So for that reason, I'm gonna be a Wiccan. (HAPPY NEW YEAR!)

This one may turn out to be kinda long. Surprise surprise! 

Starting with the big news....transfer news came out on Saturday night. Turns out I'm staying in Woodstock Virginia!! Anddddd, drumroll please....I finally get to keep one of my companions!! Sister Beus and I are excited to share this next transfer. We've already got so many goals and plans! 2020 is gonna be a very exciting and spiritually uplifting year. I hope y'all are ready!

So I had a series of really cool experiences that I wanted to share. In an effort to not make this email pages upon pages long, I'll stick with my favorite two or three. 

1. Sister Beus is a bit of a perfectionist. She loves to do everything with exactness. She needs checklists and guidelines for anything and everything. You could say I'm the yin to her yang. 

So we met this sweet lady and gave her a Families and Temple pamphlet but her friend walked up so we said see ya later! And put a note to come back to her when we're back in her area. On the way home, Sister Beus was silent. This usually means that she is beating herself up for not doing one little thing, so I decided to start singing to ease her tension and worry.  Lo and behold, I picked "Scatter Sunshine" a lovely little hymnal that I actually don't know too well. However, as soon as I started singing she gasped and said "What?!" Apparently, her friend had told her before she left, that missionary work is not just about baptizing and preaching, but about "scattering sunshine wherever you go!" It was a nice reminder to her to not worry about all the little details. And a blessing for me to be able to use music to help someone.  

2. Bishop Wright was giving us names of people to go see and he could not for the life of him, remember the name of someone's boyfriend! He had it on the tip of his tongue so many times and it was just eluding him! So we're sitting there just talking about the people and all of a sudden I just say "Carlos" and Bishop immediately jumped up and said "YES CARLOS!!! HOW DID YOU KNOW?" It literally just sprung to my mind so I said it. Crazy how the Lord works through you. 

3. And finally, a few mornings ago I was studying and I just decided to share the scriptures I found (in Doctrine and Covenants 88) with Sister Beus. Well turns out that the scriptures I shared with her were the exact ones our mission president had shared with her in their interview! My sweet sweet, angelic companion often beats herself up about the silliest things. I absolutely love it when the Lord allows me to comfort her when she is struggling. It is one of my greatest joys as a missionary! 

Some other exciting news, Nate Berry GOT BAPTIZED! And he received the gift of the Holy Ghost and the Aaronic Priesthood!!! It has been a super exciting week filled with spiritual power and the love of God. It was definitely a first for me, baptism in the river on Christmas day and whatnot, but also soooo cool! And my friend that the Elders are teaching got baptized as well! It was a week full of baptisms. I actually had the neat experience to sing at two of them. Nate's baptism was short because it was cold, but two other people invited me to sing at their baptisms. The first was a guy who has had a rough life. His wife is actually a new member of the church as well. I sang "Be Still My Soul" for that one and both he and his wife cried through the whole thing. It was so tender. And then Sister Beus and I sang "When I Am Baptized" at the other baptism and Troy, the one who was being baptized, cried through that one too. Music is such a sacred gift from our Heavenly Father. I honestly don't know what I would do or who I would be without music. I've often said that music is the language of my soul. I firmly believe that. Music speaks to people in a way that pure words cannot. The Heavenly hosts sang at Jesus Christ's birth. And many other times in the Bible. Think of hearing their song. How powerful would that be? 

One last amazing experience for the week, (I'll have to pick just one from the many.) We went to go see a friend last night, but she turned out to not be home, so we walked over to her neighbor's house instead. Her neighbor's name is Ethel, and boy can that lady talk. Soooo much! You just have to nod your head and smile and she'll talk until the cows come home and then she'll talk some more. So this time when we went, I made it my goal to teach her something and leave her with at least a pamphlet or something. I see the needs she has and I just want to hand her the gospel on a silver platter with her name on it. But anywho, every time she would pause to take a breath (which wasn't that often, surprisingly,) I would jump in with some sort of gospel topic or quote or scripture. In the end, I actually gave her almost a full lesson and we left her with "The Family: A Proclamation" to read. Thank goodness we all need air to survive, otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to introduce Ethel to some awesome points of the gospel! 

Well, I think that's it for now all! Happy New Year! Set some spiritual goals for yourself! 2020 is gonna be an exciting year! 

I love you all! Have a blessed week!

Love, Sister Morrison 

Onward and Upward! 

Merry Christmas

3 Nephi 5:13 

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."

Merry Christmas my beloved friends!

