June 27, 2012

Hello!!!!

So I was able to upload some photos before zone conference at the senior sisters apartment. It was so great to go back to San Pablo! It kinda felt like I was going home. I cried a little and I don't even want to think about what it is going to be like when I come home to my real home. I might be just a tad emotional. :)

Zone conference was so so great. It gets better each time we have it I think. Sister Peterson is SO WONDERFUL! Karen told me to love my mission president's wife the most and it really isn't hard to do. She gave an AMAZING talk about giving our all and charity. She started by talking about the things we might be holding onto that are keeping us from grasping the iron rod with both hands. And that we need to let go of somethings and just give our whole hearts to service. Then she said something that really hit me and I don;t even remember the context of it but she said, "It's not because we don't have faith in God, it's because we don't faith in ourselves." I have thought a lot about this statement over the last few days. I have faith in God, but I struggle a lot having faith in myself. Believing that I can accomplish all that is required of me and not feeling inadequate is usually a daily struggle. Missionary work is hard. Being a latter-day saint is hard. Choosing to live the right way almost always requires more work, but it is worth it. I love Elder Holland and how he says salvation isn't easy, it wasn't ever easy for the Savior so why should it be easy for us? (or something close to that...) Being here in the Philippines on a mission I have learned so much about the purpose of life. It really is just to grow and learn and try our best to become more Christ like and return to our Heavenly Father, with our families. And the way we do it is through Jesus Christ. That's the basics and when I focus on that and helping others to realize that, everything is crystal clear to me. I am so grateful for this mission. The more I learn the more I realize I will never be able to give back what has been given to me.

| love you all and thank you all so much for your support!

Love,

Sister Morton

#1- My favorite family from San Pablo- Bishop Guerra (the one who past away a couple of weeks ago) is on the left

#2- View of Bundok (mountain) Makiling from Alligator Lake..... No one can tell me if there are actually alligators in it.....

#3- View of Makiling from my area in San Pablo. I always wondered what was on the other side.... it's CALAMBA!

#4- Zone P-day: Hiking to Mud Springs on Makiling- This is the jungle I spoke of in an earlier email

#5- CABUYAO ZONE

#6- Inside a jeepney- the little hanging sign is how you know where it's going

#7-Coolest location of a basketball court I have seen so far

#8- Mud Springs- Smells like Yellowstone in the jungle. Makiling is an inactive volcano=hot springs

#9- One of the poorer parts of my area- You would never guess there is a huge mall just a five minute walk away.

#10- UNGGOY!

#11- JP Rizal Statue, Pinoy National Hero- He was born in Calamba and this statue is near our apartment.

#12- I'm obsessed with clouds and sunsets....ESPECIALLY here in the Pines! SOBRANG MAGANDA!!!

#13- Jayson.... He LOVES me! Ha ha. The first time I came into the area he grabbed my hand and walked me to our LA's house that he lives by and he does it whenever he sees me coming. So CUTE!!!

#14- So we have a little entry area that has a gate with a big lock on it. So when you lock your keys in the house you can't unlock the gate lock. I told my comp we were like zoo animals and she started acting the part :) It was funny for the first 30 minutes of our two hour captivity while waiting for the zone leaders to come.

#15- Elder and Sister Fleming from the MRC- So sweet!

#16- Lake Laguna

#17- MANILA TEMPLE! I hope I get a chance to go in before I go home!!!!

THERE were no photos attached to email, sorry!

June 11, 2012

SO.... I am SO TIRED right now. So hopefully I will make sense, especially since I feel like my english is taking a turn for the worst. Not that my Tagalog is getting any better though. Hopefully I won't come home talking like a caveman, not knowing tag or english. for reals.... ha ha. We had zone P-day today and we hiked a MOUNTAIN. It didn't seem like we did that much but sitting in this dark little internet shop I am about to fall asleep. :) The hike was so PRETTY!!!! Really a year ago I was hiking around the desert by the green river and today I was hiking in the jungle. I kept having to remind myself that I wasn't in a movie set, and that the "tarzan" vines hanging from the trees were REAL. It was so cool. I would upload some pics but I don't trust the internet shop computers... i'll have to figure out a way to upload some without worrying about losing them. :)

I think I have already mentioned this is probably more than one of my previous emails but it has been so apparent this week I can;t help but talk about it again. God has a plan that is perfectly designed for each one of us. Seriously. It is so crazy to me how I have seen things that I had no idea how they would turn out, but then looking back it was PERFECT. I am learning more each and everyday that everything we face, every hardship, challenge, trial, disappointment and whatever else that doesn't go the way we hope or expect is just an opportunity to grow and become better- if we let it, actually if we choose to let it. I know that as I have tried to put my faith in the fact that Heavenly Father has a plan for how He wants me to turn out- which I know is far better than what I can make of myself- and I rely on Christ to help me through I have grown and been SO BLESSED. Trials are just blessings, sometimes disguised as something we don't feel we can handle or feel like we deserve but if we use our trials to become stronger than we were before we realize after all is said and done it was a blessing. This has happened SO many times on my mission so far. I really don't feel like I deserve all of these blessings and everything I have been blessed with, especially with such a great family and great friends. I hope you all know how grateful I am for each of you!

