I ont e'en nö

 Well folks

Friends

Family 

Here we are 

Honestly, I wasn't sure how I got here. Now looking back, I can see it a little better. 

I'm not even sure what to say. My heart is at war with itself. 

Here's what I do know:

Heavenly Father loves you and me infinitely. There are not enough words to accurately describe the measure of His love. It's the truest and realest love I have ever felt. 

Jesus Christ is my personal and eternal Savior. Not just for those hard sins or those bad days, but the triumphs and the happiness too. Not just for a slip up once or twice. But for every time. He knows I'm not perfect. He knows I'll fall down. But he helps me back up and helps me see my potential. He sees me as who I am even when I can't, and he treats me like the daughter of Almighty God I was born to be. 

The Holy Spirit is a priceless and precious gift. I'm eternally grateful for his guidance, his patience and long suffering. Without the Spirit we are lost with no way of knowing where to go. 

Honestly, I could go in forever about this stuff. I just spent 18 months of my life learning about it and seeing it work. Ask me and I'll never shut up about it. 

I am changed. I am better. And I'm grateful for your support and prayers on this journey of mine. Never forget that you are not alone. You have 4 people (three of whom I just mentioned and the other being me,) who are always willing and able to help. 

I'll see y'all real real soon! 

Câlins et bisous, Sœur Morrison 

Onward and Upward 

Que Dieu vous bénisse 

I'm pretty sure our neighbors are professional bowlers

 Howdy do 

This email was supposed to be sent last week 

I've still got a final email to write after this one. Just thought I'd send it anyway

I have no idea why I started saying that, or what prompted me to start, but I guess it's happening now because I literally cannot stop. 

Also, I apologize for not sending my email last week. It's been wild these past two weeks. 

Okay so here's the run-down of the last two weeks:

First of all, Adam got BAPTIZED! Craziest baptism ever, and all of my baptisms have been super random and crazy. I've never had a normal baptism. This guy came out of nowhere and wanted to be baptized in .2 seconds. Well, he did and now he's been a member for about a week and a half now and it's fabulous. It was a small and kinda lonely baptism to be honest, with only 5 people. But it was an incredible and exciting experience nonetheless!

Then of course the next day was Thanksgiving and that was wonderful! We had a member offer to bring us food, but it was gonna be like instant potatoes, jarred gravy, and other gross stuff, (sorry to anyone who likes that haha.) Soooooooo we made it all ourselves. Turkey, rolls, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, gravy, pies, and assorted others. It was delicious and a great way to celebrate my official 17 month mark! 

We also got a brand new companion! It's been wild! She's crazy and sassy and I love her! Now I'm in a trio again. We have so much fun and I've been making so much good food! We laugh and talk and we're best friends already and it makes me so happy. She's from Utah (haha dangit) but she's so chill and we are pretty similar. I can be my usual sarcastic and teasing self, and she understands my humor! Her name Sorella Tucker. She is actually called to the Milan Italy mission, so she speaks Italian which is hilarious bc now we have 3 languages in the house so language calls get confusing. We're all learning each other's languages now. It's pretty confusing but I'm okay with it! 

Alma 9:26-27

《Et il ne se passera pas beaucoup de jours que le Fils de Dieu ne vienne dans sa gloire ; et sa gloire sera la gloire du Fils unique du Père, plein de grâce, d’équité et de vérité, plein de patience, de miséricorde et de longanimité, prompt à écouter les supplications de son peuple et à répondre à ses prières.

Et voici, il vient racheter ceux qui seront baptisés au repentir, par la foi en son nom.》

Câlins et bisous, Sœur Morrison 

Onward and Upward 

Que Dieu vous bénisse 

Oh trust me, it's all the Big Man upstairs

 Friends, family, assorted loved ones, 

It has been an amazing week! I can't accurately describe how genuinely happy I've been this week. I have been able to feel true joy as we've been in lessons and meeting with people. It's incredible to understand and know that I am doing the work of the Lord and that He trusts me enough to give me these incredible people who need me right now. That, if nothing else, gives me purpose and worth. I am so incredibly humbled to be loved so deeply. 

I love my companion so much it's scary. She and I just get along so well! We have this unity that I don't even know how we got but I love it! 

ALSO, WE'RE HAVING A BAPTISM ON WEDNESDAY!!! WOOHOOOO!!!

So, let me be the first to say, THANK YOU for your prayers and your faith. I'm amazed and excited that the Lord is trusting us with this miracle. His name is Adam and we met him on Sunday! He's been taught before, way back in February, and has been studying on his own since he lost contact with the previous missionaries. He knows the gospel better than I do sometimes! He basically texted us and said "Hey how do I join your church? I know the Book of Mormon is modern scripture, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of this modern dispensation, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church of God on the Earth." We taught him on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and he received his baptismal interview and passed with flying colors. This man is incredible and I can feel the power of his testimony every time he shares it. It's amazing! 

