Sweet Tender Mercies

Hey!

I hope y'all have had an awesome week! On Tuesday, I left my Macon sisters and picked up my new companion. Her name is Sister Wall and she is such a rock star. She claims Colorado, but has lived in various places because her dad is military. Her personality is so animated and she is eager to share the gospel. I feel blessed to be with her. I am grateful heavenly Father knows me perfectly, because He has put me in a position that's allowed me to recognize how much I understand about the gospel. Training has forced me to stretch myself, open my mouth, and discover how capable I am. I can't think of a better opportunity that would push me the way training has. I just love it and I am grateful the Lord trusts me to do it!

This week we found so many people to teach! My favorite experience was a woman who had recently moved in. She invited us inside to share our message. We taught her about the Restoration and the history of the Bible and the Book of Mormon. She cried because the spirit was so strong and she loves it! She is reading and praying to know that it is true. She mentioned that she had been cleaning all day and right before we knocked, she was talking to the cross hung up in her bathroom. God is so good. 

We felt prompted to visit a woman we had met 2 weeks prior at UPS. She was so happy to see us again, she couldn't believe we came back. We briefly explained the Book of Mormon and invited her to read it. She cried as we were talking with her too!! The spirit is so cool, we are going to find her and teach her this week!

Last night we were proselyting on a street and almost every door invited us back! A woman came to the door of one of the houses we knocked. Her birthday was the day before and she had family coming over soon, so we asked if we could pray with her. I was always hesitant to pray out loud and in the company of others before my mission. It's progressively gotten better with time, but this is the first week I have been so willing and happy to say the prayer. She asked me if I would say it so I did. When I finished, I opened my eyes and noticed her head was still down. When she lifted it up she mouthed "thank you" and wiped a tear from her eye. My heart was so full. Simple and sweet tender mercies like that keep me going. She asked us to come back soon. We had almost finished on that street when a man we met two weeks back recognized us and pulled over. He reminded us he is still reading and has not forgotten about us. He even had his Book of Mormon sitting on the passenger seat!

I learned a lot about myself this week. I realized, if I learn visually then I should be teaching visually! Even the savior taught in parables. I am so grateful for the experiences I have had this week, and the people we have met. The gospel is great, the mission is awesome, and the people are better!

This week was jam packed with blessings and love! I hope y'all recognize the miracles in your life this week! 

"Count your many blessings; name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

Alma 34:38

"That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

I love y'all!

Sister Morrill

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I'm Expecting!

Hey y'all!

I hope your week has been peachy keen! This week I received the news that I'll be training for the upcoming transfer! I'm so excited! Here in the mission trainers are "moms", so I am switching roles with Sister Blackburn but having my own! Transfers are Tuesday, so for now I am staying in Macon.

We dropped Sister Blackburn off at the mission home and the Macon sisters picked me up on Sunday. It's been so much fun, Sister Anderson and Sister Rowland are awesome. Yesterday we taught two girls about the Book of Mormon and put them on date to be baptized! I'm so excited for them.

Yesterday at church, we had 3 investigators attend! One brought his sweet daughter too. We also had two less actives decide to come. One is very ill with cancer, but she knows where she wanted to be on Sunday. Her son drove her, and he learned about the Plan of Salvation during Gospel Principles class. The other less active is a nice man we met on Wednesday and the way we found him is amazing.

On Wednesday we had our day packed with plans, and it was P day. So we found out our P day would end at 1, then our evening appointment cancelled, our Relief Society meeting was rescheduled, and shortly after that our dinner appointment was cancelled too. We decided the Spirit was calling, so we prayed about where we were supposed to be. We headed to a place right before the border of our area. We had never been there before, so we parked and started walking. We eventually came across a man who joined the church in 2008! He hasn't been back in about 5 years, but expressed desire in returning. He remembers the missionaries who taught him and the core beliefs, but struggles with understanding the doctrine. He talked with us about his life and was very open about what he needs to work on and what he has been through. It was so cool though because he was so excited to see us! He said, "I know it is no coincidence that you are here, because last night I prayed to God. I told Him I need some help because I am headed down the wrong path". We invited him to come to dinner at a members house on Friday with us and he came! On Sunday the members picked him up for church!

Mosiah 26:20

"Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and shalt gather together my sheep."

Aint no greater joy than bringing lost sheep home and building up God's kingdom!

On Thursday we had dinner with a couple that always gives us places to find service opportunities. After dinner we shared the 13 Articles of Faith with them and gave them a copy of the Book of Mormon and he promised to read it! She was raised Baptist but they are both Methodist now. It's cool though because he really loved one of the churches he went to because they had communion every Sunday. We go to church to remember our Savior and the Atoning sacrifice he made so we may be clean!! We invited him to come to church, and he said he would come sometime. They are seriously such a kind couple. We love them!

