Fear not little flock

This week has been full of so many miracles. I am training a new missionary, and have been very scared ever since President called last Monday. However, Heavenly Father has helped immensely. 

During the "Meet your companion" meeting on Thursday Sister Stratford challenged all of us to have the new missionary extend a baptism invitation to an investigator before Sunday. The prayers for that started immediately. On Saturday we had a surprise lesson with one of our new investigators found the previous week, and Sister Hansen was able to extend a baptismal invitation!! The best part is that she said yes! We are praying that she will continue to progress. After the lesson we were so so happy! I am so grateful that the Lord answers prayers and provides opportunities to share the gospel with others. 

On Sunday we had set a goal to find 2 new investigators, and by 8 we hadn't found anyone. However, the Lord helped us so much! We were walking to a street to start knocking on it, and saw two women sitting on their porch talking. We embraced the awkward and walked up a very steep set of stairs to reach them. One of them told us that she grew up in Arizona, and was very familiar with the Church. She even has a CTR ring from when she was 9 haha! She lived with her daughter and grandchildren. We met two of the granddaughters. They all talked with us for about 45 minutes, and then invited us back!! We are so excited to share about Jesus Christ's restored gospel with them! :) I am still in awe with how incredible that miracle was. 

One of my favorite scriptures from the Doctrine and Covenants is section 6 verses 33,34,36. This is the Savior speaking:

"Fear not to do good, my sons, or whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."

I know that the Lord is right there helping us along. I have felt that and His love so strongly this past week. Thank you all for your prayers and support!! Have a happy happy week!! 

Love,

Sister Morris

PS

I only have 9 months left of being in Ohio...time goes by WAY too fast!!! 

Another one bites the dust...

Hello hello!!

This week had some really great moments. :) It had been really hard all week getting people to agree to letting us teach them again. People would let us into their home, be completely intrigued by the message of the restoration, and then would never set up specific times for us to come back! They all just said, "come back anytime you are in the area". We had only found one new investigator all week and were getting kind of discouraged, wondering what we were doing wrong. On Sunday we went tracting in this super ghetto trailer park and found a two miracle investigators. One of them is a man who hasn't been to church for 15 years, but he really wants to start going again. He was really excited to set up a return appointment. :) The second was a young mom who we street contacted. She was just standing on the stairs leading to her trailer. She told us that something told her to stand outside and wait for us to come talk to her. She has gone through a lot the past two years and is wanting to find more happiness. She said that we were a sign from God of what path would help her find that joy. :) We are so excited to start teaching these two miracle people!! Even if they don't both reach baptism at this point in life, I know that we were led to them specifically on Sunday, and I have faith that if they don't now, they will at another time. :) It is the Lord's work and His timing, we just have to be willing instruments to help out. :) 

Sister Johnson is being transferred :( We have become best of friends! I know she will be amazing wherever she is sent. It is unusual for a misisonary to stay in an area for 4 transfers, but I am really excited to spend more time in Zanesville!! :)

Thanks for all your prayers and support! I know this is the Lord's work. I know that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ brings everlasting happiness to families. I am so grateful to be here in Ohio seeing His miracles take place everyday. :) 

Love you all!!

Sister Morris

Be Happy:)

Hello!! This was a great week! Sister Johnson and I have two progressing investigators, Liz and Loma. They are both super sweet older ladies and we love them lots! Some exciting and weird things that happened this week are that we got smart phones...weird! Pray that I don't drop it ;) and it has snowed buckets on us!! However, 2 feet of snow is a miracle when you're on a mission. So many service opportunities!!  

I am grateful for our prophet, President Nelson. I know that he is called by God to lead us and teach us about our Savior. 

I hope y'all have a happy week!!! Thanks for all the love and support! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST MOM EVER!!!!   

Love,

Sister Morris

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ckzak91woyqv4s1/20180111_152738.mp4?dl=0

Oh, for corn’s sake!

Hello hello wonderful people!!

