1/25/15... I got transferred to PITSANULOK people!! (Possibly Sarah's best letter yet!)

with my CUTE new khuu at Que Pasa!

Hey hey hey!! 

It sounds like everyone is doing so great, as always!

So its like when you have way big news for someone.... and then they already know, kind of ruins it but you will never guess.... I got transferred to PITSANULOK people!! Can you believe it?!

Sister Nethercott and I are opening a second Sisters area here, so there are still 2 other Sisters, Sister Alley and Sister Burbank, then just 2 Elders now instead of 4, Elder Calderon and Elder Chamberlain.... we are so excited! The branch is pretty small, and there is a lot of "clean up" work to do, plus lots of room for growth. Its going to be a great transfer for sure. 

I seriously feel like 1,000 things have happened since my last email, so here goes for the updates:

So last Monday night, Sis Herrmann and I get home and I go to flip the light on and OUR POWER GOT TURNED OFF!! We may have not known/forgotten to pay the bill... oops, that is what happens when you have 2 greenies together who have never done house money before, also what happens when all of the mail is in Thai... haha learning experience I guess! So we are laying there in our hot box trying to sleep with no air conditioning, and we get the call that SISTER MORGAN IS MOVING and he also gave us permission to sleep at the church. Haha so we "slept" at the church which isn't as fun as it sounds...kind of creepy actually, and there wasn't much sleeping going on with all of the thoughts "Where the heck am I moving?! Who will be coming here!?" oh what fun..........

Coming home from sleeping at the church... And Sister Herman got hit with a water gun!

The rest of the week kind of flew by with lots of lessons and preparing to leave. I can't really describe the feelings of knowing you are leaving your area... there is that tinge of excitement for the unknown that lies ahead, there is that worry for leaving the work you planned on being able to continue, there is that sadness for leaving the people you have come to love so much- the ward, your companion, your district, your RCs, your investigators... So much to take in! On Wednesday night the ward had a little goodbye party before BOM class for the 3 of us moving, Elder Williams, Elder Davis and I and I am seriously going to miss these people so much! They will be my family here in Thailand forever, it was where I was "BORN" and I have made so many fun lasting relationships. They literally showered me with goodbye gifts and it was just a good time. It was especially tender with a few of my RCs.... ahh that bond you have when it is the gospel that brought you together is so so cool. I really feel like there were very specific things I was sent to Bangnaa to accomplish and also to learn, I will forever be grateful for my time there. Bangnaa was too good to me!

the Bishop thinks hes a tough guy, but really he is such a softie!

with my GIRLS

With Sister June... going to MISS her and her sass!

SISTER BOY is literally CRAZY, what am I going to do without her?!

It was definitely hard saying goodbye to Sister Herrmann. She was seriously SUCH a good companion. I learned so much from her about loving others and making missionary work FUN. We had Christmas together, we ate chicken everyday together, we laughed HARD together, and we totally "Baptized the world!" together. Such a great 6 weeks,  I will love her forever!

So then Thursday was Transfers and seriously... Transfers in this mission are TOO fun. It is like a party that everyone wants to get invited to, even if you and your companion arent transferring, you are hoping to find some reason, any reason at all to go... its THAT good. The Seniors are THAT good. haha! It's so fun seeing your MTC group and catching up... it was crazy how many people from my group were getting transferred, there were lots of changes made! But yeah, I got moved to P-Lok!!!!! It was such a surprise, and everyone has said either "You will LOVE it... best area!" or "YIKES that is literally the hottest place in Thailand!" haha But then Thursday night we waited FOREVER at the bus station, our bus didnt leave until 9:30! Then we didn't get to the house in P-lok until like 4:30 AM.... crazy! It is so funny cause all I have ever known is living in Bangkok, I just take a nice 40 min taxi ride to the church where we have Transfers and we're all set... I had no idea how much of an ordeal it is for all of the missionaries in the north and in the Isan! ALSO-- got my cutest Valentines Day package ever!!!! Again... you are the best, everything and more that I could have ever wanted! You are too good to me. :)

sitting, waiting, wishing at the Bus Station FOREVER!