I received some sad news this week. The Bishop from my first ward, Bishop Guerra (who I love and got super close with his family) had a heart attack and past away last sunday. I was so sad! This life is so short and we really don't know what will happen tomorrow. We were talking to a couple of members when I got the news and a butterfly flew by and they said that if you see butterflies when someone dies it is special. Which is crazy because every time I see a butterfly I just think of Hollie :)

I love you all and I hope that everyday is a happy one even though there are challenges and trials.

PINAKAMAHAL KO KAYO LAHAT!!!!!!!!!!

Sister Morchan- Yeah they can't pronounce morton very well here in Calamba ;)

June 4, 2012

So....

This area is a little harder than the last one. There are a lot of perks- laundry shop around the corner from our house, the only burger king AND dairy queen in the entire mission, and easier transportation (I have been taking advantage of all of these ;) Inspite of all these perks, I have cried a few times after lessons we have had this week. One in particular was really hard.

We had been teaching an investigator who was pregnant and has a 2 year old. Her husband and mother in law who lives with them are not active members and the husband is gone for most of the week working in another city. They all live in a little shack that is probably 10x8 feet with a little cooking area offset. So The new baby was born last week and we started teaching again this week. It was raining pretty hard when we got there. We went in and started teaching. As my companion was talking to them I just looked at this precious new baby laying on the little bamboo bed the whole family shared, that we were all sitting on, and then I looked around at all the cans and bowls sitting on the dirt catching the rain that was coming in from the holes that had rusted through the sheet metal roof. It was so sad, but the people are so so so humble and happy. We are so incredibly lucky to have all the things we have. This sweet sister has been reading the book of mormon and says it helps her. We found out she can't get baptized for another 2 years. It is really expensive to get a divorce, like impossible for this family and she has been married before. The church has a policy here that if you live together for five years you can be considered "married" and get baptized, cut cannot hold a temple recommend until you clear up the first marriage. So sad. I know that the gospel will help these people and we are trying to just help them feel the spirit.

Please remember when you are walking around your house that has a floor and lights and running water how blessed we all are for the things we have and that we have our families.

I love you all so so so much and miss you all like crazy.

Love,

Sister Morton

May 28, 2012

Hello!

So guess what? It's still crazy hot and I don't have much time again. Weird....

Anyways, things are going much better. I still pray to fall into a pool two or three times a week, but I know the area know and am getting to know the ward, investigators and less actives dito. The ward here is much smaller and has a higher number of less actives than my last area so we have some work to do. It has been really great being able to be teaching more. My Tagalog is definitely getting a little better everyday and since I do a lot more of the teaching than I did in my last area I feel like I am going to be able to build better relationships with the people here.

This transfer will be a challenge but I am grateful for it. I know that it will just cause me to learn the things I need to and I know that everything happens for a reason. I am SO GRATEFUL for the scriptures. I have been learning so many new and amazing things from them. It is crazy how something that you have read a bunch of times can teach you something new eveytime you need some answers.

I love you all!!!!

Sister Morton

May 21, 2012

So I transferred! To a bigger city than san pab!I am now in Calamba which is just over the mountain from my old area and it couldn't be hotter here and the city is filled with resorts aka the most tempting pools I have ever seen. Haha it's kinda ridiculous. I am still adjusting. I am follow up training and it is a little overwhelming trying to figure everything out from almost scratch. :) I think/hope the hardest part is over though. I most definately will be better at tagalog by the end of this transfer so that will be a blessing.

Sorry this is so short! I will fill you in on more details!!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Sister Morton

May 14, 2012

Happy mother's day everyone!!!!

It was SO GREAT to be able to talk to my family!!!! I cannot believe it has been 5 months since I spoke with them at Christmas! Time is going by so fast.

So the big news for the week is that I am being TRANSFERRED!!! My first transfer! I have been in San Pablo third ward for my whole mission so I am excited to see a new area. I am actually kind of shocked because Sister Rombaoa just went home and I was going to be the senior in the area so now there will be two new missionaries in my area. I am excited to get to meet some new people!! and maybe even get to see the ocean!!!! Ha ha.

I love being a missionary and all of the crazy, great and spiritual experiences I have had packed into just seven short months. I really could not be learning the things that I am in any other way. Missions are great and even though I miss all of you terribly I don't want to come home. I know I need to cherish every moment I have here because it will never happen again and it is going by faster and faster everyday. Like I'm sure most of you moms feel about all of your kids. :)

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Sister Morton

May 7, 2012

KUMUSTA PO KAYO???

So not too much to report on this past week. Church was GREAT and we have a couple of great investigators who came to church and have accepted baptismal goal dates! Super exciting!!!! Hopefully they will continue to follow through on their commitments and continue to progress in their faith.

