Coker Sprang Forward!

Hey y'all!

I hope y'all had a wonderful two weeks, I apologize for not writing last week. I was transferred last Tuesday from South Carolina, right back to South Carolina! Sister Whitworth and I white washed into Coker Springs :) She is from Southern California and I love her! We actually served in the same district when I was serving in Cochran.

We had a fun week :) From what we understand it has been a couple of months since Elders last served here and Sisters haven't served here for a while. Swainsboro, my first area, is actually in the Augusta Stake!! So I am happy to be back here because this stake is incredible. The members share the gospel left and right & I love the Spirit I feel here :)

This area is a little different, we are sharing a car with the Elders haha. We switch off weekly, so we walked a lot this week(We tried to bike, but thats a story for another time).

On Friday, we went to use the wifi at Walmart and while we were there we kept seeing the same man pass us several times. As we were walking home through the parking lot, a car pulled over and it was him! He asked if we needed a ride, which would make him around the 10th person to offer this week. Southern people are so generous! We told him we were glad he stopped because we actually wanted to invite him to church. His name is Brother Mendoza & he was interested so we left him with the church address and got his contact information!

Sunday afternoon (Sacrament is at 1PM here) we were pleasently surprised when we discovered it was the Primary program! As we were singing the first song, I thought about Brother Mendoza and wondered if he was there. He seemed sincere about coming, so after I glanced around I decided he was either not there or I could not see him. I looked out the doors and saw a man who looked like him in a suit, I nudged Sister Whitworth and she immediately waved him over. I was glad she was certain that was him because I couldn't tell. We were so excited he came!! He seemed to really enjoy the program and even stayed for the following class and the ward pot luck. I think more people introduced themseleves to him than us! Haha it was definitely a great note to end the week on, this ward is so much fun.

I love the play on words in this verse

  
Alma 7:20
"I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round"

I hope y'all have a great Thanksgiving! I love y'all :)
Sister Morrill

Fluffy

Happy November!!

I hope Halloween was good to each of y'all :) We had a wonderful week full of tricks & treats... (candy) corny ;) but really. 

The highlights of last week include watching 2 people enter the waters of baptism!!! Also finding 2 more people who have desires to learn, and y'all they're incredible! 

Cori's baptismal service was on Saturday & teaching her has been such a joy, I feel lucky to have stayed here to be apart of her journey :) After she was baptized she described her feelings in one word, "fluffy" haha! She was most excited for her "baptism by fire" and I think every single individual felt the Spirit fill the room as she was confirmed. Cori is special, honestly her whole family is! And we were so excited to see her friend, Juliet, at her service to support her. We hope we can teach Juliet's family and that Cori will want to come with us! 

On Sunday, Recruit Grizzard was baptized at Parris Island! It was an incredible experience because he was baptized right before the Sacrament and all of the recruits were there to support him! Then he was confirmed after the Sacrament was passed :) Okay but what I find cool about him is that he is from Cochran, my last area! I remember meeting his older brother a couple of months back with Sister Smith! Recruit Grizzard learned a little bit about our beliefs from his girlfriend & her family before coming to training on base! He has been dating the Stake President's daughter, a young woman from Cochran! She is one of my favorite people, she is an incredible member missionary! She recently got her mission call to California. 

We started teaching Recruit Johnson on Sunday and she has a unique situation. She is engaged to a member, Ammon (haha), and has been searching for peace her entire life. Before she came to base she was reading in the Book of Mormon, but when her mom found out she threatened to kick her out if she kept reading. Buuuuut, now she is free to read at her leisure :) She has some challenging questions, but we are grateful because she asks with an open mind. She's just very intelligent haha, but we love every opportunity to rely on the Spirit! Her fiance recently moved to Utah, so that is where she is will return.

We also had dinner with member family yesterday and the daughters boyfriend said he would like us to teach him! He works nightshift, which is perfect for our schedule haha. We are excited to teach him at their home :)

This week is transfer calls, so next preparation day I will know where I will spend my last 5 weeks in the mission! Can y'all believe that??? Ah!

Have a wonderful week... or not, the choice is yours! ;)

Moroni 7:16
"16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God."

Love y'all,
Sister Morrill

Field Is White & Ready To Harvest

Happy Halloween!!!!

I hope y'all are excited for Halloween :) In my opinion, its an opportunity for all to recieve, even those who put forth the least amount of effort to dress up! I speak from personal experience though, considering one year I stayed in my pajamas all day and thought it could double as my costume. (I still wonder if I recieved less candy that year because of my "costume" or the fact that I was around 16 years old?) Anyways.... I find tomorrow is all around a rewarding day for just about anyone willing to leave their house! But as everything else, it will be whatever you decide to make of it!

This week was great! I have been battling sickness and we had Stake Conference!

Since my mom is a nurse and a practical woman, if we were not bleeding or dying then we were fine. I feel like that perspective has helped me overcome many mental challenges and enabled me to become a dilligent minded individual! However, I currently sound like a male and I have no desire to prolong this virus. I started feeling sick Tuesday night, but then I went to Hilton Head for exchanges Wednesday morning! Sooo on Thursday I went to the doctor and I have only two conclusions as to what is happening.

1. Satan hates me and everything else that is good
2. Shawn is searching for truth

So after I got to the doctor, I see a man who I have seen at least 3 other times since I have been in Beaufort. Shawn took my vitals and in the midst of my anxiety I noticed he was very still. He was just sitting in his chair, looking all calm the way I think all relaxed people do. I asked him what he does to relieve stress. He said he lifts and then he asked me if I enjoy running haha. He then swabbed my throat and left the room to check if I had strep. I didn't notice him come back in until I looked up to see him staring at my name tag. He looked up from my tag and said, "What do Latter-Day Saints believe? I grew up Baptist, but I am curious what you believe". Hahaha I was so thrown off, I just sat there for a minute. That was a loaded question, but I boar my testimony of Jesus Christ and a latter day prophet. He seemed interested, but he directed me to the next room. As I waited for the doctor I thought about what I could share with him that may help him. I offered to bring him back a pamphlet, but I didn't feel like it would really help him. I thought about a scripture I could share and realized it is the entire Book of Mormon that has influenced my life, not one single scripture! So fortunately I had a free downloadable card on me. I share the whole story with y'all to emphasize how my desire to understand him lead to his curiosity in what we believe. I felt like it made him more comfortable openning up to me.

I continue to learn the influence our personal desires have on the choices each of us make in life. I have noticed that outward people, more often than not, have desires to do good which in result.. leads them to do good! Its such a simple principle with such a beautiful reward. It feels good to help people!

On Sunday at Stake Conference, I was touched by a talk the Bishop in Hilton Head gave.

Bishop Masse shared a personal experience about a time in his life when he decided to make a change to become a worthy priesthood holder for his family. As I was listening to his story I was moved by the motive that led him to want to repent. His desire for God to bless his son through him became greater than his desire to do what he wanted to do. His selflessness & humility on the Savior strengthened my testimony of the Atonement.

I have seen the cleansing power of the Atonement bless my life and so many lives of others around me. I am grateful for the Sacrament, that each week we may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost as we remember our Savior & strive to become a little better each day!

1 Nephi 11:2

And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?

Have a safe & happy Halloween y'all! Remember your actions reflect the desires of your heart  may your actions lead you to the person you want to become tomorrow 

I love y'all! Be safe!!!
Sister Morrill