How absolutely astounding and wonderful is it that this very Wednesday we get to celebrate the birth of our Lord, our Savior, our elder brother, Jesus the Christ? 

This week has definitely been magical. Just yesterday we met many wonderful people who were in need of God's word. We found Ben, the friend of someone we're teaching, who was so solid and we were excited to teach but we had no contact info for him! And lo and behold, as we're walking away from yet another closed door, here comes the man himself waltzing out to his car! We have an address and that is amazing! 

We also met a new friend who speaks french, and I got to break out what little french I remember from Madame B's class in high school. Luckily I have been reading Le Livre de Mormon so I knew a couple of gospel terms as well! So I told him that we would be back with a copy of Le Livre de Mormon and a member who speaks better french than I. Pretty neat! I love languages! Isn't it neat that we all have different languages all around the world? But you know what's always super easy to understand? Jesus's name. Almost always. 

This week I've never gotten so many hugs from random kids than ever in my life! Just yesterday five kiddos came running up and put their arms around my legs! Something about a hug from a kid makes your day so much brighter. Kids are such a blessing! 

We had Zone Conference this past week and it was so amazing! At lunchtime, our mission president, President Mutombo, came running out in a Santa suit yelling, "Look its black Santa! I'm visiting while on my way to Africa!" And he had a belt of jingle bells so he would shake his hips and jingle all around. By far one of the highlights of my mission. We also got to talk about the birth of our precious Savior and how to help others recognize the importance of the season. The Spirit was so strong in that room. When the Stake President walked in he said that it felt like he was walking on holy ground. It's a powerful experience to be in a room with 30 other missionaries and have them bear their testimonies of Jesus Christ. Isn't it amazing that we know who Jesus Christ is? Not only did he work miracles when alive but he offers us the chance to overcome physical and spiritual death, caused by the fall of Adam and Eve. ETERNAL LIFE is not cheap my friends. And yet, out of pure, unadulterated, and deep love for each one of us singularly, we are able to have these gifts. The best gifts any of us have ever received came at the highest cost. The greatest sacrifice any parent has ever made for their children came from our Eternal, Omnipotent Father. The first Christmas Eve was celebrated by none, other than an extremely pregnant woman, her new husband and the animals who witnessed. As said in 'The Living Christ,' "God be thanked for the matchless gift of his divine Son."

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I'll be spending Christmas by the riverside, watching Nate be baptized. My favorite Christmas gift has been seeing him completely light up and become so much happier as he comes closer to Jesus Christ. I can't wait for Christmas!!! 

I wish I had more to say but I don't. Sorry y'all! Send questions so I can answer and know what you want to hear about it! 

I love you all!

Love, Sister Morrison 

Onward and Upward!

Uhhhhhh what are you doing with my broom?

Hey fan club!

Another wonderful week in beautiful Woodstock! We'll see how much I can remember because I haven't written in my journal for a while, but maybe a shorter email will be a good thing. 

So part of the reason that I haven't written in my journal is because I actually started the 12 Days of Christmas Book of Mormon challenge. Basically you read the Book of Mormon in 12 days and on Christmas Eve, you finish and pray about it. I did it with my mom last year maybe, or maybe two years ago, and it was awesome! You really get an idea of how the history of the people matches up. Plus it's super sweet to say that I read the Book of Mormon in 12 days haha. I'm in Alma now. You all should try it sometime. I promise its worth it!

This week was also exchanges. My new Sister Training Leaders are awesome! We had quite the interesting day. It started it off alright, until we knocked on a guys door and he answered, not only with a cigarette in hand, but also he was wearing tighty whities. That were red. Needless to say, it was a quick visit haha. Then we went back to their house for lunch, and I was barely touching anything because they said they may or may not have bedbugs. How exciting huh? I was not going to bring those home with me. No thank you! After lunch we met some members who were awesome. The visit started off really normal, "where you from? What area did you serve in before this?" Etc... but the whole time he kept talking about his basement. So finally I got the hint and asked if he had recently finished or remodeled it. He said no which surprised me, but he invited us to come see it. Which we did. Turns out, he has a room 100% dedicated to his favorite thing ever. Guess what that is? If you guessed Hot Wheels (toy cars,) give yourself a high five! He had all four walls covered in Hot Wheels cars, blimps, scooters, boats, and even a couple of space ships. He had cars from 1965 to present day. Crazy, right?! Some of those cars were well over a few hundred dollars and the real question I had was, who buys toy cars for more than $2? I guess it's like any collectible. But really I was shocked! The best part was that he actually gave me one of his cars! I have the first of my very own collection now. Please send Hot Wheels for Christmas!

