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