So now we are here in Pitsanulok and it has been SO good! Sister Nethercott and I have already seen so many miracles, here are just a few:

Living with Sister Alley and Sister Burbank... they have been seriously the best, showing us around everywhere, helping us get to know the ward etc. Not to mention the fact that they had totally gotten our house all ready (changed the sheets for us and everything)  since we had to switch houses with the Elders since there are now 4 of us. Haha speaking of the house... It is charming, especially from the outside, but I think the only way to describe the inside would be like that creepy page from the I Spy Books you check out from the school library in elementary school that are of the old house with a ton of eclectic junk that you almost don't want to take the time to find the things on that page cause its mostly creepy dolls and teddy bears and old roller skates.. That is our house! haha. I will maybe take pics one day... maybe not though

Our cute house!

The fact that I have not died riding a bike yet! We totally got my bike and it is SO CUTE!!!! Highlighter with hot pink... seriously when I saw it... I was like yeah I am getting that one. Plus also the pop of turquoise helmet... So cute. It is harder than you think riding in a skirt though... especially maintaining a little bit of modesty when its a super flairy skirt HAHA, so I got some of those big black paper clips and they are working wonders. I have decided I am probably going to lose all of my Bangkok cuteness here but I am ok with it, if it's for the the work of the Lord, I can handle it! hahaha

The Church here is an old townhouse!!

We were literally left with a little bit of a mess to come into... no progressing investigators and hardly any records or anything... but we have people we are teaching right now and 2 that should be baptized on Sunday and another on the following Sunday. So fun! We have been doing lots of inviting and making lots of calls.. There were some investigators and potential investigators in the phone so we have been calling all of them... So all of the potentials have "PI" at the front of their name, so I am calling all of them... and I call one and ask if he is still interested in Jesus Christ/learning with us, and he is like "Ummm this is the Branch President...." hahaha I dont know if the old Elders were trying to play a practical joke on us or what, but that is one way to get to know the new President! He is way cool and I am excited to work in this branch. 

The other miracle would be having the best district training with Pres and Sister Senior here in P-lok yesterday... such a treat! That was why I emailed today instead of Monday.. sorry if you were nervous... I have memories of Ty doing that and us thinking surely he had been kidnapped or died or something! (She knows me all too well...that is exactly what I was thinking!!)

 But seriously I just love everything we talked about... One thing they touched on was diligence in obedience. We talked about how the word diligence in anything denotes 100%, it doesn't mean adherence some of the time or when it's convenient it means a concerted effort to be that way all the time. In a sense it means perfection... 

I have been thinking about this concept of a standard of "perfection" as I have been reading in 3rd Nephi when the Savior is teaching the Beattitudes and in my reading about the Sermon on the Mount in Jesus the Christ.. The Savior teaches us through these accounts that unlike what the world invites- to retaliate when someone fights with you, to give only to those who have given equally to you, to pray publicly to be seen of men- The gospel invites us to a new standard of diligence and perfection- to turn the other cheek when someone fights with you, to give freely to those who would take from you, to pray secretly and be rewarded in Heaven.

I think it is the most simple invitation/ reminder that the Savior leaves us with at the end of Chapter 12 in 3rd Nephi: "Therefore, I would that ye should be perfect, even as I, or your Father in Heaven is perfect."Surely the Savior ins't implying here that he expects perfection out of us, but I love the invitation to anxiously engage in diligence and "perfection" in the areas that we can control.

Here is to a week a little more "perfect" than the last.... for all of us!!

All of my love, Sister Morgan

Finally a sign that sums up my true feelings. POPCORN FOR LIFE!

P-Lok at night at the River... seriously so beautiful!!

Still at the bus station...Headed for Phitsanulok

Transfer meeting

1/18/15... As a representative of Jesus Christ it is such a privilege to share the good news with anyone and everyone

 The Bishop who baptized เต้ย (Thuuh-eey) and ขวัญ (Kwaan) and some of the other missionaries!

Family of mine!!

Oh my goodness, can I just say I am so stoked on all of your adventures and successes and just all of it! What the heck BRAD totally swishing the 3 to win the game vs Walla Walla, and PJ with 3 goals and a new found talent in the nose flute. Who are these people!?... yeah so proud! 