We're incredibly busy with planning the baptism so I apologize that this is so short, but know I'm happy and healthy, alive and well! 

Oh, also we had Zone Conference and I gave my departing testimony and bawled like a baby so here are some tearful pictures! 

Alma 32:26

《Or, comme je l’ai dit concernant la foi — que ce n’était pas une connaissance parfaite — ainsi en est-il de mes paroles. Vous ne pouvez pas, dès l’abord, savoir à la perfection qu’elles sont sûres, pas plus que la foi n’est une connaissance parfaite.》

Câlins et bisous,

Sœur Morrison 

Onward and Upward 

Que Dieu vous bénisse 

I apologize if I crinkle in the night

 Hey hey family and friends! 

This week has been wild and my memory ran away with it. I'll try my bestest for y'all. 

So, turns out I just love my companion. We are so so similar! We have studies as a companionship every day, and when we get to the part when we talk about our personal studies, we both rant about how much we truly love the gospel! We just bear testimony and feed off of one another's energy. We also take nightly walks and we chat about life and the gospel and our missionary work and breathe in some good clean air. I love this gal! 

The work has been amazing! Truly fulfilling and keeps me very busy for which I am grateful! We are teaching a number of people and I'll list em off, because I would really appreciate a prayer or two for them! Merci beaucoup mon amis! 

Joanne: she's a lovely Bible study lady who we meet with twice every week. She's slowly gaining more trust with us and opening up, and we really want her to be able to come to Church! 

Williams: he's our lil buddy! He's a younger guy, really sweet, and has learned a lot about the gospel. We're hoping to get him on date for baptism really soon! He's almost there! 

Patricia: she's a friend that has been taught before but struggles with remembering everything we teach! Pray that we can meet with her and help her!

Larice: she's new, but we already love her dearly. There is a special light about her and I think she could possibly be one of the happiest people I've ever had the good fortune of meeting. She actually reminds me a lot of my old mission president, Pres Mutombo. 

Thank you for your support and constant prayers, I need them and I'm very grateful for them! 

This week was our very first Bible study class! We have been getting a lot of requests from our friends to do a Bible studies with them, so we came up with a brilliant idea! We invited both members and nonmembers to join us on Friday nights. Hopefully it'll be a good opportunity for everyone to get to know each other and make some new friends. 

To explain the pictures down below, we did indeed paint our wall! Luckily it was only washable paint and we got to clean it up afterwards. It was for a video. Basically, the wall represents our lives. We all start out clean and fresh. And along comes life with its sins, stains, temptations, hate, and a whole lotta other stuff. The bad stuff is represented by the paint. It messes up our perfect lil white wall and we get dirty! Luckily, we have something called the Atonement of Jesus Christ to help us and uplift us. Through Jesus Christ, we can be washed free from sins and be restored to an even brighter and better us! 

We had a ton of fun throwing paint at our wall and we definitely got it in more places than we anticipated it going. We were covered and the carpet is now rainbow colored! 

So yeah, life has been good! We're making delicious food, we're going on long walks, and we're building lifelong friendships out here. I couldn't ask for more! I'm definitely feeling a little bit of sadness and panic set in as the weeks are starting to go by too fast, but I'm also learning how to accept change with grace and dignity and gratitude. What a great time to learn about giving thanks, huh? 

Éther 6:9

《Et ils chantèrent des louanges au Seigneur ; oui, le frère de Jared chantait des louanges au Seigneur, et il remerciait et louait le Seigneur tout le jour ; et lorsque la nuit arrivait, ils ne cessaient de louer le Seigneur.》

Câlins et bisous, Sœur Morrison 

Onward and Upward 

Que Dieu vous bénisse 

Just a lil dino and his buddies

 SO. It's been too long! Let me update you!

Transfers happened; I love my new companion. She's a hoot! We are two peas in a pod. Very very similar! We even sound almost exactly alike! She's sweet as can be and I'm so very excited for this lovely transfer we'll have together! She's from California, so we are fellow west coasters. She was trained by Sister Wood, the first sister I trained. We call our trainers our "mission moms" so technically I'm her "mission grandma" which is so funny! She's an actual angel sent from heaven, and I'm so glad I have Heavenly Father directing us because He knew I needed her in my life. 

