Fingerprints

8-19: Exhausted

8-20: Released

8-21: Good

8-22: So tired

8-23: Well spent

8-24 SO STOKED

8-25: Good

I have two weeks left until the transfer and Sister Fuller and I feel like change is in the air. We really get along so well, I am so blessed! I'm scared to get a different companion, if I do!! 

If you haven't seen this http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2119328537001 YOU NEED TO!!! We have been sharing it all week with our members. It brings a new perspective on the whole "child of God" thing. I love it. 

God's fingerprints are all around us. He created all things and planned everything out before it was made. He is in our lives a LOT more than we think he is. We are His finest creations. He LOVES us! I wish I could show my enthusiasm through an email... Doesn't really work that way.

Take time to notice God's fingerprints in your life.

I never realized the huge importance of the Sabbath day until studying it this week. THE SABBATH DAY EXISTED BEFORE MAN WAS EVEN PLACES ON THE EARTH!!! It is hollowed as a day to reflect all the Lord has done for us. It's like my weekly thanksgiving, it's also ACCESS THE ATONEMENT DAY with the partaking of the sacrament. It is so important that we use this day! Every day for studies I write the promises made to us in all our manuals. THERE ARE SO MANY PROMISED BLESSINGS FROM KEEPING THE SABBATH DAY HOLY!!!! Every aspect of our lives can be enriched with it! How wonderful!!! Guaranteed blessings if you keep it holy. Awesome.

After a bunch of slow weeks, we FINALLY ARE ROLLIN'!!!! THE 

BLESSINGS ARE COMING!!! MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING!!!

We have almost met with EVERY LESS ACTIVE IN OUR AREA and are teaching many of them, some with part member families!! Hopefully that'll continue. The ward is great. We know EVERYONE and they all know us! They like to be around us and often express appreciation for the spirit we carry. There really is a sacred, special missionary spirit. I am SO thankful for it! 

We made cool wallpaper of a huge chart with everyone in our ward, address, basic info, how many times we've visit them, and how many times we've eaten at their house. This way we know who we're seen and what we know about them!! We can plan our days better based on the people we haven't seen or gotten to know.

I really and truly LOVE being a missionary. I love seeing the blessings and miracles of the Lord. 

So much happened this week. We spent about a 3rd of our time ( we calculated all the hours) serving in different ways. If you look for opportunities to serve, they pop up everywhere!! 

I also got to do service at a dairy farm with REAL LIVE COWS!!!! Like 4 day old cows!!!! I learned how to do a lot of stuff. The farm was built in 1830. This part of the country really has the old town small town kind of feel. 

John (the one reading the entire Book of Mormon) finally came to church. It was wonderful! He is really progressing and is coming to our Book of Mormon class on Wednesday nights.

We are in the Lord's path because we bump into less actives ALL THE TIME!!!

This last week we had a less active CALL US AND ASK US FOR LESSONS....... THAT NEVER HAPPENS. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!! But it was wonderful, because now we can teach him and help him come back to church!

We had a miraculous 8 less active lessons this week, up from 3 last week. It's a big deal.

We are working so hard and it's finally showing!

Our schedule are booked up until next week!! That never happens! We have to move duplicate meals back to the following week because there's no time this week. We have people to teach!! 

Seriously though, things are so good. The Lord is blessing us and guiding us. I know it because I can feel the spirit flow through us as we teach. God's fingerprints are very much so intertwined with our own. What a privilege to be out here on a mission!

FUNNIEST STORY:

I have been wanting to see a turkeys ever since I got here. We were driving up to the farm and saw a TURKEY FARM. We stop the car in the middle of the road and I get out to take a picture. I get really close to the turkey and all the sudden something happened to my finger! I wasn't bit... I got SHOCKED by the electric fence! We laughed so hard...

{Just so y'all know, that skirt was $5 and so was Sister Fuller's dress!}

{I am now a nature photographer. Here are some real turkeys. They're really ugly.}

{Thank you Mackenzie for my GAME DAY SHIRT. The cows loved it.}

{Last weeks hike!!!!}

{I love all these sisters so much!!}

Praying for you all every night. Get out and have your own missionary experiences and experience the special missionary spirit!

Really though, take time to notice God's fingerprints in your lives. 

LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Morgan

GO BIG OR GO HOME

8-12: Motivated

8-13: Confident

8-14: Drained

8-15: Hopeful

8-16: Happy

8-17: Happy

8-18: Greeeeat

One thing that will probably surprise all of you: I am a morning person. I love mornings because I get to work out, study my favorite books, and share what I've learned. They truly are the "magic hours" that can make or break a day!

