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
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