Last week was very busy! We went to a harvest farm, carved pumpkins, went shopping, and cleaned the apartment. The harvest farm was adorable! There were so many pumpkins, gourds, flowers, produce, and little farm goodies. It made me miss Bauman's and EZ Orchards. *sigh* But we got to pick out some cute lil pumpkins and we got way too many! We love autumn here in Reisterstown.

We also got some neat news. The Sister Training Leaders called us to tell us that we got a new assignment! We are now the official messenger Sisters! We have a Facebook page for our area that we serve in. When someone comments on a post or messages the page, we get those messages and have to respond and send them off to the missionaries closest to them! It's really exciting! There'll be another weekly meeting to add in, which isn't super exciting, but we get to be busy on the page and work with all the missionaries in our Zone! 

Also, our friend Williams actually showed up to church!! He said he must have enjoyed it because it flew by! He was so happy and we even saw him shed a tear or two. Hopefully he'll be able to show up again next Sunday! 

Also, it snowed today. Just a flurry but I thought I'd share because I actually could not believe my eyes. 

Also welcome to November! 

1 Néphi 21:15-16 

《Car une femme oublie-t-elle l’enfant qu’elle allaite ? N’a-t-elle pas pitié du fruit de ses entrailles ? Quand elle l’oublierait, moi je ne t’oublierai point, ô maison d’Israël.

Voici, je t’ai gravée sur mes mains ; tes murs sont toujours devant mes yeux.》

Câlins et bisous, Sœur Morrison 

Onward and Upward 

Que Dieu vous bénisse 

Schedule?! You're 9 years old, you don't have a schedule!

 Hey all! 

I ain't said anything to y'all for a while! I'm sorry! But life is pretty much the same for me, and has been for a while. 

We recently got transfer news, and I learned that I am staying right here in Hampstead, and Sister Im is leaving me for another trio. My new companion's name is Sister Davis and I know pretty much nothing about her. Apparently, she was trained by the Sister I trained, which means I'm her grandmother in the mission. That makes me feel very old hahahaha. I'm getting to the point in my mission where the only people I know older than me are only some Elders and a couple of Sisters. Everyone else is younger than me and I don't know the majority of the mission. Every Tuesday we have a mission wide meeting and I get to see brand new faces of missionaries I've never even heard of before. I'm quite certain Sister Im is annoyed with my constant question, "Who the heck is that? When did they come out?" It's fun to see all the fresh blood and new ideas come out of the new generation. 

I only have one full transfer left my friends. And some change. Which means 8 weeks left and I'm so sad. The mission has been, and continues to be, the best experience I've ever been blessed to be a part of. Every day I learn and grown and get better. I'm so grateful for the lessons I've learned and the opportunity to be better than I ever was before. 

This week has been fun, but filled with a lot of goodbyes and lasts. I'm just glad the relationships I'm building out here will be able to continue. God can put the most amazing people in your path that you didn't even know could help you so much. 

I am happier than ever and so excited to have these last precious weeks! The Lord continues to bless me and I see His hand in my life every single day. I know He's in yours. 

Éther 12:37

《37 Et il arriva que le Seigneur me dit : S’ils n’ont pas la charité, cela n’a pas d’importance pour toi, tu as été fidèle ; c’est pourquoi tes vêtements seront purifiés. Et parce que tu as vu ta faiblesse, tu seras rendu fort au point de t’asseoir dans le lieu que j’ai préparé dans les demeures de mon Père.》

Câlins et bisous, Sœur Morrison 

Onward and Upward 

Que Dieu vous bénisse 

My Tilly is dented!

 Hi mom! 

I'm still sane and yes I do bake a lot still. 

Do you ever relax into a new routine and then look back and think, hmmm. That's strange. I didn't realize how weird that was until just now. That's kinda what Covid and being a missionary in quarantine has been like for me. It just became normal and I've grown accustomed to it now, so sometimes when someone mentions my odd situation, I actually get a little startled and think, "Huh. You're actually so right." 

I'm sorry for not sending an update email last week. Time got away from me. Someday I'll have good time management. That day is not today. But honestly, I had a boring week anyway....

Honestly this week was as well, but we made the best of it. We went back to the Asian market for more goods to make yummy Korean food! I'm excited! Plus, their seafood was wicked cheap so I'm having fish tacos this week! 

Okay okay so let's get real. (You know you're a missionary when the Safety Zone song goes through your head. Blegh.) 

I had a lil experience I felt like sharing because your testimony can only grow as far as you spread it, ya know? 

