Elder Nathan Morris: July 2009

So, I'll start with the stats. We have 3 baptized in the zone and 11 with a date this month. if they all get baptized, we will hit our goal of 14! Hitting and achieving goals feels feels so good. Our district has a goal of 5. We have 1 baptized and 4 with a date. We have a couple of other potential baptisms this month too. As a companionship, we have a goal of 3. We have 2 with a date and another sitting on the edge. We are sooooo close to getting all of our goals that it's not even funny. That would be so sweet. I have never had that happen. Anyways, I'm way excited about it. Pray for us to do it.

I've told you a little about Kris and Jerome, but I think I will tell you more about them. We found Kris while knocking. We had a really quick restoration lesson with her. She has 4 kids, the oldest is 4 and the youngest is a new baby. They were pretty good when we first met them, but now they are crazy every time we go there. Full of energy and what not. What usually happens is one of us teaches while the other one plays with the kids. On our second appointment with her, we found out that she has a husband. They're married!!!! That doesn't happen too often at their age. Kris is 23 and Jerome is 25. They are both set to be baptized on the 26th. Kris has come to church twice and Jerome hasn't made it yet. He has a strong desire to come, but he had a hangover last time. He went to the club and didn't get home until 7 am. Church starts at 8:30 am here. We taught him the word of wisdom after that. He is quitting now. When we taught him the wow, Kris wouldn't stop raggin' on him and talking about the stupid things he did when he was drunk. They're way excited to be baptized. Other things about them... Kris is a CNA... Jerome just lost his job and is happy living off of unemployment, even if Kris isn't happy with it. Jerome loves basketball. They're black. They just moved into a sweet new apartment with no furnature, so we sit on the floor when we teach.

Then we have Ryan. He was gone to Huston for a while, but now he is back. All he needs to do is stop being a flake and come to church. We've made some appointments that he has had to cancel, but we should be setting him with a date again soon.

Let me tell you about my exchange with Elder Dutson. It was by far the most wonderful exchange of my life. Elder Dutson and I just flow when we teach. We are unstoppable. lol. We had such funny things happen. We ran away from apartment management so we couldn't get kicked out for knocking. We cleaned Kris's house. Elder Dutson got down on his hands and knees to scrub the floor with a cloth while I vacuumed and picked up trash. We went knocking again and some guy we EBPed almost punched Elder Dutson in the face. Okay, get this... we walk up to a bunch of guys with motorcycles that are all chopped up and geared for racing. We try to be friendly and ask what they have done to them and if they race them. One guy says "notin', souly for transpitation." (notice the thug talk) I comment on how the guy was chopping the bike in the garage and ask what he was doing to it. He says "Nah ting" Then some ripped Asian with a wife beater on his head like a turbin comes out yelling at us to leave. Elder Dutson with a polite smile on his face asks if there was anyone he knew that we could visit (we are supposed to do that, ya see?) The guy gets three inches from his face and shouts "LEAVE!" So, we left. I thought for sure we were going to get in a fist fight. It all happened way fast too. The Lord kept us safe. It was a productive day. I love him so much. I would die to be his companion again. Elder Blaylock's pretty cool too.

Sorry about ragging on my companions to you. You're the only one I ever tell that stuff to and I guess I forget to tell you the good things about my companions. I really haven't had a companion that I haven't loved yet. I think I've had struggles with my past companions because they are younger and less experienced. I end up telling you all the stuff that frustrates me instead of the stuff that makes me proud of them. I'm gonna tell you what I loved most about all my companions. Elder Rogers: That kid tried so hard to be social, even though he was terrified. He was way smart when it came to cars and LEDs. He really liked kids. I think it was because kids don't judge. He has a way sweet testimony and he was the first in his family to serve a mission. Elder Bennett: I owe a ton to him. I learned a lot of discipline from him. I learned to be organized. He was very bright and sharp. His testimony was very logical and he has crazy problem solving skillz. Elder Nielson: Boy, does he love having fun. He is a listener. He knows about you and cares. He is real in everything he does too. When he bares his testimony, its real without being rote or fake. Plus, he loves golf and all the same music as I do. Elder Himes. He had desire. There were some days when he would make us go out, even if his ankle was driving him nuts. He was funny too. Elder Blaylock: He reminds me of the things I like about your dad. Very smart, very logical, wants and has proof. He is a great teacher. I'm not even sure why he is junior companion. Probably just so I could be blessed enough to have him. I think you know why I loved Elders Shirts, Moore, and Finger. Elder Finger is going home in 3 weeks... sad, eh? He's leaving half way through the transfer to start school on time.

That reminds me. I don't know if I told you that it's transfer week. The whole next 6 weeks of my mission are coming up soon. It feels weird. You never know what life will be like.

We didn't have any district meetings because the first week was zone meeting then the next week was zone conference. That's three weeks with no district meeting. It was tough. I have my district meetings now and they work great! I love when you train on something and your district does it.

Ah, Flan's wife. We haven't been able to meet with them again. They bailed out on our appointments. We are still trying though, and with his son Mikee.

I pray about my investigators, my recent converts, you, me, my companion, district, zone, and mission. I pray to know if I've done my best. I pray for my family. I pray for guidance and truth. I pray for thankfulness, especially when it comes to you and my mission.

The holy ghost tells me not to worry and that everything will be fine. It also tells me everything that I need to say! I'm very dependent on it right now.

I see miracles all the time, but miracles are best shared in person.

My favorite scripture is 1 john 4:18

Austin is finally getting hot. It got to a crazy 113 degrees today. That for sure broke the record. It's way humid here too. Luckily, I am in a car. She is a red Toyota Corolla. Her name is Victoria. Provocative, no? Anyways, the summer is making it hard to gain weight, but hopefully being in a car will help. I am constantly hungry too. With any luck, I might get back to a good size. Don't worry though, I am for sure healthy and fit.

Lets tell you a little more about Elder Blaylock. He is 6'4" but he slumps. You got to hear his sweet voice with the mess up with the pizza guy. Truly though, he is one of the most kind-hearted companions I have had. He will do mostly any good thing if you ask and push him enough. He is a little shy. It's great to have him though because he is definitely the most seasoned companion I have had since Elder Finger. For sure a follower and not a leader, but I'm working on that. I think it has to do with being over a year out and still being Jr. companion. I think he has given up on being part of leadership. He knows his stuff about the gospel though. He grew up in Rexburg. He even went to school with Elder Neilson. He also served in U.C. with Elder Stevenson.

Both wards here are way sweet. I think I like the singles ward more though. Everyone there is so solid. This past fast sunday was awesome. The spirit was so strong there. I felt fresh and renewed and clean. I even bore my testimony in the singles ward. Tons of RMs and girls that want to help. Let's not lose that zeal for the work once we're married, okay? People seem to let it fade. Elder Blaylock and I taught the singles ward relief society yesterday on missionary work. We committed them to have specific prayers about their friends. To make a list of 5 and pray for their needs by name. We gave them stuff to give away (BoM, pamphlets, cards) and they took tons. We are for sure going to get tons off of that. They're so excited about the gospel. That's why singles wards are my favorite.

I'm pretty sure I told you about all of our progressing investigators. No one came to church this last Sunday. Big disappointment. Stupid 4th of July! We'll get them next week though.

The 4th of July was kind of way fun. The Elders in out district came to watch the fireworks on our roof. The roof is flat, so it was safe and I made sure no one did anything stupid. No one got hurt. It was a great view of all the fireworks.