It's January, right??

Kia Ora!                                                          1/9/2012

How are all of my family and friends back home, aye?! It seems like it's been longer than a week since we talked last! (...Well, since I wrote my last boring email, I mean. Haha.) I hope all is well back in good 'ol Utah. I heard several people here in one of the wards talking about my home state...let's just say most people have lots of misconceptions about Utah. Hahaha. For one, the majority of the state is NOT a desert. YES, we have trees...quite a few, actually. No, the majority of the population is NOT LDS. (Well, I hear the numbers were just barely surpassing 50% this year, is that right?) While Caucasian is the dominant race and nationality, there are still quite a few areas of great cultures to mix things up. I would say here in Spokane things are a LOT less diverse! I don't know if I've mentioned this already or not, but the demographics are 95% Caucasian, 3.999% Russian, 1% Marshallese and .001% African American/Latino. Hahaha. Let's just say the Russian population is very concentrated in my current area. In our supplies of copies of the Book of Mormon and pass-along cards, we have quite a few things in Ukranian and Russian! Pretty cool, really! Maybe I'll pick up a few things while I'm here! (...in the Gru voice that everyone misses so much...) ;)

Since we last talked, we've had quite the rough week here! Most of our appointments and Church Tours that we had scheduled fell through! :( I'd like to blame the EVIL flu/cold that seems to be plagung the population here. It's nasty, whatever it is! We did get the amazing opportunity to take a NEW investigator on a church tour this week, though! I hadn't ever heard of them until I got here, but they're so great! We invited investigators to go through our chapel for a 15 minute tour. It's a really basic breakdown of how everything we do is centered on Christ, we show them our pictures that we have, talk a little about the sacrament, let them feel the spirit inside the chapel (especially when there aren't 1000 screaming children running around...hahahaha), then talk a little about baptism and its importance. When we took Jennifer through, it was amazing to feel the spirit just testify to her. We taught her a 15 minute Restoration lesson, then invited her to be baptized. :) Haha, seems so quick, doesn't it? That's the amazing part...I like to think of the spirit we feel in a church building as an electric guitar that's not plugged in. We can hear it if we're very quiet and know what we're looking for. But, when we are on a church tour, the building is empty and it's like the Spirit is SOO strong! It's like we've plugged that guitar into a box and suddenly everything is amplified!!! (Sorry for the Rock reference, but it's the only way I could really think to put it into words!) Jennifer has been so grateful to have us share what we believe and is interested in learning more. She said at the end of the tour that, "If nothing else, even if I don't join your church, you girls have really made me start thinking about my relationship with God and Christ..." :) Those moments make your heart swell and just LOVE the people you teach even more. :D

The sad news of the week is that one of our Progressing Investigators gave all of the books and material we gave him back and said 'no thanks.' It was SUCH a hard pill to swallow...I'm sure all of you returned missionaries can relate to the experienece. My heart dropped to my toes and I just felt such sadness and sorrow for him. :( I've been praying my little heart out for him that as he begins to attend his old church that he will remember the feelings he had while in our chapel. He knows how much Sister Everill and I care about him and is grateful for all the time we spent with him. It's just hard. Maybe it's just one of those 1/7 interactions with the Missionaries before he has the desire to be baptized. :)

Let's go back to the good news, aye? We have several part-member families that we are excited about! We're really praying that things this week will be better! We have been working with a less-active family that we FOUND while out tracting that has been an amazing situation to watch unfold! :) I'm so excited for them to feel of the power that the scriptures can give them in their lives again as they are struggling to make ends meet financially! :) They have willing hearts and are excited to find the comfort that the gospel can bring. :) It was a miracle within itself that the Lord placed them in our path that day. :)

I've got to get going, unfortunately. Thank you all for your prayers and support back at home! I know that on those days where people are more inclined to slam doors in our faces or "shoo" us away that your support is what brings me comfort. I'd like to give a special 'shoutout' to my fantastic friends Terra and Miss Kiki. Your letters came at a PERFECT time and I know the Lord planned it that way! :) :) :) I'll have to wait until next week to share some insights that I have received this week while observing at church, but until then...I love you!

Sister Morgan

Brenna, Brennie, "B" , BLLSNM or whatever nickname you fancy!

P.S. We get to MEET ELDER HOLLAND THIS WEEK!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :)