December 21, 2009
Merry Christmas!!!
Funny story. We're teaching this family, the Dinnoo's. Husband, wife and 2 daughters. They go to a presbyterian churrch. They invited us to attend the church's Christmas program where the girls would be performing. So, we took a member, Sham, with us and saw it. Haha! It was pretty fun actually. They were really excited to see us. When we walked in, you wouldn't believe the stares we got from everybody. They probably couldn't believe 2 missionaries would go to another church. Haha some people I think were offended. We were just there to support that family. It was fun.
One of the best things about Trinidad? WE GET TO EAT AT MEMBERS' HOUSES!!! I'm going to get fat. We have had some good food though. We went and taught this lady, Patsy, who gave us Turkey leg and rice with potato curry. Later in the day, we visited Sham, the 1st counselor in the Branch Presidency, who gave us goat and rice w/dhallpurri. Mmmmmmmm. It was actually very good. Too much food for one day though. I'm used to eating in Guyana which is not eating very much haha. It's been fun though.
We didn't really have much to do this week. We had appointments scattered throughout the week. Now, the people of the West Indies don't know what appointments are. So, we'd show up at the time we set with them and half of them aren't there. The onther half, 90 percent of them, lie and say that they have to go out just now. "Just now" here means soon or in the futures. Like if someone is telling you to do something and you can't right then you say "just now." Haha. I like speaking proper English better though.
Most of the week was tracting, contacting on the street, and teaching the few people we could. We called one of our contacts, Sebastian, who told us to come over right now. He needs somebody. So we go over and when we get there he starts to cry. Says his wife left him, he has no family, and that nobody likes to talk to him. We calmed him down, taught him about the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ and he felt a lot better. Invited him to church. He said he can't come because of work but we'll see if we can get him next week.
The Christmas season is fast approaching and it doesn't feel like it AT ALL. Yes, there's Christmas lights up, Christmas music playing from time to time but that isn't any change for us. We can't stop to enjoy the season. It's only work for us. But the work is good and I'm enjoying it. I really am. My companion isn't too much, he doesn't have a good attitude. We blanked the area which means that we don't know any one, where they live, or we don't have anyone to teach. Can be rough. He complained all day Saturday while we walked around and because of that, we didn't have the Spirit and we didn't have a good day. I don't know what to do to help him out. Because of his lack of desire it's hurting me as well. Makes it harder for me to go on and be the hard worker I need to be. But it goes on. If you have any tips let me know. He doesn't listen to me, thinks I don't know anything about missionary work, which is FALSE, and just doesn't respect my opinion. Keep in mind he's only a MONTH ahead of me in the mission. Give me a break!
This Friday we're having a Lunch at the Mission home for Christmas. We're all traveling up to Port of Spain and it'll be a great time. We don't know what we're doing, it's all a big surprise but it sounds like it'll be way fun. Friday morning we're going to an orphanage and putting on a show, dressing the kids up as shepherds and wise men and doing a nativity, giving out presents. It'll be a fun day.
The PHONE CALL!! Alright. We're going to be busy all day until the evening where we're going back to our apartments and doing phone calls home. So, how bout you call about 9 o'clock our time? Which is 6 o'clock in your neck of the woods. I would like to talk to Grandma and Grandpa too. We'll figure something out.
It was weird hearing about the missionaries in our stake from home, Mom. Haha I really have no idea what the work is like there. I don't remember even seeing missionaries except every once in awhile when they'd be at our ward. That's cool about the service missionaries too.
Crazy to read about Bishop Hymas' Christmas message as well. Kind of reminded me that yes, I amd a long ways from home! I almost forgot! Haha. Sounds like he is doing a GREAT job. Tell him I said hello and wish him a Merry Christmas.
Well I really have to get going. It is sad to hear about grandma not feeling well. Tell her that I LOVE HER. I sent her a letter and I hope it reaches soon. I really feel bad for her. I'm glad to hear so many people are giving her the support that she needs.
Elder Morris
PS=I hear the best way to call me is by getting a phone card. Do it the cheapest way possible. I get about an hour to talk. A bit more/less isn't too big of a deal.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
December 14, 2009
Hello from the prideful and rich country of Trinidad! You'd be surprised. Trinidad is super wealthy compared to Guyana. I do miss Guyana though. The people are much nicer and more humble.
So the plane ride over here? A BLAST!!!! I loved it. Elder Prince and I sat together and talked for the whole 1 hour ride. He has a connecting flight to St. Lucia. We got some pictures of us on the plane. His camera though. Way fun! I loved it. What a great experience. Flying for transfers. Not many people get to do that!
There are tons of hills in Trinidad. My legs are getting quite the workout every day. We are opening a new area in Siparia, including Fyzabad and Arin which is about 30 minutes drive away from Siparia. I see a LOT of potential here. The branch gets about 35 people each week at church. Only about 80 members in the branch here. There's one stake in Trinidad and we're in a branch. The other missionaries here are Elder Clark and Elder Carter, both of them are sweet. I like them a lot. Our apartment is brand stinking new. Nice tile and very roomy. The landlord bought new everything: Fridge, stove, beds, the works, way nice serta mattresses. The only problem...nothing was installed when we got there. We had a case of bottled water, 2 matresses, and a working shower. That was it. Now we finally have the fridge, stove, a sink, and the beds. Other than that they're still working on it. Basically we were living like cavemen for a bit. It was pretty cool actually. My companion complained and complained but I just sat back and laughed at it. Haha, it was fun!
I've noticed a lot of change in me recently. Personality wise. It's an answer to my prayers really. I've been praying hard for Christlike love and I'm finally beginning to experience a tiny bit of it. It feels like nothing really gets to me anymore. I just am content with my surroundings and I honestly am felling like I do love everyone. It's been great really.