In other news... This is my last week with Sister Rombaoa. Crazy. I will have a temporary companion next week and then will have a new companion a week from friday. Time goes by really fast when you are helping a companion pack almost every transfer. Ha ha. I am sad she is leaving. We have been teaching really well together and I have learned a TON of tagalog from her. And she makes me laugh- Today while walking through the bayan (downtown in San Pab) I saw my first giant rat, well first giant rat that wasn't smashed on the road.... and I said to Sister R "Sister TINGAN MO!" She turned and saw it and said, with absolutely no Pinay accent "Oh sick" Ha ha, Ok it's probably just funny to me because I am the one who always says "oh sick" (because there are a lot of things her that make me say it) and the way she said it was like hearing myself. So we have been together long enough for her to pick that up :)

SO on to the doktor doesn't = doctor story. I was pretty sick last week, don't worry mom i'm better now :) I had to go to the doctor, I mean doktor (doctor in Tagalog... no really if you say doctor they don't really understand you. You have to say doktor and roll the r a little. Just ask Sister Gallagher ;) I had a sore throat, ears, bad cough and head ache and then on thursday morning whatever I had spread to my eyes (they were SO red) and I decided it was time to go to the doktor. So we went and waited on a little bench. I layed my head on Sister R's lap, her whole lap and then my legs dangled, ok they were touching the ground but you get the point, over the armrest on the other side of the bench for the 2 hours we had to wait in the OUTDOORish waiting room. Then I went in to see the doktor. I sat down and told him my symptoms. He said it was because of the change in weather, it's super SUPER hot for a few days and then will rain like crazy for a day. So then he said it's probably a bacterial infection and I should go buy antibiotics and then he told me that I should stay in a room with air con and watch tv AND not to go walking anywhere especially in the sun or the rain (the only two kinds of weather here in the Pines) Ha ha, I just kept thinking well most those things are not really an option so antibiotics and priesthood blessing it is. Luckily the elders were able to give me a blessing that night and I bought some super expensive antibiotics. I am feeling much better now, still a little week but MUCH better. I actually like going to the doktor because I always have a fun story to tell afterward. HA!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Sister Morton

May 1, 2012

KUMUSTA PO KAYO!?!

Things are good here. Really REALLY warm, but good. I am already realizing what a blessing it is that I am only going to be spending one summer in the Pines. :)

I realized in my last email I forgot to explain the baptism of Mutya. We started teaching her mom (who was less active) and after she became active again Mutya started coming with her and decided she wanted to be baptized. She is 9 so we had the opportunity to teach her. I am so grateful for this opportunity that we had. There were multiple occasions that as we were teaching Mutya, Her mother would come to understand something on a deeper level that she didn't know about the gospel. I truly believe that it wouldn't have happened if you weren't trying to teach the principles so basic. It taught me that it is just my job to teach the basics. To help people understand the basic doctrines so they can start to gain a testimony and strengthen their foundation. The spirit really does teach people the things they need to learn if they are open to it.

I am so grateful for my mission and I am coming to realize that no matter who hard I work I will never be able to pay back my Father in Heaven for everything He has given me.

I love you all!!!

Sister Morton

April 23, 2012

Magandang Hapon!

This week has been so so great! So many things have happened that just make it so obvious to me of how aware God is of each of us. It really is incredible. Last sunday we had a couple of new investigators come and the lessons were just what they needed to hear and then yesterday we had another new investigator come and EVERY single lesson seemed like it was just for her. Every single talk in sacrament, and the lessons in sunday school and relief society. So amazing.

I'm not going to lie, missions are hard! I have been struggling a bit this week because I just don't know how to help some, ok most the people here. We have been teaching some of the less actives here since january and nothing is helping them. It's so hard because for a lot of them their primary concern is how they are going to have enough money to support their families throughout the week. We have really trying to just focus on building their faith. We are seeing a little bit of success and it really is a miracle. I know I just need to be patient and remember that our Heavenly Father knows exactly what each of us need. I am trying and learning everyday to rely on Him and it is incredible the difference I feel when I focus on Him. I love being a missionary, even though it's hard. I don't remember where I read this last week- I think from a sweet email from one of you but it said that the harder the trial the more God trusts us. I don't know why He trust me with this at all, especially in Tagalog ha ha, but I do know that He knows what each of us can become and I just need to trust that He can and will make me a far better person than I can make of myself.

I love you ALL!!!!

Pinakamahal kita!

Sister Morton

PHOTOS :)

1-Baptism of Mutya!

2- One of our investigators climbing a coconut tree to get us some fresh buko!

3- The buko he threw down from the tree

4- The drink they made from the juice, complete with milk, sugar, coconut meat AND crackers

5- OH the sunsets in the Philippines!!!! SOBRANG MAGANDA!!!!

April 16, 2012

SO really... How in the world am I already emailing you again?!? Ha ha! Time is going so FAST!!!

I am great! We have been hard at work all week and were able to teach a lot of people. This week was really good and we had a few new investigators come to church. A family from San Crispin, a barangay (neighborhoodish) in our area, that we have been teaching for the past few weeks finally came AND I was one of the speakers. So it turned out to be a pretty great day. It helps that I finally feel like I am starting to learn the language well enough to communicate with people. Many times people will still just blankly stare at me when I say something to them but Sister Rombaoa told me that I am saying things correctly it's just that they are shocked that "someone like me" (ha ha) is speaking Tagalog. I LOVE Sister Rombaoa! she leaves in four weeks and I am sad to be "killing" another companion!

So something I have been thinking about a lot lately- being happy. So many of the people we teach will say "I'm not happy because of ________, or if I just had _________ I would be happier. It has been really hard for me because a lot of the issues are because many of the people are so poor and I don't know how to help them.I wish I could just tell them that money won't make them happy, because I KNOW that money and material objects are not the source of true happiness, but it's not that simple. During my talk I was just overwhelmed with love as I looked at my ward. I know that true happiness and true joy comes from focusing on Jesus Christ, Others- Serving and loving them and then You- focusing on making yourself a better person, more like Christ. This was from sister rombaoas talk yesterday :) I also know that when we are grateful for our blessings we are not only happier but God blesses us with more.

I am so GRATEFUL to be a missionary! I love you all!!!!

MAHAL KO KAYO LAHAT!!!!

sister Morton

The photos- I meant to send them last week, we were able to attend transfer day so I got to see my "boys" aka the elders that were in my zone in the MTC! and that big thing is a carabao they are huge!

April 8, 2012

Kumusta!

So Easter weekend has been great. We had conference and I loved it!!! I of course have limited time so I just want to talk about one thing that I really enjoyed about it. It was actually a talk about raising children. don't remember which one at the moment. Now for most of conference, and let's be honest for most of my mission, I have tried really hard to not think about getting married and starting a family because I am just so excited for when this is going to happen. It is especially hard with all the family talk during conference and when we are teaching two different families with brand new babies. Anyways... the talk was about raising children in the gospel and helping "our" children to make their own spiritual connection to heaven. Well guess what? I have about 30 of God's children that I am trying to help make a spiritual connection to heaven and it's hard! I just want every single person I talk to to understand the gospel and realize how happy they can be. I loved at the end of sister Esplins talk how she quoted "I am a child of God" All of us really need some one to lead us, guide us, and walk beside us during some point of our life. If you're not the one needing to be lead or guided I hope you can find someone to lead guide and walk beside. :)

No time left!!!! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Sister Morton

April 2, 2012

April 2, 2012

Kumusta po Kayo?!?

SO... The big news of the week... I'm not going to transfer day on friday! It will be the first time I won't be there since I have been in the field. Ha ha... It's sad because all the elders from my batch in the MTC will be there, but other than that I am excited to be staying with a companion for longer than six weeks :) and I will be getting another soon enough anyways because I will be "killing" Sister Rombaoa in 5 weeks. Ha ha yup my second "kill" is just 5 months. I'll be sad when she goes home.

Other than not really having news about being transfered, I really don't have any news.

It has been super rainy still. I found out that it is going to be a wet summer because of la nina or something, which means it won't be as hot this year, but I will be leaving more palda puddles :)

What else.... I swear I was just writing this email last week so it doesn't seem like anything has happened.

One awesome thing about this week- We started to teach Nolasco's (The old man we baptized last month) wife. She hasn't wanted to listen to us at all because of her catholic tradition but she let us teach her once, so we taught about eternal marriage and she has since started reading! I am so excited because Nolasco is so excited to go to the temple and he doesn't want to have to do it alone. So I am hoping and praying that she will continue to let the Spirit work.

Other coolness- Elder Tyler Haws (he's a BYU basketball player, who is serving in quezon city) came to san pablo to do a fireside last night. Our stake has been making a big effort to get the youth excited about serving missions and it was really good.

I'm outta time now so until next week.... Hopefully I will be able to send some photos later today :)

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Sister Morton

March 26, 2012

Kumusta po kayo?!?

SO... remember how a week of two ago I said it was the beginning of summer here and was SO HOT? well I spoke too soon. On Saturday we were sitting in a lesson and I heard thunder- for the first time since I have been here. Now it has rained before, and quite hard my first couple of weeks here, BUT I learned that thunder means it's a REAL storm! OH MY GOODNESS!!! I have NEVER seen rain like I saw on Sat. and of course it was one of the few days I chose NOT to bring my umbrella. HA! I'm really bad at following promptings.... so needless to say I was soaking wet for the rest of the day and I would leave a puddle wherever I went. Luckily we usually just teach on covered pouches or on concrete floors :) It has been cold for the past few days.... no joke. I even slept in my fleece jacket the other night cause the sheet just wasn't cutting it. ha ha. I still love it here though and all the rain has washed most the trash away so that has been nice :)

On a more spiritual note... a real quick one since I only have 4 minutes. This week I realized how even though each one of us has very different things going on in our lives we all have trials. We all have something that is trying to bring us down and something that is there that will make us stronger if we face it with the right attitude and know that the purpose of our trials is to make us stronger, better people. I'm grateful for this experience AND I'm so grateful for all of you!!!

MAHAL NA MAHAL KO KAYO LAHAT!!!!