So this week has been way good, I am officially finished with my training, and transfers are this Thursday! Sister Herrmann and I seriously have no idea where time has gone, these past 6 weeks have literally flown by and oh boy have we seen the hand of the Lord in บางนา.

Here are some thoughts, highlights and updates from this week as usual:

So yesterday เต้ย (Thuuh-eey) and ขวัญ (Kwaan) got baptized and it was seriously so perfect! I don't remember if I told you, but เต้ย was the one who I said has gone through several sets of missionaries, has been learning for over a year and a half and one set of Elders even wrote "he needs a personal tragedy to humble him". ขวัญ has been learning for 3 years and has such a strong testimony and not to mention is the cutest little ray of sunshine ever, she was seriously just SO ready. I am so grateful to have been a part in them (finally) making these first covenants with Heavenly Father. As I studied about them, pondered over them, shared with them, talked with them on the phone (MANY TIMES) I felt such a connection to both of them and know that they are part of the reason I am here in บางนา, despite not having taught them "the lessons". They were both SO happy yesterday, and seeing this new light in them really just makes you want to burst. So so good. 

With ขวัญ on her big day! How angelic is she??

So then also this week we had a switch off and I went to บางเชน, where I got to work with Sister Lor from my group at the MTC! It was perfect cause Sister Adams (our Sister Training Leader who is SO COOL) came to our area and worked with Sister Herrmann and she was actually a greenie here in บางนา so she got to teach some of her RCs and see the ward etc! It was so fun seeing a different area and how it works, but it also made me really appreciate all of the things I know and love about my area. Sis Lor had such a good time teaching together, especially since it is way more coherent than when we were together in the MTC HAHA.

Cute members last week, everyone LOVES pics here, especially my fun companion haha...she is the best!!

This week Sister Herrmann and I have just had a good laugh at the realization that the people we are teaching right now are so diverse. Like some examples: We have a young 14 year old girl who is learning english with us who is probably the cutest thing in the whole world. We are teaching 3 homosexual people. We are teaching an African who plays professional soccer here in Thailand. We are teaching a mom who works here in Bangkok who's kids live far away. 

So if there is one thing I have really pondered as I think about these different people, it comes from a scripture (3 Ne 9:14) I have shared with many of my investigators that I love because it is literally the words of the Savior and is an invitation to all:

 "Yea, verily, I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."

I love that word, "whosoever" because it reminds me that this gospel and this message are for ALL. As a representative of Jesus Christ it is such a privilege to share the good news with anyone and everyone, no matter who they are, and let them know that He truly is calling after them and will receive them. 

I love you all and hope you have the best week... maybe build a snowman for me! 

Transfers are this Thursday, so be sure to pray for good things for all of the missionaries in Thailand!! 

xoxo Sister Morgan

Mom to answer your qs:

I think just keep ordering what you order, Thai food is all good! Maybe try SomTham!

Yes, I got all the info on the new president! Tell Uncle Dave thanks so much! I am excited, he seems great. How lucky is that.. Two killer mission presidents!? I think it might be true TBM, Thailand Bangkok Mission really is TBM, The Best Mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

haha don't you love that cheesy ending????? yeahhh

The best district ever!!! 

P Day fun in IKEA!

Cute visitors from Elder Davis' last area.. I LOVE THEM, they claim to be the parents of all the missionaries they meet, so Mom you don't have to worry, I am being taken care of! 

The only pic I took from the switch off... cutest popcorn stand where we ate lunch! The smell was bliss..... 

Quicksilver! Made me think of my three favorite boys...and you know I asked if they had stickers but they DIDN'T?! what the heck....

Sister June gets her mission call to AUSTRALIA!! So excited for her! 

1/11/15... I held a baby TIGER and am learning P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E

I held a baby tiger!!

FAM FAM!! 

Thank you so much for the updates, I am so so happy to hear all is well with my favorite people. I am always amazed at how much happens in a week with you guys.. but then again I look back on my week here and I am like "whoa that all happened THIS week??" time is a funny thing out here...

But I really do appreciate all of the love and letters and PRAYERS.. I have so felt them this week, especially yours mom and dad :) so THANK you THANK you THANK you!