President Stoker is a man of surprises. He is always showing up when we wouldn't expect him to! Which is cool! He showed up yesterday at sacrament meeting. I almost wet my pants because we've only had one person ever come to church and I was afraid that no one would come... MIRACLE: WE HAD RAY COME TO CHURCH AAAAGAIN AND THIS TIME HE BROUGHT BARBERA AND THEIR SON DOMINIC!! It was CRAZY. 

Also, we are proud to announce our first PROGRESSING INVESTIGATOR... RAY!!! He came to church twice in a row! Aggh I'm so happy!! 

I read an article this week by President Uchtdorf that has boosted me UP. "Continue in Patience"

Read it.

I love what Brigham Young said when inquiring of the Lord. Instead of asking Him to give him patience, he would say "give me patience to wait until I can understand it for myself."

That's HUGE. The Lord has SUCH different timing than we do!!! With us, and with the people we teach. "grace by grace" I will "continue in patience until [I] am perfected."

I will become a master teacher by study.

I was pondering this week about how beautiful it is here. I am so intrigued with God's creations! Nature everywhere proclaims praise for its Creator. The trees, the mountains, the rivers, the birds, all praise their Creator without saying ANYTHING. How can I have that same power?! It's amazing to me that God created all of this, but we, His children, are His FINEST creation. I want everyone to know of their divine nature, and I want them to know that their Father in Heaven is merciful and LOVING. He created us. So this is the question:

How do I praise my creator and how can others recognize that?

What is it that I must do to become like nature?

Another thought pertaining to the creation of the world: the Sabbath was made a day of rest before we were even put on the earth. If that doesn't state its importance, what does?! 

Pondering man... Good things come from those who ponder.

New England is a cold place. It's August and already it's 40 degrees at night! What the heck!! 

We are serving all the time now!! We are trying to best create those situations we would listen to other missionaries. People are more willing to listen to you when you're serving them, or serving with them. They ask more questions than someone at the door would. Plus, serving is fun! I think I need to be better about inviting people to make commitments. Once I get that down things should go faster!

John! Our investigator! He is awesome! He is reading the Book of Mormon and LOVES it! It's cool because his testimony of it is real. He prays and knows! He wants to finish it before committing to baptism, but we have a soft bap date (which is when he's done). We are teaching him this week when we go on splits with the young women!!

Anyways...

We got to go to the ward camp-out and sit by the fire and get to know the members better! I can honestly say that I know about 90% of the active members and some of the less actives. I love them all so much!

"Private victories always proceed public victories!" Wise words from my mother... 

{Making cupcakes for one of the other sister's birthday! #fatty #didireallyjusthashtag #itsbeentoolong}

{See. I'm SWALLOWED by trees! But I love it. It's beautiful!!}

{I got licked by this goat this last week. That's a first. This family had 20 goats, 10 horses, 8 dogs, and like 20 cats, PLUS their 5 kids. }

{Harry Potter??}

{Yep. Sweater weather is here. They have all these covered bridges everywhere around here! Ahhh New England is the most adorable place I've ever been to. Can't wait for fall. Which is totally going down soon. }

{Night games... GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!}

just another week in the life of sister ashley morgan...

AAAAIIIIGHT

This is how I felt at the end of each day:

8-5: tired and spent

8-6: sad

8-7: rewarded

8-8: feelin good

8-9: grossed out (another mouse)

8-10: happy!

8-11: rewarded

8-12: motivated

I thought I'd share with y'all some things I've learned about myself as I've been out here:

I am crazy goal oriented.

I can't keep a desk clean.

I have more enthusiasm for everything than I probably should. 

I have an ability to interpret the scriptures.

ZONE CONFERENCE WAS THIS WEEK! OUR PRESIDENT IS SO COOL AND IS ALSO VERY GOAL ORIENTED. He was totally a business man before he came out here. He revamped our mission vision, AND HAS GIVEN US STEPS TO ACCOMPLISH IT. What a man. He understands the scriptures and loves them. He holds the keys to this mission. He said some wonderful things to us that definitely were of comfort to me! 

He stared with us D&C 93:11-14. This is how the Savior grew to become who He is. I always forget that the Savior didn't know His purpose until after He studied it out. As He gave grace, he received it. Grace in the bible dictionary is amazing too. Grace is that extra strength when we have given all we can give. It's what The Lord can do that we can't do! 

I want so badly to become the missionary I will be at the end of my mission, but as I continue to do my best I know it'll make a difference. I just have to trust in the grace of our Savior to make up for my mistakes.

Alma 36 is awesome. He gives his conversion story to his son Helaman. I love the scriptures because everyone starts out so imperfect, then through Christ they become something much more than they were! Alma wants more than anything to be with God again. He knew his purpose. As soon as he felt this power of the Atonement, he started it with EVERYONE. In vs 24 is says that he "labored without ceasing" to bring souls back to God! Bring them home! He worked so hard! And saw the blessings of it! He was patience, diligent, faithful, everything I pray to be!