Sister Morton

March 19, 2012

So another week already.... I swear it seems like I am just going to wake up and I am going to be freezing in Utah like most of you are right now. :)

I cannot even describe this week. I seriously don't think I have ever been this sweaty, tired and just plain exhausted in my whole life, and I don't think I have ever been happier. It's the strangest thing! As most of you know I am quite grumpy when I am really tired, but not anymore. I can't even describe how happy I am. It's crazy how having close to zero time to focus on myself has made me the happiest I have ever been.

Last week we had a "mini MTC" for the youth in our stake and we got to be the teachers. One of our APs gave a talk and he talked about how every single thing we do as a missionary is for someone else and effects others salvation. I have thought about that all week. Everything from doing yoga every morning, learning a language, eating dinner at 9:30 at night and lets not forget all the studying, oh and all the walking, I am doing because I want someone else to be able to be as happy as I am. I want them to know that they have a purpose here on this earth and that they have a loving Heavenly Father that has a PERFECT plan for them. All that we need to do is focus on Christ and when we do this everything else falls exactly where it needs to be. I know that just by reading the scriptures to really learn from them, sincerely praying and going to church we end up right where we want to be. Even though these things seem simple I know they can be hard because it took me a LONG time to figure this out. IT IS SO WORTH IT THOUGH!!!

I love being a missionary. I love this gospel. I love all of you.

MAHAL KO KAYO!!!!

March 11, 2012

Kumusta!?!

This week was great! I had a great birthday, was able to show my new comp around everywhere and then finished the week with a baptism. Not too shabby. The only thing that was just great was the warmth. It's getting really warm (91 F) here because summer is the end of March, April and May. The senior sisters said that we aren't allowed to say the "h" word here... no not that h word even though that is what it is starting to feel like :) ha ha, hopefully that's not to inappropriate of a joke for a missionary email. :)

So Sister Gallagher and I started teaching Nolasco the end of January and he was baptized on Saturday. He is so great!!!! He has some much faith and he has said over and over he just wants to do what the Lord wants him to do. It has been really neat to see his faith and knowledge grow in the gospel. The first lesson after Sister Gallagher left he told my new comp the Sister G and I had been like angels to him. Maybe it is just because we're both white... but it was still really sweet :) It has also been so awesome to see him just jump right into the ward.

I love our ward!!! Church has turned into my favorite part of the week! It is like an emotional rollar coaster ride though. One second I am sad because someone who said they would show up and seemed to be progressing, won't come. Then the next second someone I never expected to come back to church while I am still in San Pablo will walk through the doors. (I know I need to have more faith in those people :) It's really great and church attendance is one of the biggest ways we show our faith. Especially for the people here because it takes so much to get to church. Really. I think about how many times I was too lazy to go and I could have walked to the church in 10 minutes if I walked slow and I didn't even have to walk because I had a CAR. Never again will I complain or skip church.

Well time is up....

MAHAL KO KAYO LAHAT!!!!!

Sister Morton

March 4, 2012

WOW! Thank you for all the birthday wishes!!!! I can't believe I will be 28 tomorrow!!! Crazy. This week was also kinda crazy. My companion was transfered and I got a new companion this morning- Sister Rombaoa! She is SO NICE!!! We've only been companions for a couple of hours so no pics yet, but she is by far the smallest companion out of the 5 other companions that I have. Yup I'm averaging about a month a companion. Ha ha! But seriously I think I was her size in 2nd grade. I'm excited for this week though. There is always an adjustment period with new companions and I have been in that phase since Sister Gallagher left. Needless to say, I am excited to get working with her!

So I have been doing a lot of thinking this past week. Last week it had been two years since I decided to start going back to church and really figure out if the church was true, and now I am a missionary. I really loved the talk last conference about climbing up the mountain and taking breaks to look back at the view and how far they had climbed. I realized this week that I have spent my whole mission so far looking up at the rest of the mountain I need to climb. I have been so focused on trying to become the missionary I want to be I haven't been enjoying the view and looking back at how far I have come. I did this week though and it's been so incredible. I honestly cannot believe the change in my life from 2 years ago, even just 6 months ago, and even in the last month. It has all been because of one person, Christ. When we focus on Him, not only does everything work out perfectly, we can be happy even through our roughest weeks. I am so so grateful for my mission and to be able to learn and most importantly apply so many important things to my life. I am so grateful for the relationships that I have been able to create and the ones I have been able to strengthen. These have been my biggest blessings. Most importantly I am overwhelmingly grateful for the relationship I have been able to create and strengthen with my Savior, and see lives change when they draw nearer unto Him. I love you ALL! and I am so grateful for all your love and support!!!!

MAHAL NA MAHAL KO kAYO LAHAT!!!

Sister Morton

Febuary 27, 2012

Hello!!!!

What a difference a week makes! :) This week started out kind of rough. I was sick, my beses friend went home and they dropped me off in a new area with new investigators and less active members, a new (and by new I mean different :) apartment with a new companion, and there was not any toilet paper in the "new" bathroom. It seriously was a traumatic flash back of my first couple of weeks in the Pines and that adjustment is pretty high on the list of "things megan NEVER wants to do again. ever." ha ha. BUT after a couple of days and and a normal temperature and my stomach going back to what i now call normal for it, :) I realized how far I have come in the 3 months I have been here. I can actually understand and speak Tagalog MUCH better than I could, I wouldn't call it every good yet, but progress is progress. AND the coolest thing- I'm learning how to rely on the Lord more and more every day. Missions are amazing.