This week can really be summed up with D&C 64:32-33:

"But all things must come to pass in their time. Wherefore be not weary in well doing for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth forth that which is great."

The other day in our companionship inventory Sister Herrmann and I said something to the effect of both really wanting to work on patience for the coming week.. Well Heavenly Father was very generous in helping that happen! Haha we are learning a lot about trusting the Lord's timing right now with our investigators.

Our week started out with Brother ธงชัย (Tong chai) the brother of the Patriarch calling and saying that he has decided to go to the Protestant church with his daughter after all. We were so so sad. We have talked with the Patriarch a few times about it, and I think we all feel like we need to be PATIENT with his timing with the gospel. Right now, he has accepted Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father into his life, which is a lot more than he had before. 

Haha Sister Herrmann and I are going through withdrawls a little bit though... imagine having Grandpa Floyd (especially his antics/humor) suddenly ripped from your life... our calls/lessons with him were always so fun and unpredictable. We pray we will have the opportunity to work with him again!

So then with a few of our other investigators P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E is again the name of the game, trusting Heavenly Father and not getting to focused on OUR plans over HIS plans. 

With ขวัญ (Kwaan) we are still trying to help her feel like she can make the decision despite being the only member in her family. She has such little time to meet with us so that has been a challenge too (In Thailand if you are a student, you are ALWAYS studying or having special classes or testing, literally NO TIME... I'm pretty sure the words "sob" and "rien pee-said" make every missionary who has ever served in Thailand cringe! HAHA) 

With แปง (Bang), our new investigator from English class (seriously an ANGEL!) she is only 14 so her baptismal date is a little farther out. She is so good, and we are starting to work with her mom! 

Then with นอ้ย (Noi) an older man we have been teaching. So when we teach him we go to his house because he cares for his mother and can't leave her. He is really receptive when we teach him, but isn't able to come to church which makes it hard for him to progress towards baptism. Well when we visited him this week with some members we didn't have much time, but we got talking and come to find out, his wife and 2 children died in a plane crash years ago.. he has never remarried, just lives and cares for his dying mother. This is such a testimony that Heavenly Father knows His children and is truly doing work to bring to pass each and every persons salvation and eternal happiness. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and Eternal Families and bore testimony that they will be reunited someday. SO awesome. In the right timing (again patience) he will be baptized and sealed to his wife and children. 

The Sisters in our Zone! LOVE THEM

I am grateful to know that no effort in this work is wasted. That rapid progression is not the sign of the Lord's approval or hand, but that if we trust Him and are not "weary in well doing" all things will "come to pass in their time". I love the next verse (verse 34) of D&C chapter 64 that reminds that "the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days." I am grateful for the chance to give him my heart and mind for 18 months, and in turn to be able to see so many times here in Thailand where we are, and have been "eating the good of the land". Whether it be in finding investigators, having baptisms, the awesome ward, literally "eating the good of the land" in the YUMMY food here haha, or just in laughter and fun times, the Lord has truly blessed us here in บางนา.

So some other fun updates/ to answer your questions:

With cute little Sister สุชาดา..
Yes... I am the resident GIANT in Thailand. hahaha

I met a Sister who served with Uncle David, Sis สุชาดา! Small world, she said to tell him Hello! and when I told him he has 6 kids she was so impressed.. haha so congratulations to you Uncle Dave on the big fam from Sister สุชาดา!

I held a BABY TIGER last Monday!! We went to the Crocodile farm with a bunch of other missionaries including my beloved Sister Coates.. SO fun!!

Some of the Elders and Sisters in our Zone... 

I am SO excited for the package.. you are the best!

You asked if I have to eat anything gross.. To be honest I never really have to eat anything gross! There are always chicken and vegetable dishes at everything so I am always good to go! the members LOVE that I love spicy food.. they always tell me there is no way that I just got to this country cause most missionaries, greenies or not, can't handle it HAHA!

You asked if I bake, not really! there is nothing in this country to bake! haha I miss it. Send me stuff someday and I will bake it up for sure! But I have made some cute cards and fun notes with my supplies... bringing the zigs was such a good idea! BEST MARKERS EVER. and I love the washi tape!

