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

The Gangs All Here

My Comp and I

Oh the Horrors

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

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.

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.

So long

And I'm Off

Family Photo

Photo-op before eminent separation

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