I am so grateful for this experience. It's like progression on warp speed. Ether 12:27- It is happening. and I am so grateful. I prayed for my mission to be hard, and most days I wonder "ANO SA MUNDO was I thinking?" ha ha but I am so grateful for this experience I have to learn and grow. I am even more grateful for the opportunity I have to see the Spirit help people change their lives. It really is a miracle.

Time goes SO FAST!!!! Next month it will be my sixth month mark, I will have only a year left til i'm home, and I'll be 28!!!! CRAZY!!!! If the rest of my mission goes as fast as the last six weeks did, I feel like I'm going to be home in like four days ;) The last transfer was so great!!!! I learned so so SO MUCH and I am so grateful for Sister Gallagher. She is amazing. I miss her, but all the things I learned from her are really coming in handy. :) My new companion is great. Her name is Sister Villasis and she is from the southern part of the Pines. She has such a fun personality and loves to tease. She is a really happy person and a strong teacher! I am excited to spend the next 12 weeks with her. :) President Peterson told me not to come back to the next transfer day because I have been to every one so far. So we will see. He might change his mind and miss me. ha ha.

Well I hope you all have a fantastic week, and you read your scriptures :)

LOVE,

Sister Morton

Oh... PS.... we went hiking up a mountain today for pday and i'm pretty sure there is no word for switch back in Tagalog, because we hiked STRAIGHT up a mountain. no joke, and every time I hike i remember how much I don't like hiking ha ha, BUT the jungle is awesome :)

February Lindon 11th Ward Newsletter

Kumusta! Oh my goodness I am so tired! But so so great!!!! I'm sorry I am writing a day later than normal and I hope that you weren't too wor-ried that I was run over by a jeepney or something, ha ha. We had three appointments yesterday and with all the other p-day activities– grocer-ies, laundry, cleaning the apartment, we didn't have time for emails.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love Sister Gallagher! It feels like we have been companions for months. We have been working our tails off and had 10 more lessons this week than any other week since I have been in the Pines. I am so exhausted and I really don't feel like I should be so happy, but I am. :) I am learning so so much and Sister Gal-lagher is forcing me to speak Tagalog. I am noticing the language slowly start-ing to improve. The biggest/most im-portant thing I am learning from her is how to follow the Spirit. She is an amazing teacher and just knows how to follow promptings. I am so lucky to have her as my companion for her last transfer!!!!

Other exciting news- We had been teaching Jerwin at the church and this week we were able to set up an appointment at his house. We met his Sister Joanna and she is really interested and we have started to teach her as well. So cool!

We have also had some success with our less active members. Last night we had FHE with my favorite family in the Pines- I LOVE THEM! The mom and the 3 oldest children are members but all less active and then the dad, the 10 and 12 year old boys are non members and then they have a 6 and a 4 year old boy. They are so cute and I can slowly see them starting to come around. I met them the week after I got here and the dad wouldn't even acknowledge us, but now he is listening in on the lessons and participated in FHE last night. It was so funny. At the end of the night he was like "Okay I'm done now, in the name of Je-sus Christ Amen." Ha ha, at least we know that he is listening to at least a part of our lesson :) I love teach-ing them and I can see them becoming more and more united as a family.

Well... I've had a thousand other cool/new experiences this week, but not enough time to write. I have learned something so valuable this week though- no matter what happens, if we have faith and trust in God, and the do everything we can to do our part then EVERYTHING works out. It might not always work out the way we see it, but I've noticed if I really look for the reason things go the way they do, I find that it all works out much better than I could have planned. I have seen this happen multiple times this week, and I am so lucky to have Sister Gallagher here to help me see the good in everything.

I love you all so much!!! MAHAL KO KAYO!!!!

Sister Morton

February 19, 2012

Sorry it has taken me so long to get a mass email out! The last few weeks have been so great and SO BUSY! I am so so grateful for Sister Gallagher. I miss her so much already!!!! This transfer was amazing and I learned a ton. I can't believe another transfer is already over. This one seemed to go by ten times faster than the first.

The biggest news of the last couple of weeks- We had two baptisms! The first was a 9 year old boy named Demetrius. His dad was a less active member that started coming back to church and since he is 9 he needed to be taught by the missionaries. His brother who is 8 was also baptized. It was my first baptism and it was both mine and Sister Gallagher's first completed family. So GREAT! With this new focus of reactivation our mission has a goal of "completing" 200 families in 2012.

The second baptism was this past Friday and it was JERWIN!!!! It was amazing and watching his countenance and life change over the past 3 months has been so amazing. The Sunday before his baptism he told me he felt like something changed in his heart and a few days before his baptism Sister G. asked him if he was going to serve a mission and he said, "If it be the will of the Lord." I am so happy for him. I am so grateful to be a missionary!!!! It is really amazing what the Spirit can do when someone allows their heart to be softened and let the Spirit work on them.