I can't write much more. I have 2 minutes left. The internet cafe is closing so I gotta go.
I LOVE YOU ALL!
Elder Morris
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Winston Chan and his wife Sharon
Mark John, my companion for 4 days
Me and Bro. Vanderstoop
The Creole shop I ate at almost every day. DELICIOUS!Thursday, December 3, 2009
November 30, 2009
Things are going much better this week! Except for the fact I'm in Georgetown today to get a police report. Transfers happen next week so most likely I'm leaving Guyana. So don't send any packages!! I haven't gotten the package yet but I got Dad's parcel of Lead the Way's. Thanks for those by the way. I haven't had time to read them all but I will.
So I love Winston and his family. We've taught them everything, and they are awesome. Very smart family: 3 kids and the parents. Their neighbors are going to start coming to church too. We're teaching them this week. President Johnnie asked if it was okay for Winston to give a talk in sacrament meeting. I said...No!!! Haha he's not baptized yet!
He is going to be a great asset to the church here. I reallyy feel good to see that I had a hand in bringing that family to the church. They're great. They're not just reading the BOM, but studying the principles. Sharon, his wife, LOVED 2 Nephi 9; read it a studied it like 10 times she said. Now she knows about the details about the necessity of the Atonement. I loved hearing her talk about it in Gospel Principles class yesterday.
Church was baller yeasterday. Got 15 less actives back to church that haven't been in FOREVER! I was so happy! Some of them had interviews and got callings to help keep them active. I really feel like I've helped bring back the fire to Rose Hall. Thanks to my prayers and fasting. Fasting really does WORK!
So I'm with Elder Barton right now in Georgetown. He got an email of the recap of the BYU game. SWEET! Way to go cougars. Take that Randy Larson! Tell him I said that...HAha.
We had zone conference last week. We were introduced to a new tool, 40daystozion.com to help reactivate and strngthen our converts. Check it out. I can't give password and stuff, but just to let ya know. Our goal for next year is to reactivate 2400 members in the West Indies. Right now we have 2600 active. 10000 members total.
It's been crazy with companions lately. Mine isn't gonna be here until tomorrow. Brother Singh from Albouystown (the ghetto), Georgetown. I had Mark John, a 16 year old punk member from the branch over the weekend. Hahaha.
It really was a great week. We're seeing some great progress here. I'm sad that I'll probably have to leave. But I'm excited as well. Next week I'll find out for sure where/when I'm going. Don't really know much else to say except just how much better this week was. I love it! Tell Parker that if he doesn't remember who I am when I get back that he's officially our of my will. Haha. Love you all.
Elder Morris
November 23, 2009
This week. This week!
Goodness. Alright. So last week's email was lame. Sorry for that - just a bad day. The next day, Tuesday wasn't very good either. I think just bottling everything up, pretending I'm loving every second of it caught up with me. Don't get me wrong. I love the work. But I gotta be real. These Guyanesse people are very hard to deal with sometimes. You really don't have any idea. But, the week got better and better. Elder Noah, my district leader, called me up on Tuesday when I was having a bad day. I just wasn't happy. My companion was complaining about whatever, we hadn't been baptizing, so yeah. I dunno, just hard. He called me and read me a talk/;letter thing about Christ. It described a day in the life of the missionary. How all the days run together. Well the missionary prayed that night and pretty much just let everything out. Described how hard it had been. How his companion had been, etc. Then he falls asleep and sees a magnificent vision. He sees Jesus Christ and he says, "We need to talk." Christ begins to just say everything you are going through, I went through. Your companioni is rough? My companion Judas, traded my life for riches, etc. Things like that. Pretty much just saying, whatever you have felt I have felt already and that as a missionary, you are very alike to Christ. The only exception is that He has finished His mission, completed the work. So it really helped motivate me; made me feel a lot better. Ever since then I've been doing a ton better.
So at church yesterday I was very pleased. Winston and his family came to church, their second time. Loved it. Branch President's kinda weird so he kept hinting to Winston that a position in the branch presidency was open and that he very soon could be sitting with him up on the stand. Haha! Wasn't too happy about that! Haha, President Johnnie was off the walls at church. He kinda scared Winston and when I try to tell President Johnnie, try to teach him that what he's doing isn't exactly the right thing, he doesn't think I know anything and blows it off. Haha, whatever - story of Guyana. The people are great. They are. They just need several more years.
So we were going around to the less actives on Saturday. We stop by one of the recent converts that was baptized before I got here. Her name is Rebeckah, and she's a 14 year old girl who can't read. That's not the problem. The problem is that her mom doesn't want to take care of her anymore so she's arranged a 22 year old Hindu to marry her and take her out of the house. Next week she's getting married. There isn't much I could do except encourage them to pray and really think tis trough. I can't advise them, just teach them. But, life goes on.
We had thanksgiving Dinner Friday. The Lingren's did EVERYTHING! They bought a butterball turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, etc. A legit American thanksgiving! Only difference was that there were 5 Americans and 10 Guyanese. Haha! It was way fun. Instead of watching football, we sat and gaffed about sports: football, high school sports, basketball, etc. It was a way fun day.
Well the week was much better. Our people we're teaching are doing very well. The success is coming.
Well, this past week was very good. Not much more to say really. Haha.
Elder Morris
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Nate's Companion - Elder Narine
Saturday, November 7, 2009
November 2, 2009
Howdy folks!
So this week I was put with Elder Narine. He is 18, going into the MTC in the Dominican Republic on November 27th. He is a great companion. It was wierd at first, but we're gonna work hard. It'll be good. I'll only be with him 2 more weeks. Then I'll get someone else. This morning he swept out the WHOLE apartment. He spent an hour cleaning while I was writing letters, etc. that stuff. He's pretty sweet. He can't read very well at all, has a hard time teaching, but dangit he tries with all his heart. It's a great thing to see.