D&C 18:10

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;"

Every single child is precious in the eyes of God, and no mistake can ever diminish the value we are to him. Know your worth!!

I love y'all, have a blessed week!!

Sister Morrill

1. Trainer meeting

2. Cute kids in the Projects who ran over to us yelling "Jesus card!!"

3. So long,

4. Farwell!

Light Of The World

Hey y'all! 

I hope you're enjoying the week! I also hope you've avoided any personal encounters with hurricane Irma, but if that's not the case then welcome to the club. Fortunately the damage it did here in Swainsboro isn't too bad. We lost power for a little bit on Monday, and half of our area has yet to gain it back. On the BRIGHT side, it allows us to get creative when meeting with investigators and I think people feel more inclined to speak with us... seeing as their options are slim.

But who needs power when Jesus Christ is our light! (using it to our advantage) 

This week our branch president adopted a baby girl and the couple that recently moved in announced they're pregnant! I feel so excited for them!!! Families are such a blessing and I know I hit the jackpot with mine before we came here.

This week we taught one of our investigators about pre-earth life. Yes sir, we lived with God before we came here. He said that he believes we were made from the dust. We taught him about God's plan of salvation for us or "the plan of happiness" as I prefer to call it. God created us in His own image and we chose to come to earth, so that we may find happiness and gain experience in this life! He loves us so much that He has given us our agency to choose, and as we choose to follow Him, He blesses us! 

John 6:38

"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

During our lesson he asked us how we could change what a person knows from what they've grown up learning, when they're rooted in their beliefs. I told him, "The great joy of missionary work, is that we don't because the Spirit does! The spirit testifies of truth, our job is to proclaim and teach it!" Which I for one am grateful for, because I know heavenly Father doesn't give us any commandments we can't obtain and maintain. (I don't know how to re-wire another persons thought process, and He doesn't expect me to).

Before we left we asked if there is anything we can do for him, he looked frustrated and said, "Can you just believe what I believe?". Ah! He knows it's true! In my humble opinion the only thing comparable to feeling the spirit myself, is helping someone else feel it. 

The plan of salvation is simple and I can sum it up with one word, love.

Life is a joy, especially if you know what you're living for!

I'm grateful for y'all, have a blessed week!

Sister Morrill

1. Bun in the oven??

2. Last week with my "mom"!!!

3. Lock down for Irma

4. District meeting in Augusta

I asked them to get on the chair for a grandparent pic :))

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So studious

Killed Off My Trainer

Hey!

I hope y'all enjoyed your Labor Day! Public libraries were closed, so we enjoyed ours fishing with a member!

This week we had exchanges. Sister Paulson came to Swainsboro and we organized half a storage unit full of peanut butter by expiration date. I've never seen so many different brands and styles, I think my favorite was a Reeses jar that was actually half consumed. That student was so determined to win, he even donated the used jar from his pantry! The schools around here had a competition to see who could donate the most peanut butter and long story short, its safe to say everyone participated.

On Sunday, while we were knocking doors we came across a man sitting outside. He was so excited to see us, he invited us inside to talk to everyone. When we got inside we realized it is a home for elderly mentally disabled individuals. We sat down and began to talk to them and the female worker was half engaged. After a little bit she stood up and directed us to the other half of the house where the women stay. She lead us to a woman who was sitting on a couch studying and writing. We sat down and the female worker joined us, but this time she asked us questions. I noticed a shift in interest after we mentioned we don't believe in paid ministry. She opened up to us and we talked about the Restoration. Before we left, we gave her a Book of Mormon and she asked for a Bible for her mom! I think she wanted to see if we actually read out of the King James version or not, but either way I am glad she asked! She has young children and works a lot, so it's cool we met her while she was at work. She was so excited and eager to learn more.

I feel like we meet the most receptive people at the end of the neighborhoods we start in. Every day is different, but that is a patter that seems to occur more often than not. Consistency is key and knowing that every door is another opportunity to share the Gospel helps me maintain diligence. Whether they choose to listen or not, I know the Gospel is true, and I will continue to work!

"Don't lean on a shovel and pray for a hole"

Isaiah 52:7

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"

ing that ever

Have a blessed week y'all! (I'll be emailing next Wednesday)

Sister Morrill

1. Last P day in Ohoopee Dunes!

2. Caught 2 fish and a snack for the cat!

3. Last district meeting of the transfer

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