After the baptism the rest of the weekend was kind of rough. All day on Friday I didn't feel super great. On Saturday I felt worse and had a little bit of a fever. It's not fun to have a fever in the Philippines- it's like one step above having frostbite in the Pines. HA HA... And Saturday Sister Gallagher left to go to visit her first area, so I had to say goodbye. I went to go work with Sister Osborn, who will also be returning home this week with Sister G., and her Companion Sister Guzman, who I will be spending the week with until transfer day on Friday. The rest of the day I got sicker and sicker. One of the older couple missionaries thought I might have had Dengue Fever, but luckily I probably don't. Sister G. got sick too with the same symptoms, so SAD that she is sick her last couple of days. I did get to have lunch with her today though and say our final goodbyes. I am feeling better today just a little weak still and not quite 100%, so no need to worry about me.

Well I am out of time. Hopefully I will be able to send some pics next week of the baptisms and MY NEW COMPANION!

MAHAL kO KAYO!!!!!

Sister Morton

February 6, 2012

Sorry no time for a mass email this week :( Too busy teaching Filipinos the gospel!!!!! :)

MAHAL KO KAYO LAHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sister Morton

January 29, 2012

Kumusta po kayo!!!
So I literally have no time. We have been so so busy and it seems like the last two pdays have been busier than all the other days of the week. It is really great though because we are working so hard. I have never been so exhausted and so happy at the same time. I'm so good!!!! The work is going so great! We had 5 less actives come to church yesterday and 5 investigators! The hard work is starting to have some results! I love it and I love seeing the people here taking the steps to make their lives better. Everything this past week has been so great!!!

I did get frostbite this week though.... no joke. I swear I am the only person to get it in the pines in the history of the pines. I filled an ice tray so we could make buko (young coconut) shakes and my hands were wet from washing the ice tray when I went to set the them in the freezer. Yup, my finger stuck to the metal freezer and I had to yell to sister gallagher to get a cup of water to unstick me. Hindi mabuti (no bueno :)!!!!! Sister Gallager was laughing her head off, and I was too in between crying a little (it really hurt!) But it's getting better now, the blister is almost gone. Yup leave it to Sister Morton to spend her whole life playing in the snow and then I come to, what I think is the hottest place on earth, and I get a blister from frostbite!!!! Ha ha, I swear my journal is turning into a comic strip :)

Well I hope everyone is well!!! I love you all!!!!
Sister Morton

January 22, 2012

Kumusta!

Oh my goodness I am so tired! But so so great!!!! I'm sorry I am writing a day later than normal and I hope that you weren't too worried that I was ran over by a jeepney or something, ha ha. We had three appointments yesterday and with all the other pday activities- Groceries, laundry cleaning the apartment, we didn't have time for emails.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love Sister Gallagher! It feels like we have been companions for months. We have been working our tails off and had 10 more lessons this week than any other week since I have been in the Pines. I am so exhausted and I really don't feel like I should be so happy, but I am. :) I am learning so so much and Sister Gallagher is forcing me to speak Tagalog. I am noticing the language slowly starting to improve. The biggest/most important thing I am learning from her is how to follow the Spirit. She is an amazing teacher and just knows how to follow promptings. I am so lucky to have her as my companion for her last transfer!!!!

Other exciting news- We had been teaching Jerwin at the church and this week we were able to set up an appointment at his house. We met his Sister Joanna and she is really interested and we have started to teach her as well. So cool!

We have also had some success with our less active members. Last night we had FHE with my favorite family in the Pines- I LOVE THEM! The mom and the 3 oldest children are members but all less active and then the dad, the 10 and 12 year old boys are non members and then they have a 6 and a 4 year old boy. They are so cute and I can slowly see them starting to come around. I met them the week after I got here and the dad wouldn't even acknowledge us, but now he is listening in on the lessons and participated in FHE last night. It was so funny. At the end of the night he was like "Okay I'm done now, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen." Ha ha, at least we know that he is listening to at least a part of our lesson :) I love teaching them and I can see them becoming more and more united as a family.

Well... I've had a thousand other cool/new experiences this week, but not enough time to write. I have learned something so valuable this week though- no matter what happens, if we have faith and trust in God, and the do everything we can to do our part then EVERYTHING works out. It might not always work out the way we see it, but I've noticed if I really look for the reason things go the way they do, I find that it all works out much better than I could have planned. I have seen this happen multiple times this week, and I am so lucky to have Sister Gallagher here to help me see the good in everything.

I love you all so much!!! MAHAL KO KAYO!!!!

Sister Morton

January 15, 2012

Pamilya at mga kaibigan ko!