I am so grateful for President Monson and all that he did for the Lord and for us. He was an amazing man and an amazing prophet of God. I am so grateful to know that the priesthood keys are still on the earth and that the Lord's work will go on! :)

This week was full of miracles! We have been doing family history with Jane lately, and on Saturday she was able to take some names to the temple. Two of the people she brought were her father and her grandmother (who raised her). It was such a special experience. As the man who volunteered to be baptized for Jane's dad got in the water, Jane had a huge smile on her face and got emotional. She had her hand over her heart as she watched the ordinance being performed for her dad. :) She was just glowing while she was being baptized for her relatives. It was the most spiritual experience I have had while being on my mission. I am so grateful for the temple and for the blessings it provides for everyone. 

We were also able to go to the temple today for SIster Johnson's 6 month mark...WOOT WOOT!!!

I have gained a very strong testimony that God hears and answers all prayer no matter how small the reason for praying may be. Our upstairs sink had been clogged for about two weeks, and I got tired of looking at nasty water so I decided to try and fix it. If you know me, you know that I am horrible at fixing anything...in fact I could probably win a gold metal for breaking things. ;) Anyways, I looked at the sink completely clueless as to what to do, and thought, "Heavenly Father knows how to fix this sink. I am gonna ask Him to show me how." So I said a prayer asking for help. As soon as I opened my eyes I saw a spinning lever thing. I felt confident that was the thing that would fix the sink. I have absolutely no clue what it was, but spinning it and letting the sink drain fixed the problem! Our sink works great now. :) Hahaha!! So I just hope you all know how much Heavenly Father cares about you and how badly He wants to help you in ALL situations of your life. :) 

I hope you all have a happy week and take time to laugh. Be grateful for the things you do have! 

Love,

Sister Morris

PS

Thank you so much CC 8th ward primary and 17/18 sunday school class! Your notes and pictures made my day!! Love you all! 

PPS

My new favorite Ohio phrase is, "oh, for corn's sake!"

Miracles and Snow

I have never been more thankful for long-johns in my whole life...it has been frigid the past week! Sister Johnson and I ran out of miles, so we have had to walk nearly everywhere (added up to 36 miles) in single digit and sometimes negative weather...but it has been one of the happiest weeks of my life!! :) There is just something about serving the Lord and testifying of Jesus Christ that brings a smile to your face and your heart. 

We have experienced some pretty great miracles. I will just share yesterday with you all because it was incredible. Each district in the mission has been given a specific finding focus, and our district has been assigned to focus on finding through people who had taken discussions in the past, but stopped for whatever reason. We had a whole bunch of former investigators in our plans to visit throughout the day. However, the day before we had spent a lot of time doing online proselyting (because we were not allowed outside) and we found a Swedish man that we are now teaching! So the day started off teaching him a little bit about the restoration. He has a very strong desire to know if God is there. Anyways, (sorry my brain is all over the place right now) we got to work knocking on doors. Every single person we talked to yesterday was happy to see us and so unbelievably kind. We got 4 new investigators in one day! It was miraculous!! It is so amazing how God inspires us to focus on certain aspects to do His work more efficiently. I know that President Stratford was inspired to have our district focus on finding through formers. It has resulted in so many miracles! 

Another fun miracle from last night did't result in a new investigator, but it did result in several hugs...which is almost as good. ;) There was a woman looking into the hood of her car, and us being the mechanics that we are asked her for help. ;) she looked super freaked out at first, and then when we introduced ourselves she got SO excited and happy. She wrapped us both in a big bear hug and started going off about how good of a thing we are doing serving missions. She then asked if she could pray for us...we said yes, and she hugged us again and said the sweetest prayer! Ah it was a sweet sweet miracle. :) 

I absolutely love being here. I love every aspect of the work, and I love my Savior so much!! I hope you all have a super happy week! Enjoy the new year! I invite all of you to read the entire Book of Mormon in the year of 2018 underlining all of the times the authors testify of Jesus Christ. I promise that your testimonies of the Savior will increase dramatically as you do so. :) It is something I have done while on my mission. 

Anyways, I hope you all have a great week!! 

Much love,

Sister Morris