About the language, the gift of tongues is so real! I can read it and write it, and it gets easier and easier everyday. I think the thing that helps the most is to read out loud from the Book of Mormon everyday.. it helps with tones so much. Spelling is crazy, and I get so bugged because my handwriting in Thai isn't quite as good as my english handwriting yet but I am working on it! Sometimes Sister Herrmann and I are just sitting there and we are like "What the heck, we speak Thai!" Its awesome, and such a blessing.

Well, that is all I have! Here is to another good week! I love love love you guys and hope you remember just how lucky we are to have this gospel... life is SO good! Keep up the good work, you all INSPIRE me to live up to the Morgan name :) 

xoxo Sister Morgan

Sitting on an ELEPHANT!!! 

This one is for you SISTER CROFT.. Who even knows what stanchions are anyways?!

The SISTAS!

the animals LOVE ME! 

1/4/15... Life is good, we are working hard and seeing miracles.

3 Headed Elephant

FAM! Wow... It has only been a few days and I get to hear from you again, what a treat! Life is good, we are working hard and seeing miracles. Here are some highlights, updates, and thoughts from the past few days...

Miracle: One of our investigators, เตย, has a date to be baptized this week! So we found him in our Area Book and he has PAGES of lessons he has learned over the past year or two, he has learned with several sets of missionaries, and there were tons of notes on him and how he is very smart and educated and really struggles more on the faith/humility side and compares everything to Buddhism. Someone even wrote that he maybe needs a personal tragedy or something to humble him. So the morning of our meeting we really studied for him and prepared, knowing his situation a little bit, and our meeting was SO good. I really feel like the Spirit just led us to read the scriptures we read about the Savior and put words into our mouths. I felt like we should assign him Alma 32 at the end and have him pray specifically about God and if He is real, because if He is real and this is His church, then nothing else matters. Well he called us 2 days later and said he read that chapter and prayed, feels better than he has ever felt and is ready to be baptized. We are so thrilled. 

New Years Fun at the Pier!

Fun: So New Years day was so fun with President Wisan and his daughters!! Oh my goodness they are SO awesome. We went to a few really cool sights around our area, and he even made us a homemade picnic (which we ate on china plates... hahaha they like do not believe in paper plates or plastic forks etc in Thailand. sidenote haha) and took us to Swensons. Ahh how lucky are we?? We love President Wisan and his cutest daughters. 

Funny: Then that night we went inviting at Imperial, and since it was New Years there was this special decor with like a little stage thing with a couch and a "happy new year 2015" sign for people to come take a photo or whatever. Well Sister Herrmann and I decide to go up and take our pic and I kid you not every single person there starts taking pics of us.... hahaha then people start asking to take pics WITH us... we probably had to take like 15 pics. OH MY GOSH SO FUNNY. But it was definitely a blessing... we got 17 phone numbers that day. "sure you can take a pic with us if you will come to church this Sunday!" priceless.

The picture that started it all..HAHA

So one thing that has really been on my mind lately is family. This week I have given a lot of thought to the concept, meaning, and centrality of family to this gospel.

Every time we teach in some form or another we mention  that "the gospel blesses families" This is such a simple truth that I want ALL of my investigators to truly know and understand. 

I just finished reading in Alma and I love the account of the stripling warriors- young men who were said to be exceedingly valiant for courage, true at all times, taught to keep the commandments of God, had never fought but did not fear death, obedient to every command with exactness, and having such exceeding faith in the Lord. I think it is so cool that the Lord takes this beyond just a surface level example of young men eager to follow Him. The Lord wanted to teach us through this account of the influence of a mother (family, parents) as the character of these young men is fully attributed to the teaching and example of their mothers (family, parents). 

"Yea they had been taught by their mothers that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers saying, We do not doubt our mothers knew it."

These words have rung out in my mind all week as I have taught and testified to my investigators, grateful that I myself do not doubt my mother/family know the truth and importance of this gospel and wanting so badly for their families to experience this same power and bond. 

Teaching our investigator ออม about the temple and drawing a "What I want my life to look like in 5 years" vision for her life and helping her to see that more than just involving her career as a singer, it can involve the temple where she can be sealed to her kids for time and all eternity. 