Tomorrow I get to be a SISTER MISSIONARY AT THE Joseph Smith Memorial!!! I am so excited you have no idea. 

Last week we made a deal with Heavenly Father that if some of our investigators that weren't progressing didn't come to church, we were done for now, and that if they did, we would continue to teach them. HE CAME!!! My first investigator came to church!!! AHHH I am so excited!!!

This week we will be focusing a lot more on working with the members!

{Funny how the Lord takes you to places just so you can testify of His gospel. There were many instances like that this week. It's amazing to be a part of it and to always always ALWAYS be in the right place "coincidentally" (I don't believe in coincidences after my mission). }

{ Yeah, that happened again...}

{ Last second trip to the JSM! Cool story along with it, wish I had time to write it haha. Write me for more details. }

{ A WILD BOAR THAT I ATE FOR DINNER..........}

anyways. I love you all! Read your scriptures, pray, and go to church (CPR).

Transitions

Monday- FEEL: pleased

Tuesday- FEEL: FULL. SO much food! 

Wednesday- FEEL: Frustrated and tired.

Thursday- FEEL: Hopeful.

Friday- FEEL: Grateful.

Saturday- FEEL: Enriched.

Sunday- FEEL: MAD.

There's this week in feelings. I'm trying to record my mission better, but the end of the day I can't remember what happened at the beginning. It all kind of blurs together!

Sister Fuller and I had an interesting week full of free blueberry pickings, fasting, and LOTS of praying.

One of the humbling things about a mission is knowing that you are acting in an area as if Christ were. You are doing what He would do. Also knowing that comes with the knowledge that He wouldn't place you in a place without a PLAN. That's what we are searching for, is His plan for the Hanover Area.

I feel Him humbling me. This seriously cannot be done without Him! I feel badly that I am frustrated at times, my patience is growing. His revelation is coming to us like we are walking through thick fog. You can only see the next three steps ahead of you, and until you take those three steps you can't go further. Once you do take the three steps ahead, you can see the next three steps. 

It's happening.

Sometimes our answers to prayers teach us things. They humble us. He gives us trial for our better. 

D&C 122:7 "know thou, my daughter, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

I've experienced this many a time in my life, but never before in a missionary sense. It's neat to feel His love so strongly for me just by reading the scriptures.

I cling to them for advice, a road map of some sort. 

Today I read in Alma about the Anti Nephi-Lehi's burring their weapons, being an example to the Lamanites, and through giving their life brought more people into the fold. They recognized that God's plan isn't always ours, that He knows best, and we must do as He commands.

Alma 26 - Ammon reflects on his mission. He reflects on how much he put into the work, and the fruits of his labors. He glories in the Lord and knows that he followed his plan!

Alma 26:27 "now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold the Lord comforted us, and said: Go among thy brothren the Lamanites, and BEAR WITH PATIENCE THINE AFFLICTIONS, AND I WILL GIVE UNTO YOU SUCCESS."

If that wasn't an answer to my prayers, I don't know what was! 

We have been praying and fasting this week to know what it is we need to do, and how to do it. It's hard because I love these people with EVERYTHING I have!!! I love them! But my lessons are more chit chats, they are bored during the lessons. They aren't progressing and haven't been for transfers. We are going to do what I feared: we have to drop some of them. It breaks my heart, but I know that just because they aren't ready NOW doesn't mean they won't be later.

It's a huge leap of faith because we'll be left with two investigators. We have no idea what we'll fill our schedule with, but Sister Fuller and I have faith that the Lord will fill it. We will be where He wants us to be. "I will go where you want me to go" is very literal. I know that as we make room for those who are prepared, the Lord will show us the way. It's going to take a while to get things back moving, but it'll be better than it is now! 

Miracles:

Lisa's toddler got an ear infection. Lisa is a NEW investigator from last transfer. She asked for a blessing. Her daughter would FIGHT to take her medicine! After the blessing look at the text we received:

AMAZING!!! I love how the Lord answers prayers and KNOWS US!!

Alma 26:37 - "we see that God is mindful of every people"

He knows us. He knows Bella. He knows Lisa!

Another miracle:

Driving home from church Sunday with Megan, we drove under a rain cloud and more rain poured than I've ever seen in my life! We hydroplaned to the right and hit the guard rail right as the Connecticut River started. We pulled over and the axle was bent. The guy that saw it stopped behind us. He was shocked that we were ok and that I wasn't crushed! God watches over his missionaries!

Miracle #3:

Everyone has blueberry trees. Everyone gives blueberries to the missionaries. New recipe:

Blue berries

Fetta

Olive oil

S&P

Fresh basil

OH MY GOSH it's so good. All local. All free for missionaries haha! I love Vermont.

{My area is in the scriptures!!} 

{White River Junction}