This week was kinda crazy, but GREAT!!!! Right after I emailed last week we headed to the ear, nose and throat doctor. I felt like I had an ear and sinus infection. Turns out it's just some kinda of -itis that is causing pressure in my ears. So don't worry I'm okay. I think it will just take some time for my body to adjust to the humidity, pollution and the smoke from the investigators stove (fire pit) :)

I was kinda nervous to be going to a doctor here in the Pines, ok like really nervous. Things aren't exactly what I would call clean here and the last thing I needed was to catch an actual infection from the doctors office. When we pulled up in the trike I was relived because it was a brand new building and it didn't look like it had been standing long enough for any cockroaches to move in yet. ( I have killed 4 in our apartment and it's usually at 3 in the morning when I walk into the bathroom- not the funnest thing to do when you are half awake, ha ha :) Anyways. Inside was really nice and I learned that a lot of the missionaries had been there before and the doctor spoke ok english. So I sat down in the chair and watched him sterilize the camera- another relief :) and then he stuck the camera in my ears and took some photos and showed me the screen. He then proceeded to stick the camera, with out cleaning it, into HIS ear to show me that my ears looked fine. Talk about customer service. He cleaned the camera off and then stuck it in my nose. And yup then stuck it in his own, without wiping, to show me the difference. At least I knew that I wasn't contagious. My sinuses were really red and inflamed in comparison. I got some nasal spray and am doing much better. I just hope that I don't have to get a colonoscopy while I am here :) Too funny!

So the other GREAT part of the week, the GREATEST part of the week- I have a new companion!!! Sister Gallagher!!!! She is from Pleasant Grove and this is her last transfer. I am already sad that I only get to spent 6 weeks with her, but am so greatful for it and so grateful for the missionary she has become. She is AMAZING at teaching and so so great at Tagalog. We have only been together a few days but have gotten really close and I have learned SO MUCH already. I thought it was crazy how many stares I would get walking through the streets before, but now it is double time because of us two whities. We were sitting in a jeepney and I said to her "We are from Lindon and PG and we are sitting in a jeepney in the Philippines on the other side of the world and we are companions." How cool is that?!? I still catch myself being amazed at this crazy place I am in and that I am finally a missionary.

Jerwin is great. He is so smart and I warned Sis. G about it. In the lessons he asked us a TON of questions and after Sis G was like "wow, I know you warned me, but wow." She did so great though and I really can't express how great of a teacher she is. Some of our other investigators/less actives have responded so well to how loving and bold she is. She has a GREAT testimony and it shows. She is also forcing me to teach in Tagalog. I love it and feel like I am getting better. I'm starting to feel like a missionary more and more everyday. It's so great.

I know without a single doubt that this church is true and the Book of Mormon has the answers we all need. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity I have to share this with the people of the Philippines. I know that this gospel is the ONLY way to return to our Father in Heaven. Even though most of the people here have nothing, and live in shacks that aren't as nice as the tents we have in America, I can help them to receive the most important and valuable thing there is. I have felt the Spirit so so strong and I can feel the love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. I love you all and hope you can feel my love wherever you may be.

MAHAL KO KAYO LAHAT!!!!

Sister Morton

January 8, 2012

KUMUSTA PO KAYO!!!!

One transfer will be over this week!!!! I cannot believe how fast it went... ok, there have been quite a few days that seemed like they would never end, but it is starting to go faster. I have started to adjust more and more, but since the holidays are over it seems like it is getting even easier. I don't think I will ever adjust to the heat or the freezing cold showers, but everything else seems like it will continue to get easier.

So on Friday Sister Peterson, the mission president's wife came with us to some appointments. It was GREAT! and we just happened to see our first big scary snake! Luckily it was dead. It was HUGE! It had to be at least 7 feet long. I'm so glad it wasn't alive and I hope and pray that I don't see one the rest of the mission!!!!

Jerwin is great! Still so so eager to learn. He set a baptismal goal date for the 18th and he is so excited, and so our we!!! He is 19 and I cannot believe his knowledge of the bible. It is incredible. I love teaching him!

The work with the less actives is slow but there are a few families that have been really receptive to us. I love hearing them bear their testimony and then see and feel them start to remember what the Spirit feels like. It's been really great and I know it will be even better when I can actually communicate with them!

This week we have an third companion because here comp went home and we will be with her until transfer day on Friday. Which means I get to see Sister Pruden from the MTC who gets here this week!!! I am excited to be able to give her a heads up about eveything that shocked me!!!!

Well I am out of time:( I love you all and MISS YOU SO SO MUCH!!!!!

MAHAL KO KAYO LAHAT!!!!

Sister Morton

January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!!!!

This week went by really fast! New Years was nice. We went to our stake presidents house for dinner on New Years Eve. We had to be home by six thirty though (on New Years Day too) Bedtime was at ten thirty as usual, but it was harder to fall asleep with all the fireworks going off. They LOVE fireworks here! And by fireworks I mean mostly small bombs- SO LOUD! :)At midnight I woke up again because of all of the "bombs" going off, for literally 15 minutes straight. It sounded like WW2 outside. No joke!

On New Years day we went out teaching, including Jerwin. He set a baptismal goal date, and he seems really excited about it. He is so full of questions I love it! It is the highlight of my week teaching him. Later that day we had dinner with the senior sisters who live next door to us. They are so great! They have definitely been lifesavers for me. It's nice to get home cooked food every once in awhile, and by home I mean home home. :)

I miss you all so so much! I hope you all have a great year and I'll be home next year! Not too much longer ;)

MAHAL KITA!!!!

Sister Morton