Well this week was great. It really was. It was a test but it turned out to be amazing. One experience I'd like to share. We were tracting in a place called Whim. We ran into this Christian family, Tony, Baby, and Rihanna, their 8 year old daughter. We asked if we could come in and share a message. They listened, understood, and the spirit was so, so strong. We learned at Zone Conference to invite people to baptism when the spirit is in the room the strongest. This way, it makes it hard for them to deny what they feel and say no. After bearing my testimony about how the restored gospel has blessed me, the man started to cry. It was then when I knew they felt the Spirit. I invited them to follow Christ and be baptized. They all accepted and we're going to start working with them more this week. It was a great experience.
Our promising investigators we found the last two weeks fell through. I had to drop them. When they lie and lie about not drinking and not smoking, and then never keep the one commitment that really matters, coming to church, it's time to drop them. It's disheartening, but essential. It's especially hard to fill up your day with people to teach when you have to drop your investigators. We sill be focusing a lot on finding new ones.
Our new Zone leader, Elder Jones, was an assistant the past 3 transfers. He baptized 80 people in my area, so it's wierd to be with him. He is very strict, very serious, but a dang good missionary. It's going to be great to serve under him this next 5 weeks.
5 months!!!! I can't believe it's been 5 months. Just in a month and a half I'll be talkin to ya on the phone. I tell you what. It is always comforting to have Elder Prince out here with me. I love that kid. We call each other all the time and it's fun having him only just a 10 minute drive away. We've become pretty good friends.
My studies have gotten much better these past few weeks. President Gamiette showed us a new method to study. It's called the three column method. Left column is where you put the verses and a title for the line. Middle column is prophetic words used in the verses.
Right column is the meaning or principles learned. You do this every few verses or every main idea in the chapter. Then after you're done with the chapter you put the main idea, or what you learned at the bottom. Kind of a summary of principles taught. I'll send you a picture of what mine looks like next week. I have been learning a LOT. Even from the Ether chapters where it's just political insurrection and war.
I LOVE THIS WORK. My spirits are highter, my faith is growing, and my confidence, shall I say like the sons of Alma, is waxing strong. I can't believe all the tings I've learned. I haven't had too much success in the way of getting in the white clothes and baptizing lately but I've learned my lessons and success will come as I continue to learn and apply the things I learned.
I love you all,
Elder Morris
Sunday, October 25, 2009
nate in Berbice
The Rastifarian in Nate's journal
yummy food from the holiday.
BerbiceThursday, October 22, 2009
October 13, 2009
First of all answering some questions:
Dad had some in his email.
About the economy: We do not see the effects of the bad economy in the States because we have an even worse, yet horrible economy here. The average income here is extremely low. Many children don't go to school, and many people can't read. So no we don't see the effects of the US economy here. About doing wash and cooking. We have a washer in the back of the house. Just put in detergent like at home. To fill it up with water you have to fill up buckets and dump it in but it's not bad. Then we hang up the clothes to dry on lines in our apartment. Cooking is like how is was at college. Here, I've been having 2 eggs, toast and sometimes a bowl of cereal for breakfast. For lunch we don't have to much time to cook so usually it's spaghetti, mac and cheese, or sometimes we eat out. There's a local restaurant next to the apartment that has really good bake and salt fish or chicken curry and rice. Pretty delicious! We have pots and pans and a stove at the apartment. No worries there. Haha. Also, fast food: In Berbice it's only Church's chicken which is a huge chain like KFC. In Georgetown there's KFC, Church's, Pizza Hut and Popeye's. Delicious!
Mom!
I love your attitude with all your hard responsiblities in YW. Keep working hard! I love ya. I really liked Elder Scott's talk too. I wrote down a lot of good info from it. I can't wait till we get the Liahona so we can read it. About the [ten missionary] plaques by the bishop's office: Can you take a picture of all of them individually, and then a picture of them all together and send it to me via email? Also, I'd love more pictures from home and with friends and junk for the next package. Also, I need a thing to put consecrated oil in. One of those sweet metal vials at desert book or something. Next package! Haha. I love ya.
So, this past week was a rollercoaster. This week seemed like NOTHING happened. It was rough! I felt like we worked very hard. Elder Daines has the philosophy to just contact on the street those that'd look like they'd take the gospel. I don't like that at all but I just let that happen. Because we've done that, we haven't taught very many people and don't get too much done. Because of that, our numbers the past few weeks have been going down bad. No baptisms scheduled because we're not teaching anyone! We had interviews with President Gamiette Sunday night and he was disappointed with the numbers. He also said someone told him that I don't want to stay in Guyana and train a Guyanese. I don't know where that came from because I would LOVE to do that. I know I can do that. I told him this and he was surprised. He said that originally he had me leaving Guyana because of that next transfer. I told him that I wanted to stay and train someone. He said that if you really want to, there'll be an increase in numbers this week. So, the pressures on. I'm gonna step up and work extra hard this week. Not just so I can stay in Guyana, but because I'm sick of seeing the lack of success in this area. Yes I can blame it on the lack of education in the area and understanding of our messages, but no. It is my fault and I'll just have to do better. I know I can do it. I know how to teach. Heavenly Father will help me. It was a rough interview but I can improve and next interview hopefully he'll be a bit more pleased with me. I could blame it on Elder Daines but I won't. I could have done a lot better. Lessons learned now help me become better in the future.
Zone conference yesterday: It was a GREAT one! It lasted about 4 hours. President taught us so much that we can use. He is a great man, great leader, great teacher. Loved it!! Learned about retention, bringing less actives back, teaching with the Spirit. Learned a lot about how to invite baptism and how to do it when the Spirit in the room is the highest. If we do that, they won't say no. Because they'll feel it is true and something they need to do. There was tons more we learned but I can't write all of it! After he was doing interviews with more people, so we hung out and talked with everybody for another few hours. It was fun catching up with Elder Scott, seeing how my old area is going. ALL of my investigators in Kitty are baptized/being baptized next week. Keysha, Latoya, Mahesh, Pretty. I was very excited about that. Gonna put them in my preach! (First page of Preach my Gospel). I am grateful Elder Moses cleaned up and got them in the water. I loved talking with everybody. I have made tons of good friends here.
Well that's my week. Rough, but lessons learned. I guess my faith just isn't as good as it should be! This next week will be a blast, making up for our past mistakes.
Elder Morris
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
October 5, 2009
Dad asked the following questions in his letter to Nate and this was his response:
Dad: Do you have a tan? Are you kind of skinny? Who cuts your hair? Is it short like you like it? How much does it cost to get a haircut? Please send me a current picture when you get a minute.
Nate: Haha! So. I will take a picture sometime this week. My tan? It's okay. Probably pretty dang tan compared to people at home but here with the missionaries I'm not too dark. I'm skinnier. I've lost about 3 inches on the waist. Thank goodness for belts but they're at the last holes. I'll have to punch some new ones in. Here there's random barber shops all around so we just barely got one. 400 dollars a piece. (2 US dollars) Pretty cheap. Did an okay job, but nothing compared to Tammy Haddow. Haha.
This week! What a whirlwind! So. We're still dealing with issues in the branch and the hardened people that are here, but are working ETREMELY hard to find those diamonds in the rough. They're out there. We met a guy on the street; he was kind of interested in the Book of Mormon. I opened the book and read him Alma 34:32. First I asked what he thought the purpose of life was. Then we read it. He was interested! He was into it. He asked who wrote that, I said Alma, a prophet of God. He didn't know who that was but he wanted to know more about it so of course we got his address and phone number and will meet with him this week. The work is hard but so worth it. My attitude is what keeps my head up. I love this work!
I'm still district leader I guess. So I get to do baptismal interviews which I think will be rather exciting. I get to use the spirit to let me know whether or not someone is really prepared to enter into the covenant of baptism. What an opportunity!
Conference....OOOOOhhhh Yeah! I've never been so overwhelmed by the spirit of those amazing talks. I just wrote and wrote and wrote. 24 pages of notes!! Things I can apply to myself now as a missionary, as a son, as a future husband and father. I loved every second of it. We had a satellite at the East Canje chapel which then fed into a tv and a projector. Haha, I got to use my electronic education and helped set up over the phone the ones in Linden and Georgetown as well. It was pretty fun. I really did love every second of it.
As for me.... with this week and this conference: I'm experiencing a change of heart as they say. I feel better, stronger in my relationship with the Lord. My prayers are more fervent. The spirit has been giving me continued revelation. I'm studying better, working smarter. I've never been better and I hope to continue to rise up like it said in the song in Priesthood Session, "Rise up o men of God". I am doing just that. Rising up, magnifying my calling. I'm learning more, working more, and relying on God more.
Mom and Dad. Do not regret anything you didn't do with me growing up and be grateful for the things we did do! This is not pride, just gratitude for everything you have done for me. I've never felt better and I can't imagine being anywhere else in my life right now. How grateful and blessed I am for having parents like you for being patient with me, for always pushing me in the right direction. Yes I made bad choices. That is what the atonement is for. I am different Mom and Dad. I really am. I regret the things I didn't do before the mission. I regret not spending more time with you guys. But regrets are for the past. And all I can do is just express gratitude for you. KNOW HOW MUCH I DO LOVE YOU. While I'm out here never doubt my love for you. Words can't express my gratitude for the things you did for me. I hope one day I can repay you.
A mission is an amazing thing. Something I would never trade. I am blessed to be serving my God in this country. While crazy as it is, I wouldn't trade it for anything! I have to go but this weekend was such a spiritually uplifting one. I love this work and I love Heavenly Father and the Savior for what they do for me. I'm reading Jesus the Christ right now and it's an amazing book. I love learning about the Savior.
Elder Morris
PS: my new address is
26-14 Harkman's Lane
New Amsterdam, Berbice
Monday, October 5, 2009
September 28, 2009
To all at home! Happy Birthday to all who read this!
Berbice is SWEET! Super rural, 2/3 of the people don't know how to read, and they can't understand me when I talk. I have to speak Creolese. I love it here. See what happened in my area is that this guy got baptized, and he helped bring over 150 people into the church last year. He went apostate and got excommunicated and so now there is only like 30 people at church a week, with over 300 baptized members. It is going to be a though month. The work has totally slowed down in Guyana.
See what happened before was that people thought the numbers were more important than the person, so they'd go about baptizing 10 year old kids because their parents weren't interested and they liked church. I don't know HOW you can think that's a good idea but that's how Guyana did so well last year. Now we're back to what God really wants us to do, baptize only prepared converted people that understand the restoration and the atonement. I love it here. Ya know that's the negative of the work in Guyana but it really is a sweet place. There is a lot of prepared people in the world. I'm lucky to be in such a sweet place.
I'm with Elder Daines now. Being with Elder Noah for those 2 weeks was tough. I learned a lot of things I shouldn't be doing on the mission. Supposedly being this far from the Mission President , a lot of these missionaries in Berbice did a lot of movie watching, music listening, etc. I don't know HOW you can think that's a good idea either!
Elder Daines does missionary work the right way. I'm going to try to emulate more of his ideas. Following the spirit and only teaching prepared people is a necessary thing here. You can go about baptizing unprepared kids and women but I don't think that's how God wants us to operate. He is a great elder and I get along with him great. He has been out 20 months and will be going home soon. He is from Rexburg, Idaho and went to BYU Idaho but will be going to BYU next year studying filmmaking. It will be a great transfer with Elder Daines.
I'm not district leader or training a missionary anymore. I am working hard, but I guess I just wasn't needed as one yet. Elder Prince however will be training a new one. It's fun being so close to him, only a 30 minute drive and over the Berbice bridge. We've been able to gaff a lot. BTW they say that a lot here. Gaffing is sweet.
The work in Rose Hall is interesting. We'll be doing A LOT of finding. We weren't left with anyone to teach, only a 10 year old girl but we won't work much with her, only if she gets a solid link with a member of the church. So the work will be rough but it'll have great rewards. We know we can baptize in Guyana. We can baptize lots. We just have to do it God's way. The work will improve, I'm sure of it.
Can I get Colby's email address?? I want to wish him congratulations on his engagement. I can't believe in one month he'll be married!! That is so crazy.
Well I better be going. Keep it real back in the states. I love it here and don't worry about me! I am loving the work, not homesick, and my testimony is growing all of the time!
Elder Morris!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
September 21, 2009
Hello from Berbice!
Haha, this week was nuts. So! Transfers happened, but a problem arose. None of the scheduled mini missionaries were able to come this week. So for example, in the Canje Zone where I am, there are only me, Elder Noah (my companion for this past week), and Elder Duncan (Zone Leader) covering a HUGE area. It was a hassle. I was only able to work in Rose Hall 1-2 days. When we get some temporary mini missionaries, until the real mini missionaries get here, we will have 3 companionships in our zone. It's gonna be tough but exciting all the same.
These are answers to Dad's questions that he listed in his email:
As a district we meet weekly unless it's zone conference or zone meeting. It'll probably be a bunch of combined zone meetings though, because of lack of numbers. There are only 3 companionships working all of Berbice Zone too. So that makes 12 missionaries in 2 zones. Usually it's about 10-12 per zone. Exchanges happen once a transfer cycle (every 6 weeks). I will serve with everyone in my district; the zone leader serves with everyone in his zone. My district is really just the zone leaders and me.
So I really am not doing much. Elder Noah, my companion this past week, is from Delta, Utah. In Rose Hall, there is an organized branch that can run on its own but still needs missionaries to help with things like tithing. The Crabwood Creek branch, one of the ones that Noah is over, is not as organized and needs missionaries to teach classes and things. Skeldon, another area Noah is covering, is only a group and had 8 people at church. I was in Crabwood Creek and Skeldon this past weekend, so I got to see that. It was pretty rough. The senior couple for my branch was the Treseders, but they have to leave due to the Lock-Up situation. The only couple in Berbice will be the Lingrens in Canje.
I recieved the package on Tuesday!! Thanks so much for all of that! I am very happy with some of the ties. Haha, some of the missionaries are very jealous. The candy and drink mix was very welcome too. Mac and Cheese though can be found here. Don't need to send that from now on, thanks though! I don't know my new mailing address yet; will get it to you ASAP.
Each missionary get 270 US a transfer. Also, the senior companion gets about 200 US for travel to pay for taxi, bus and cars. In Berbice for long trips you take bus, short drops you just flag down a car that's goin along. Most are working taxis.
About the visa situation, not so sure about if it's fixed. All I know is that I should be getting a work permit soon that is either for 90 days or for 1 year. Not sure about the time. Pretty sure it's one year, so I'll be here for awhile. However there is a cap of foreign missionaries. Only 20!! That is not enough for Guyana. That's why they have been rushing to get local missionaries to serve full-time missions.
So basically this week was kinda wierd. Haha. When we got to Berbice on Thursday, there was a big meeting with President Hymas telling us what to expect and how to handle what was before us. It was an amazing lecture/talk. I learned a lot about diligence and complete obedience, setting an example for our mini missionaries. After, I went to the apartment, dropping off all my stuff and unpacking. A nice apartment, mosquito screens on the windows, keeping most mosquitos out. Lots of room, used to hold 4 missionaries. Big beds, full size. Anyway, I like the apartment. The landlord is our branch president, President Johnnie. He's a cool guy, energetic, very willing to work. That night when I got there he called the EQ President, Brother Garret, and he took us around to meet some members.
BTW, until this settles down I'm with Elder Noah. I should be getting Elder Moses, a mini missionary, to serve with me tommorrow. Elder Noah is a funny guy. Not a hard worker but once I get the mini missionary with me we can get to work. He's a cool guy and everything though. I like him.
We were in my area Thursday night and Friday, just seeing members and getting to know that area. Saturday and Sunday we were in Crabwood Creek and Skeldon, Elder Noah's area. Nice area, very rural so it was pretty neat to walk around. Ate some cane, mango, coconuts. It's sweet. Out here members just give you fruit all the time. It just grows on trees so they have a guy climb up a coconut tree and kick down some coconuts for us. It was fun.
Berbice is a crazy place. Haha about the language. It's just horribly broken down English. Replacing her with she and him with he. Like, "What's she name boss?" Or, "Whappin de?" It's pretty fun though. Hard to understand people, but it'll get easier.
My area's pretty interesting. Elder Jones, an assistant to the president right now, served here for about 6 months. He baptized 80 people. So many people have been baptized here, but the attendance at church is horrible. Almost all of the converts about a year ago when the area caught on fire don't go to church anymore. That makes my job pretty rough. Reactivation is now on the list of things for me to do here. I'm excited to get working though; I could do very well here. Just applying the principles President Gamiette wants us to apply and teaching and testifying of the Book of Mormon will be very important.
Also, what happened to BYU and UTAH? I expected as much from Utah State but not BYU and Utah. (Sorry Amy, they are just a horrilbe team!)
Anyways, I've written way to much. I love it here so far. There's no Pizza Hut or KFC but I'll get over it. I'm just glad I get to stay in Guyana, let alone Rose Hall. My area used to be an area where legends were born. No joke. So many amazing missionaries have been through here and baptized grips (lots of people).
Have fun at home. Let me know how things are!
Elder Morris
Friday, September 18, 2009
Sept 14, 2009
This week was crazy!!! Wednesday we had an AWESOME day. We found tons of new investigators, taught 8 lessons, and I dunno it was just a great day. It's always good when we work hard to complete the goals/promises we made to God every day. He really does provide.
We've been working way hard with Stacey's friend Latoya. She is reading, has prayed and recieved answers to her prayers and is ready for baptism. We did a couple power lessons, teaching a lot of information in a short amount of time. She accepted all of the commandments and everything!! Such a cool girl. She's about 25. Only problem is that we needed to teach her a few more things before baptism so we'll have to leave her for the next elders coming in to baptize.
The second half of this week wasn't very cool. The Evans told me I'd be staying in Guyana for sure a week ago so I wasn't worrying about anything. Wednesday night I find out I'm leaving. Sis. Bowen in our branch told me she had a ticket for me to leave. Thursday and Friday rumors are flying more and more. I kept hearing that I might be learning French and going to Guadeloupe or French Guiana. Friday and Saturday we waited all day for a phone call from President telling us we're being transferred. Saturday night we get the call. Elder Stebbing = Port of Spain, Trinidad. Elder Morris = Sangre Grande, Trinidad. Whoa!! I was stunned. I was fine with it and everything and was just relieved that I didn't have to learn French or anything. Sunday we are at church and I told President Pooran goodbye, he's in the district Presidency. He was like, "Nonsense!! You are not leaving Guyana!!!" He called President Gamiette and supposedly I had already been put on the list for people to receive work permits to stay in Guyana. So I couldn't even LEAVE Guyana because I was on the list. They changed everything around and now, I am going to Rose Hall, Berbice, Guyana. I will be a District Leader, training Elder Wilkins, a Guyanese Mini-missionary. Berbice is more of the country of Guyana. More insects, bigger insects, Caymans (Alligators) etc. It'll be SWEET!!! I'm very nervous to be teaching someone how to be a missionary but I'm going to work my hardest. Everything is going to be so different next transfer. Tons more missionaries will be on the islands, and a ton of people in Trinidad. Berbice is about an hour east of Georgetown, past the river. It'll be pretty exciting.
We met a lot of our members and recent converts the past few days, saying our goodbyes and collecting phone numbers and addresses. Don't be surprised if one calls the home phone. Haha!
Anyways it was a rollercoaster of a week. I'm blanking an area this next transfer. I go there on Thursday. I don't know anyone there or any investigators. I love Guyana and am blessed to be able to stay here!! It'll be pretty exciting.
Elder Morris
Attached are two clippings of us in the paper. Pretty funny.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
September 7, 2009
Things are interesting in Guyana. I won't waste much time talking about random people we talked to during the week. Basically this was all the rage/news in the mission. So! Yes I was detained this past week. Wednesday morning we got the call to go over to the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) Headquarters. We got there, not knowing what to expect, walked in and were told we couldn't leave. They had a list of 50 missionaries that are going to be kicked out. 13 have already left and so 37 will be kicked out.
What happened is that when we enter the country we get a 30 day stamp in our passports. The senior couple fills out tons of paperwork for an extension on our visas. For 20 years nothing has gone wrong until now they have gone through and denied all of them. So now all of a sudden we have "overstayed" our time even though we haven't done anything. In fact with all the law side of things, we are STILL legal here, but they're not listening. We weren't illegal here like lots think.
So, we were "asked" to come to headquarters. They sent cops to our apartment to pick us up the night before but we were out working so they didn't take us. They did, however, find Elder and Sister Evans. They were taken to lockup and stayed there overnight. We were at the place being assured by Nigel Hughes, the lawyer, that everything would be okay and we'd be out by 10am.
Then they came and said, alright, out by 12 pm. That time came and passed. Finally someone figured out that a few of us who came with their companions weren't on the list of those to be detained, including me. We were released and got to go and do missionary work. There were about 40 people there though.
We weren't in jail cells, btw, just in a big office. They finally got a Supreme Court order ordering us to be released. That was about 1 pm. We got word that President Jagdeo (Guyanese President) and Home Affairs had no intention of following that order (the law pretty much) and still kept us and said that we were being forced to leave tomorrow.
I was off doing missionary work with Elder Scott but the others were still there. They got Popeye's and Pizza Hut for lunch and dinner. Things cooled down a bit and now the ones on the list have 30 days to leave the country. We're still out doing missionary work, but about 35 missionaries, including senior couples, have to leave the country. Most will go to Trinidad and double up with other missionaries there.
So the 15 or so left, including me, will be able to stay here until they say otherwise. To deal with the situation, they are calling a ton of pre-missionary age young men and young women to serve mini missions here in their own country. So, next transfer I will probably be training a brand new Guyanese teenager missionary. WIERD but really a good opportunity!!!
Anyways, things are going well. I confirmed Raymond in church yesterday. Very neat experience. First time doing it! We might have a couple baptisms coming up later, but things are a bit slow right now. More news about that next week I guess.
I played Georgetown Risk with the Zone leaders yesterday night. I won big time!! Owned them all!!
Well I gotta go. Wish I could send some pictures. Have a good one!!
I AM SAFE and sound. Don't worry about me.
Elder Morris
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Elder Scott's Scottopoly
Two member kids on the church fence.
Baptism of Raymond Craig 8.30.09Wednesday, August 26, 2009
August 24, 2009
Alright so this week nothin much has changed. Our zone isn't doing to well. We're the only area with sucess so far this transfer. 1 baptism in 3 weeks for all 6 companionships.
We will have a baptism Sunday for Raymond. He is a friend of Salim's. We wouldn't have met him if we weren't trying to reach every single goal every day. One night we needed a new investigator and a referral so we had the Salim's call a friend and invite him over. We taught Raymond the first lesson and it went way good. He loved it and committed to baptism right there. We wouldn't have met him if we weren't trying to complete all our goals.
My testimony is growing every single day! I love it here even if it is super hot and sweaty every day! It hasn't rained to much latley because the rainy season just ended. I'm becoming a better teacher as I keep studying every morning.
Haha, we found a rat in the apartment the other day! Very entertaining - both Elder Stebbing and I running around in our G's wielding cricket bats! It got away though. Haha, don't worry. Our apartment is fine. First time we've had a rat in a very long time.
I loved reading your emails. Can't respond much. I wish I could. Just know things are going very well. SEND THE TIES!! Yes they are ugly. We're missionaries! That's the culture. Ugly fat ties. Haha. They are worth lots of money here.
Elder Morris
August 17, 2009
Hey there!
Hello from Guyana. BTW to those that are interested it's "Guy-Anna" (Pronunciation wise.) Busy, busy week! The new way of contacting people has really made it difficult to get our 20 contacts. The results will improve because of it, but it takes a whole lotta work. Also, we've found a lot of new people recently, but like all of our investigators have only been to church once which makes it difficult if you have a goal of 6 baptisms the month of August.
Tuesday we did exchanges with the Zone leaders. Elder Scott came with me in Kitty and we tore it up. We reached all our goals, found cool new people, and got all of our contacts. He's an awesome missionary and I really learned a lot from him. He's a way funny guy too, always laughing. We also had a zone meeting that day taught by the zone leaders learning more about the changes President Gamiette wants in the mission. He basically is raising the bar for missionaries; helping us just be better teachers, people and missionaries. It's been really interesting. With this it raises the bar for investigators too. Instead of just baptizing lots of people, we are now focused on that and making sure that they are reading the Book of Mormon lots, love coming to church, understand everything, etc. It'll be tough but retention will improve so much!
The week was okay. We worked way hard, and surpassed many of our goals for the week, but many of our investigators didn't come to church halting the work a little bit. We'll work harder this week I guess.
Well, Love you all
Elder Morris
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Michelle's baptism (with brother Baptiste)
Member family's son - smiles so big
Dark sky over Georgetown
August 10, 2009Hey!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
August 3, 2009
Hey whappin? (What's happening in Creolese) haha
Life is GOOD! I'm doing great! Today's my 2 month mark, meaning I am approximatley....8.33 percent done with my mission. Crazy!! I'm feeling great though and am enjoying my time here. So today was transfer breakfast because transfers are Wednesday. (Every 6 weeks). Zone leader, Elder Marshall's going to Trinidad, but Elder Stebbing and I both stay in Kitty. We're doin' good. He has 2 transfers left on his mission. Elder Stebbing and I get along great. He's pretty cool. Goes to BYU as well. Breakfast was omlets provided by the Evans'. They're an awesome senior couple! They leave in 3 months though.
News! Michelle is getting baptized Saturday! She chose President Barrow to do the baptism (EQ Pres). He's a way cool guy and she is so ready to be baptized. She has been baptized before but knows why she needs it again. Knows everything really well. It was just put off because she didn't know much but now we have taught her well!
No baptisms this weekend.
News! We might be kicked out of Guyana Thursday. All missionaries in Guyana may be kicked out Thursday. The government issued and order for 50 missionaries to leave by Thursday. President Hymas, President Pooran, and the attorneys are working against it. If we do, like it has happened before, it won't be a big deal. There's no reason to be worried. The church will make sure we're being provided for. And we'll be able to return soon anyways like it has in the past. No time to say more about it.
News! I have lost 30 pounds in this transfer. 6 weeks. I feel great though I think it was just because I was sick at the first part and didn't eat much. 1 weigh 175 now. Now I just need to start exercising.
Seriously this branch is pretty fun. So many funny/wierd/insane people. Guyanese are funny people. I will definantly miss them after my mission. They were playing this wierd game at New Converts night and the old Elders Quorum President was just way too excited. Jumping up and down, singing loudly, haha! Just a funny sight! I have a video of it and...too hard to send videos so maybe another time.
We've been teaching this girl, Tinesha, and she's way excited about it. She's come to church two times already and brings her whole family, cousins, brothers, etc. Most have been pretty cool and will probably get baptized.
Interesting note about transfers. Elder Beeson, my old comp, is with Elder Park next transfer. Park came out in the same group with us. Wierd that they are both together. Usually they put older missionaries with the younger to still be training them and such.
About the package. Don't worry about sending too much stuff. I can buy things here. But send candy, not chocolate. Like Swedish fish and such. Oh, and the Evans address is actually 243 Cedar Courts not 248. Also, I got the letter from home! Got it Thursday so it took about 2 weeks to get here. Not too shabby!
Well I'm doing great. Sorry I couldn't talk about you very much but I love your emails so much!!! I love hearing news from home. Keep it up! An email doesn't take to long to write.
Elder Morris
Friday, July 31, 2009
Baptism of Stacy
Happy Birthday Mom!
Nate from his emailThings are going great! To answer your question we walk everywhere and take buses to different villages. Buses are just vans with numbers painted on them. They like to fit 20 people in one van and blast reggae. Ha ha, quite the experience!
Things are going great here. From being sick I lost like 15 pounds and I actually feel better than I have in a while. Just gotta make sure to eat foods I’m used to. I still don’t eat as much as I used to but that is changing. Like for example today we ate at “The Brazilian” which is this sweet restaurant with guys walking around with meat cutting it off for you. Expensive but we had been saving up for it. It was fun!
Saturday was Stacy’s baptism! She has been ready for so long. She was excited and it was a nice baptism.
Yesterday was branch conference. President Hymas spoke but instead of his talk he started off saying, “The spirit is subdued.” He said that the spirit wasn’t in the room. For some reason he didn’t feel like giving his talk and instead talked to the branch and kept saying that they needed to repent. He talked how he felt wickedness in the room and that the people needed to shape up and repent. Without it, he said, how is the branch supposed to grow? It was quite interesting. He is such a good speaker and I was looking forward for his talk but what he said was inspired and I hope the branch takes note. It was very weird.
Anyhow, we’ve found some new people that we’re teaching. This family we just happened to tract into on accident. This kid yelled at us and was like, “Hey come talk to my cousin!” She was like 18 and showed up to church with a friend and a cousin. It was pretty cool.
So I’ve had some sweet studies. I’ve read like 200 pages of the Book of Mormon in the last month ‘cause I’ve just been trying to read the whole thing well and get an overview of the whole thing before I get into some sweet study. Praying before study helps so much.
Well hey I know this was a weird email but I don’t have much time. I love you! I wish I could say more! Tell Ryan to send the ties to the address in Guyana. Amy, I couldn't reply to either - tell her I love her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY (Mom) AND I LOVE YOU!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
To answer questions from you, yes! We do work with the new converts. We teach them all the lessons over again. President Gamiette said that if the convert stays active for 42 days after baptism they stay active. Pretty cool statistic. Veneta moved over the river to Esecuevo for a short time but she’s solid. She’ll be back soon. The Salims’ grandmother died this week so they have been over the river as well this week
Did you know that most people here only make 200 dollars US a month? We get 540 as a companionship just for food and travel. I can’t imagine. Btw that is 108,000 guyanese dollars. Haha!
Zone conference this week!! WOW!!!!!!!!!! That’s all I can say. I learned SO SO SO much. WE took the beatitudes found in the Sermon on the Mount both in BOM and Matthew and we learned that they are more important than we think. We made a list of each thing we need to do. Like mourn for our sins. That’s important! Repentance is absolutely essential and we need to OWN the atonement and know it is extremely positively important before we can teach others about it. And when teaching others we need to make sure they OWN it as well. That’s what makes them prepared for baptism. To make sure they know how important it is and how it applies to them. I don’t have time to say everything I learned but believe me I learned TONS. I feel different. Like a different person. President Gamiette is an incredible person and I have a lot to learn from him. WOW.
We were only able to baptize one person this weekend. We had three that were ready but they required second interviews by someone in the mission presidency. After talking with President Gamiette he decided to push back Stacy’s baptism and Michelle’s as well. Stacy will be getting baptized this weekend and Michelle in 2 or three weeks. Angela, a short Amerindian lady, way nice, got baptized by me this weekend! Picture included. She is super short! She moved in last week and had been taught by the missionaries in Linden. They are breaking new ground and are having great success there. She was very ready and is always feeling the spirit. She knows without a doubt this is the true church. And so do I! Soon a stake will be in place in Georgetown and from there we will be able to go into the interior and over the Esecuevo river. The interior sounds AWESOME! We will be the first missionaries to ever step foot into there. I can’t imagine what it’d be like. I can’t believe that I’ve been here for 4 weeks and have 4 baptisms. They said to anticipate a baptism a week!
About Wilt Weekend. It didn’t work out at all. 38 people in the entire mission!! Not good. Only 2/6 companionships baptized this weekend in Georgetown . It was too bad. There are 5 zones in Guyana to put it in perspective. I love it though. I think it was a lesson to not focus on the number, but making sure that each person is really ready to enter the waters into baptism and make a covenant with God. Retention is a big problem here. People think that baptism is the final step instead of the beginning. They get forgotten and forget the church and continue with their lives. Our branch, Georgetown 2nd, has a really good program set up to go out and retrieve those people. Thursday nights the Relief Society, Priesthood, and Young Women go out and visit less actives to help them come back to church. It’s working pretty good. I like our branch. Some way cool, crazy, awesome people. Haha, just thinking about em makes me laugh. I’ll take a video of the branch this week and send it so you can meet them! If I have time of course!
Dad wanted me to include some ideas on how to study preach my gospel. Go through it each chapter and do each activity. Do companion studies with mom too. At the end of each chapter it has them. Member missionary work is ESSENTIAL here. Please help the missionaries and think of referrals for them. They LOVE it. Just go through the whole book doing each activity and every activity at the end of each chapter. Also, do the Christ like attributes quiz and figure out what you could improve on each week and work on it for that week! A lot of things I know, but it’ll help. It helps me! I see how important Preach My Gospel is now. I see why each missionary comes home wishing he would have studied it before he went on the mission. I’m keepin up though no worries.
BTW give my congratulations to Rachel (Gray) on her engagement! Dad told me about it. Todd seems like a cool guy.
Well that’s all I can really say. I love getting your emails and I work hard to make sure to reply to everything you ask me! I love it here. What a unique environment, walking down the street, being called white boy archers (gay white boys), jokin with drunk rastas, (dreadlocks Bob Marley types), playing cricket, etc. It’s all good. Haha I like being called spies too. They think we’re really from the FBI. Haha it’s way fun. Well I love you mom. More next week!