My favorite spiritual moment this week... I was having a rough day, and I was getting irritated. But Sister Beus and I were sitting in the car with twenty minutes to go before we had to head home and I was fuming and trying to stay quiet so I didn't snap at her, but she hates silence and so she kept asking me questions. And then she asked if she did something to upset me and I got more irritated at myself, so I said no. And she said are you sure? And I said sorry, but seriously no. And somehow after her prodding me and asking more questions and stuff she got me to bear my testimony of our Savior to her and the Spirit was just testifying so hard of the truth that I was saying and it was awesome and she was crying and said I know how you feel. I love Jesus too! It was cute that she thought she knew what I felt but it was nice to hear her testimony. I think everything that I and we as a family have been through have deepened my testimony so much, that when I have doubts or I'm confused, I immediately turn to Jesus the Christ. We memorized the Living Christ together and jeepers it's so cool! I definitely feel super blessed to know my Savior personally. 

Anywho, I felt the most peace when I was praying one night and I was just pouring out my soul and it was like someone was kneeling right next to me, with His arms around my shoulders. It was like an angel was there, and not just the one, it was like angels were all around me. In the song "A Child's Prayer" I was always so confused when it said "Some say that Heaven is far away, but I feel it close around me as I pray" because I didn't know how to put myself into Heaven, but then I realized that I can't put myself in Heaven. Heavenly Father has to reach down and extend His love to me. As it says in Jesus the Christ "So, for the advancement of man from his present fallen and relatively degenerate state to the higher condition of spiritual life, a power above his own must cooperate." 

We had dinner was with this adorable old couple. They actually had some sweet news. They're serving their second couple mission in Japan! (Shout out to Elder Frischknecht! They're coming your way in February!)

After dinner, we enjoyed walking through the neighborhood as a helicopter shined a massive spotlight throughout the city. Luckily no one ran past (or toward) us, but hopefully they found the guy. 

I think the crowning moment of the night was when my Sister Training Leader told me her greatest fear was Frosty the Snowman. I'm serious. Terrified. Of a snowman. I almost peed myself laughing so hard. And the funniest part of it all was that here in Virginia, literally EVERYONE has snowmen decorations for Christmas. So every 10 feet, we'd see a new snowman and I would bust out laughing again at her horrified expression.  

We also had interviews with my mission president, and boy oh boy do I love that man. He exudes Christ-like love and humility. He is the best man I've ever had the pleasure of meeting! (Aside from my dad) He has a contagious smile that can't help but lift your soul. I'm so super lucky! 

We also got to go to the river to pick out the spot that our friend Nate will be baptized. I'm still in shock with that one, and he asked us to be his witnesses! Oh brother! It's gonna be soooo cold! But SO worth it! I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present! Helping someone come closer to Jesus Christ like that is the most joy anyone can feel! 

We got a sprinkling of snow and then rain over the top of that. But it all froze so when we went outside this morning to go get groceries, our car was a solid ice block. It was awesome! 

Speaking of awesome, we got to go to a members home to decorate sugar cookies. It's one of my absolute favorites things to do at Christmas time, so it was a tender mercy when Brother Jensen asked if we wanted to. And then they gave us Christmas stockings. I'm being showered with love from Heavenly Father and from the members and it's so cool! Honestly, I'm so blessed to be serving the Lord at Christmas time. I LOVE IT! 

Come closer to the Savior this Christmas season my sweet friends! He is the source of true and everlasting joy. I know with my whole soul that He is the root of peace and pure love. 

Have a blessed week! Only 9 days til Christmas! Woohoo! 

Love, Sister Morrison 

Onward and Upward! 

I felt some weird social cues that kind of turned me off

Family and friends!

Quick side note: for those of you who are new or just never realized it, every subject title of my emails is a quote from the week. This one is from one of my Zone Leaders. He cracks me up. 

First of all, Kenady, my baby sister, is now 12 (as of Friday) and that's far too old! Sometimes I forget that time doesn't stop while I'm here. Oh whale. I'll get used to it I guess. 

This week was busy busy busy! We helped decorate a crap ton of Christmas trees, so I'm definitely in the Christmas mood. A member in our ward asked us to help her put up her Christmas tree, but when we got there, not only was there two, but she had zero clue where the lights and ornaments were. Luckily we were able to locate them quickly after a fun scavenger hunt around her house. Each of us took a tree and went to town! After I finished mine she said she wanted it to spin, so her grandson ran out and grabbed a spinning stand. After having half the ornaments fall off on my head, we finally got it perfect for her! All in all, it was a fun couple of hours. (Sheesh Sister Morrison, don't you have better things to do? No, no I don't. Even Jesus loves Christmas trees.) 