Teaching Brother Radshay's family about the importance of coming to church every week even though it is hard to get all of their kids ready to go by 9 AM. I remembered the days when Brad PJ Ty and I were little and Mom was running around all morning before church and it was a miracle if we made it there on time. I was able to bear my testimony on the power and influence of weekly church attendance as a family and how grateful her children will be someday.

Sharing with ขวัญ our investigator who is 18 and scared to be the first member in her family that she will be the pioneer, changing generations to come caused me to think of every family in this gospel, including my own somewhere along the line, who's lives have been changed by the decision of one person to join the church.

Teaching โช our RC about the influence she can have on her daughter Pancake as she sets an example of honoring her baptismal covenants and shares the gospel with her. She is so funny... always talking about how she and Pancake are BFFS. I told her me and my mom are BFFS too, but I value SO MUCH that she has a testimony and has taught me the gospel and been my number one example my whole life. I LOVE YOU MOM!!

Then with receiving the news of my dear friend who was in my district at the MTC and is serving here in Thailand, Elder Frodsham's father passing away, I have really reflected and find comfort in the fact that we know that family relationships can be perpetuated beyond the grave through the sealing power. Please pray for him.  

Family. I am so so grateful for you. You are my people!! I hope you know just how much I love to read your letters and hear the details of your lives, but how much more I love the fact that God has given us all families to progress and grow together and that you are MINE.Thank you for your influence on my testimony and faith. You are all such strengths to me! 

Life is good, I love you all so much!! Thanks for the prayers and the love and all you do. 

Here is to another good week!

Sister Morgan

A nice man bought us Iced Teas while we were inviting! Whoops! haha don't worry we didn't drink them. 

The one and only President Wisan!

Wi!!!!!
(Wi is Wisan's daughter who Tyler knew at BYU Hawaii...
Sarah remembered meeting her at the snowcone shop there over 3 years ago!

12/28/14... I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of these special life changing moments with people I never knew I could come to love so much.

ทอมสัน's baptism. We are so proud of him! Major fist bumping after this pic...
I taught him fist bumping and he loves it HA

Family! 

Wow, can you believe it has only been a week since we talked FACE TO FACE?! How fun was that?? You all look so good, and from what I just heard from Mom it sounds like Christmas was merry merry, and I think you are all vacationing around the world now, yeah!!! Take lots of pics and send them my way! Mom, I want a pic of your present!! 

You go girl...

So so much has happened since we skyped- can you say miracles on miracles on miracles!- I don't know how I am going to fit it all into one email, but as always, I will do my best...

Our beloved ธงชัย!!
Do you see the Grandpa Floydness in him?! 

So to start off, I will clarify the whole story with พรชัย, the blind patriarch here in Thailand. So Sis Herrmann and I were inviting at a market that we don't usually go to and invited this funny old man named ธงชัย. He is seriously the FUNNIEST MAN in the whole world. Think Thai version of Grandpa Floyd, seriously!! He was super impressed that we were American girls who could speak Thai and that we were out talking to people about our church. So he comes to church on Sunday (this is Sunday the 21st) and Elder Davis is sitting next to him and finds out that he is the younger brother of the blind patriarch and that they lost contact with each other and haven't spoken in 20 years (I know you asked how that is possible and I honestly don't know either, but yeah 20 years people)! So after sacrament meeting a member who had the number of the patriarch called him, and the two brothers were able to speak to each other for the first time in 20 years! So all that week we called and talked with ธงชัย and he was set on coming to church the next Sunday and that we would have a map for him to go see his brother and that we would go with him. So we get in contact with the Elders in the patriarch's ward and call the patriarch and he is just so excited and tells us that Sister กอ๊ง in our ward knows where he lives and he would love for us to come over Sunday afternoon with his brother after he is done giving blessings. So of course we are so excited to be able to witness these brothers reuniting and it was really just a special thing. To be honest Sister Herrmann and I thought it would be like this slow-mo running towards each other into a long embrace followed by expressing how much they have missed each other and catching up on life... but it was more like ธงชัย handing the patriarch a gift basket and shaking hands and some slight conversation. HAHA. 

The reuniting of the brothers!