So a few days ago, I was feeling very low. I got caught up in my thoughts and allowed my doubts to cloud judgement. Honestly and truly, I took small problems or mistakes and altered them to be massive problems and complete failures. I felt I even deserved to be chastised from the Lord, or at least punished in some way. I was sorrowful, and guilty. I began to pray in my heart. Sincere and honest, apologizing and pleading. And I began to write in my journal my thoughts and feelings. As I was finishing the page, I signed my name, "Love, Sister Morrison," and I thought to myself, "Am I even worthy of the title anymore?" Immediately, a swift and powerful feeling entered my heart. I AM worthy. I'm SO loved. Instead of rebuking, the Lord softly and gently reminded me of my worth. I was perplexed but grateful. Tears began to roll out of my eyes. I thought I deserved harshness or anger, I felt ashamed, and yet the Lord chose to instead remind me of His infinite love for me. I can hardly type this without feeling gratitude and my eyes filling with more tears. That day He first choose to love me. Then He reminded me of Jesus Christ and his infinite atoning power, and how through it we can receive forgiveness and become better and more pure. He reminded me that it's okay. That I will mess up, but the best part of messing up is that I can be lifted back up again. That I can become stronger and better. That is a miracle my friends. One that happens all the time! 

Our God is good. He is loving. He is merciful. You just have to trust in that. And if you don't, trust in me. 

Éther 6:12 

《Et ils abordèrent sur le rivage de la terre promise. Et lorsqu’ils eurent mis pied sur les rivages de la terre promise, ils se prosternèrent sur la surface du pays, et s’humilièrent devant le Seigneur, et versèrent des larmes de joie devant le Seigneur à cause de l’immensité de ses tendres miséricordes envers eux》

Have an amazing week all you amazing sons and daughters of the Almighty. 

Câlins et bisous, Sœur Morrison 

Onward and Upward 

Que Dieu vous bénisse 

I feel like I'm eating lip gloss

 Hey friends! I definitely didn't send my email last week. Again. Whoopsie. 

It's the end of the transfer so you know what that means..........

I'm..........

Staying in Hampstead with Sister Im!!! Unfortunately, Sister Swann is leaving us and I'm super bummed. She's been one of my favorite companions, and we get along really well. I love her but I'm happy she gets to go to a new area! Any kind of change is so nice during quarantine. 

Buuuuttttt I just bought a bamboo steamer so this transfer is gonna be amazing! We have some big plans for our diet these next 6 weeks. 

So, we finally got to do some service. I've been dying for it AND to top it all off, Heavenly Father made sure that it rained the entire time we were outside! We got to go huck some corn for the food bank. A sweet old farmer grows a square purely for the Maryland Food Bank and then volunteers go through and pick it all! It was so much fun! One of the counselors in the mission presidency helped set everything up so he was out there with us! The Spanish Elders that serve in our ward got to come as well so it was a missionary party! Our area is not conducive to much service opportunities, and the last time the Elders tried to take pictures of headstones for family history, they got the cops called on them. Soooo our options are very slim, but all is well! We are still having tons of fun! Then we also got to go harvest potatoes for a mourning and that was amazing. We even got to keep some and I sure do love my potatoes so I was a very happy missionary. 

So, with Sister Swann leaving we finally were able to make it out to the "best frozen custard" place in town. Don't you love how there are little ice cream/frozen custard places sprinkled all over the country and every town claim to have the best one? They're all amazing and unique and this one was adorable. I apologize for my squinty face. I was temporarily blinded by the sunshine. 

So yeah. Our week was very interesting. I have been thinking a lot recently about the importance of a testimony. It's the kind of fuel that doesn't fade. It's motivation when we feel sad, stress, anger, confusion, or fear. Our testimony is the strands of hope that hold everything in place. I highly encourage everyone to do all they can to continue to build their testimonies by prayer, scriptures, and daily studies. When I go a day without reading my scriptures, I feel awful. Honestly. I am totally off, I don't feel uplifted or happy. I can have a good day but there's always the feeling that I messed up somewhere. That's because I didn't start my day with the Lord. I'm 100% serious when I say it makes me smile more. It brightens my soul! We all need more light in our life, so just let your testimony grow to be that light. 

I love you all so very much and I hope you all know how much I appreciate you! 

Alma 12:15

《15 Mais cela ne peut être : nous devons nous lever et nous tenir devant lui dans sa gloire, et dans son pouvoir, et dans sa puissance, sa majesté et sa domination, et reconnaître, à notre honte éternelle, que tous ses jugements sont justes, qu’il est juste dans toutes ses œuvres et qu’il est miséricordieux envers les enfants des hommes, et qu’il a tout pouvoir de sauver tout homme qui croit en son nom et produit du fruit digne du repentir.》

Câlins et bisous, Sœur Morrison 

Onward and Upward 

Que Dieu vous bénisse 

Pics:

Our corn pickin'

The Cow

 goodbyes

                             

My brother was mad because I took his 'shrooms

 HEY I HAD A REALLY GOOD WEEK!

