and learning so much about myself, the gospel, and the language. It's so hard, and I am so tired, but I am truly loving it. I welcome your prayers, and letters. I hope all is well back home, and I'll make sure to keep everyone informed.
Yo se que mi padre celestial vive y yo si que el amas yo. Yo agradesco evangeclio y el expiacion. Estoy agradecido por opportunidad servio. En el nombre Jesus Christo, Amen.
Quote of the week "I have faith to move mountains, now where is a shovel"
Love Elder Morris
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
MTC Address
Here is my MTC Address
Elder Scott Wayne Morris
Honduras Comayaguela Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604
I head into the mtc today! This is actually happening! I'm so excited to finally start my mission. I'll make sure to keep you all up to date
Elder Scott Wayne Morris
Honduras Comayaguela Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604
I head into the mtc today! This is actually happening! I'm so excited to finally start my mission. I'll make sure to keep you all up to date
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
So it begins...
Hey everyone! Welcome to Elder Morris' blog! So this blog has been created for one very important reason. My hand writing is terrible,and I suck and sending letters. Upon prepareing to leave for my mission I was told by scores of people "oh i can't wait to write you" or "i'm going to write you all the time!" The prospect of spending my P-days answering these letters with my crappy handwriting, and horrible spelleding sounded like a nightmare! So though this blog I am hoping I can keep people up to date on what is happening with me on the Mish, while not having to write every single detail to everyone I write back (please note I will write back, it just may take me a while) they can just come check the blog to see whats up with me and my new friends (human and jungle creature a like)! Please be noted that this is no reason to not write me all the time!I love recieving letters! I just don't want to have to write the same story down even more then once. So hopefully this way I can put more time to the lord, and less writing letters. I hope to keep this blog a hyrbrid of both humor and spirit, and look forward to peoples response on the blog.
God bless,
God bless,
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