Hey and speaking of fun, if you want a good laugh, read Alma 54. It was absolutely cracking me UP during my studies. The scriptures are awesome! 

We also got to see the great Woodstock Christmas parade! There was a long line of floats, with lots of flashing lights. There even was a guy who was dressed up like a Christmas tree! Super awesome! We were able to pass out a lot of Light the World cards! It was a fun and chilly night. 

So once upon a time (last Sunday) I was asked to give a talk. So I did. It went good....? I always feel like when I get up there I stumble over words and repeat myself and sound so silly. This time (the third of my mission so far. Who else has spoken 3 times in almost 6 months? You should try it. It'll be fun!) I spoke about conversion. Interesting for a missionary to speak about this. It's one of our greatest joys and sorrows. Because the straight fact of conversion is that, even though you may desperately want to give your knowledge and testimony love of God to them, only they can learn it and accept it and feel it for themselves. And Heavenly Father delivers solemn witness of the truth via the Holy Ghost! So I play a very small part in the conversion of any of my friends I'm teaching. I cannot tell you how amazing it feels when someone you have been working so hard with finally achieves their goal! For instance, Chris, my friend who was baptized a little while ago, just got the Aaronic priesthood and a church calling! It is soooo amazing seeing how happy he is as he continues on the covenant path. I can't even begin to express how awesome it's going to be to see him and his lovely wife go through the temple! 

On the other hand, it nearly breaks my heart when someone we had been working with decides to stop meeting with us. It's like my own family is leaving. 

Hence the importance of being truly converted to the Lord. He will not fail you. He will not break. He will not disappoint you! If you have full faith in Him, your foundation will be stronger than the test of time and trial. 

As Helaman 5:12 says "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

Jesus Christ is the eternal and most perfect gift we have ever received. How awesome that we get to celebrate that beautiful gift all month long! Don't you just love Jesus Christ? That may sound so completely juvenile, but I'm serious. Every time I share a message about my Lord and Savior I have pure joy bubbling up from my heart. 

Remember that I love you all and so does your Heavenly Father! Remember the purpose of this season and please take time to breathe and let the magic of this time of year fill your heart with peace! 

Anywho! Merry Christmas! Have a great week everybody! 

Love, Sister Morrison 

Onward and Upward!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Welcome to the Christmas season!

Literally the night we got home from Thanksgiving, we walked in and looked at each other and then I turned on what little Christmas music I actually have and we decorated for Christmas! We actually found quite a bit of Christmas decor! We have 5 trees so far. One 3 ft sparkly pink one, one 3 ft purple one, two mini Christmas trees and one GIANT one that is actually paper that Sister Beus' family sent her. 

We're just having a blast over here in Woodstock! We already have one guy who wants to be baptized! But here's the catch.....he wants to be baptized. In the river. On Christmas day. Soooooooo that's gonna be an absolute blast! Our poor bishop was asked to do it, so he gets to wade into the frigid waters. What a story though, right? 

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving this past Thursday! I'm grateful for all of you and your support! Y'all are the best

So here's a fun story from this week. We went to go see some recent converts, who are 8 and 9. They have a TON of energy! The little rascals were literally bouncing off the walls the entire time we were there! Every five minutes their grandpa would quiet them down and tell em to shut it. But it was very fun. We had them running and jumping and dancing and singing. By far the most interactive lesson I've ever had. And then, of course, the sweet little girl drew me a dinosaur picture! The cutest thing ever! I decided I really love dinosaurs. They're freaking awesome! 

One thing I wanted to share was about is Light the World. Yes, my friends! It's that time of year again! I am PUMPED!! And I just wanted to talk briefly about the Nativity video. I'm sure you've heard a lot about it, but what I absolutely adore about it, happens towards the end. The wise man comes to kneel before a young boy after traveling so far for so long and simply weeps. His tears are a testament to me that he truly loves and admires Heavenly Father's sacred gift to the world. He knelt before the young boy Jesus Christ and recognized him for the peace and hope that he would bring. Do we in this time of year, recognize and follow Jesus Christ? Just as the wise men were seeking after this precious lil baby, we too must search for Him. He offers us so much. Let us offer ourselves as his tools. I get to be his representative everyday, and I have found only joy in serving Him. I am truly humbled and blessed to be a part of this great work to light the world. Join me! 

Have a great week everybody! You're all amazing little lights shining to the world! I hope you keep on shining brighter and brighter! I love you all so very much! Thank you for your prayers.

Love, Sister Morrison 

Onward and Upward!