So, first of all, I had in-person interviews with my mission President and they were absolutely wonderful! He's just such a kind and loving man. His vulnerability makes him endearing, his honesty makes him trustworthy, and I think he's just adorable. We had a nice long chat because the first interview we had was very rushed. (I may or may not have been a smidge late and therefore missed the call hehehe.) We both were listening to the Spirit and let the Lord speak through us, both in asking questions and our responses, and we ended up answering each other's prayers. It always such a beautiful moment when you realize you've been a tool of the Lord's, and made even better when you see that joy reciprocated on the face of the person you're talking to. Boy oh boy do I just adore this gospel! The interview was hefty. It was supposed to be 10 minutes, but we sat there for a solid half an hour. President Nye and I feed off of each other's energies. He kept asking questions and I'd answer and then he'd have a story to share, and then I had a comment.....you get the picture. It was clear that we were both there for similar reasons and trying our best to fulfill the Lord's expectations of us. My interview turned into more of a council. I always appreciate that because often people in a position of power talk down to you instead of with you. President Nye is very aware of that, and is so so humble to the fact that he's new and learning too! I really do love him. 

ALSO IT'S BEEN RAINING AND THUNDERING AND LIGHTNINING AND I'M SO EXCITED! If any of you are not aware, I absolutely adore rain!! It's been a beautiful past couple of days and we got more to come! How wild is this? 

Also, we have a mouse in our kitchen. We were in the middle of a lesson and out of the corner of my eye I see something moving. At first, I thought our sink had leaked or something but when I turned to look, suddenly I realized that actually no, it was a grown mouse. A queen's mouse I believe it's called. With a very long tail and fluffy little ears. Disgusting. No offense. But it scampered away and only invaded the one room that makes me happiest. Our poor kitchen. Oh well. We have a little friend now. We're still coming up with a name, so if you got a good one, send it my way. 

Speaking of sending, if you've sent me a letter and I haven't replied yet, it's because I am out of stamps again. Sorry! 

Anyway, life is grand. Somehow this transfer has blown right by. On Saturday we find out if we're staying or leaving. I kinda hope I stay. But both of my companions have been here for a little while. Sister Im has been in this ward for 4½ months, Sister Swann is at 3 months, so I guess we'll see what it all brings! It's been a wild transfer that's for sure, but I've loved it all. I can't believe that August is already gone! Now school is starting and Halloween is just around the corner (can't wait!!) Baking season is almost upon us people! Yaaayyyyy!

A lil spiritual thought for you all before I skedaddle. I love in Matthew 9:2 when Jesus Christ asks the man with palsy to "be of good cheer," because he hasn't been healed of his palsy yet! The problem he came to the Lord with is still not fixed. He very easily could have been a little upset, maybe frustrated that the Lord isn't healing him of the one thing he asked for that has been ruining his life for so many years. Frankly, I think we all have our own "palsy" or physical restrictions that we bring to the Lord and ask him to heal. We know that the Lord has power to heal us. Even the power to heal us instantaneously. Yet the Lord has forgiven him of his sins, and that was enough for him to "be of good cheer." Our physical circumstances may not be what we want or desire, but we have access to the most divine spiritual gift, the Atonement of Jesus Christ! You can "be of good cheer" when you utilize this gift, no matter your physical restrictions. Peace is not having everything in your life running as smooth as possible while you take a bubble bath, (although that would be nice.) Peace is knowing that the place that you stand on is firm in Jesus Christ, our Rock and our Redeemer. Peace is knowing that even though the storm rages on, you have something to strengthen you through it. And of course, the man was healed of his palsy. The Lord doesn't ignore our pleas. He loves us and wants the best for us. But he expects trust and faith in him and his power. He will always take care of us. He does not want us to fail, that's not his plan. But the next time you think to complain about quarantine or how hard it is to endure whatever mortal, physical, temporary trial you have to go through, remember that the greatest gift of all others is the Atonement. It has been given freely, bought with the most precious life this world has ever seen, and given to you to use at any moment. I would rather be stuck inside alone for the rest of my life than never have the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Mosiah 3:7 

《Et voici, il souffrira les tentations, et la souffrance du corps, la faim, la soif et la fatigue, plus encore que l’homme ne peut en souffrir sans en mourir ; car voici, du sang lui sort de chaque pore, si grande sera son angoisse pour la méchanceté et les abominations de son peuple.》

Câlins et bisous, Sœur Morrison 

Onward and Upward 

Que Dieu vous bénisse 

Pics: interviews with President Nye!