But we went inside and talked for a while and they even called their other brother who they haven't talked to in years and had Sister Herrmann and I talk with him (we don't know why hahaha) but it was so cool. ธงชัย really knew nothing about his brother's calling so we were able to talk about it a little bit and just visit. UNCLE DAVID, the Patriarch wanted me to tell you that he says hello and that you are welcome to stay at his house anytime because he has an extra room! Such a kind, hospitable man.

So the story goes on that we taught ธงชัย this week, Sis Herrmann and I taught him the Restoration on Monday-- He is a little bit of a character, he loves to talk with us, so keeping him on track is a bit of a challenge. But he tells us he will pray everyday, especially for good health and that he will "take the baptism on the 11th if you two can convince my wife to take the baptism too, because she really needs it!" HA. Then Sister Senior and I taught him on Tuesday after English class-- yes the Sister Senior in the flesh! She and President Senior came to our English class this week, such a treat and so fun to teach together! (we had another person to teach at the same time so we did a switch off and Sis Herrmann taught with a member) So we have been calling his wife, she lives far away, but should be able to come to church on Sunday YAY! Pray for them, they are so awesome and I know us meeting ธงชัย is the answer of many prayers of the patriarch on behalf of his family. 

At the Patriarch's home

Also! The patriarch called us yesterday, and wants us to come to his house tomorrow to teach his son who I don't think is a member! When I called him the other day to tell him about how ธงชัย was progressing he just said he was way impressed with what dedicated missionaries we were and wanted to give us another investigator... little did we know it is possibly his son! 

So there you have it... all the details. But the week doesn't even stop there, I have a few more tid bits that are tooo good not to share!

So this last week Sister Herrmann and I were both way sick.. especially Sister Herrmann, I feel so bad because I totally gave it to her :/ So we totally had to cancel our appointments on Wednesday (Christmas Eve) or have the Elders teach them. We were so bummed because we had really big goals for the week and were just not sure how it would all work out, especially with Thursday being P-Day for Christmas and everything. Well, the Lord really just showed us that it is not us and our ability that does this work, it is HIM. We ended up having 13 investigators at church on Sunday, 16 including the Elders'! What a miracle.

With our girl โช, she is SO great!

Also... we had 2 baptisms! On Sunday โช, the girl who's daughter's name is Pancake got baptized! She is so amazing. She is from English class, and has just totally changed her life around. I had probably one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission teaching her about repentance and the covenant of Baptism right before she interviewed. It was like the Spirit literally filled my mouth with the words to say to her and the scriptures to share. Her testimony after her baptism was just so simple and pure. A guy named Jack was also baptized with her who I met at Imperial but we gave to the Elders to teach. It was crazy because he came to church after I invited him the first time, then he didn't come for a little while, but I saw him again at Imperial and invited him again and he came, and next thing I know the Elders said he was getting baptized! He totally gave me the cutest "shout out" in his testimony haha. Then last night, NEW YEARS EVE, we had the baptism of ทอมสัน, this guy we found in our Area Book who had learned with the Sisters before, but had never been baptized because he smoked and drank. So we call him and meet with him a few weeks ago, and just get on him about not drinking and smoking and tell him to pray every time he wants to smoke or drink. Well seriously he has CHANGED his life. He says every time he wants to smoke he prays and it works.. he tells us all the time that he literally prays all the time! We had some very spiritual experiences praying for strength with him. I have definitely come to know of the power of a fervent kneeling prayer as we have done so with our investigators no matter if it is a prayer for strength, an answer, guidance, courage, forgiveness, to feel of His love etc. I know He hears and answers EVERY prayer as I have seen Him do so with each of my dear investigators.I am so grateful for the opportunity to be apart of these special life changing moments with people I never knew I could come to love so much. 

โช and Jack's Baptism!

Wow if you are still reading this you are probably either my mom or my dad or my Uncle David (HAHA) but it has seriously been such an amazing week. I feel ever more aware after this week that I am nothing more than a tool in His hand, that I will go where He wants me to go, do what He needs me to do, invite who He needs me to invite, and love who He needs me to love. This is His work. I love the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. I love love love to be their missionary.

Other highlights/ fun stuff you should know:

-So Christmas, after we Skyped, Sister Herrmann and I literally put on our matching Christmas PJs, got our snacks and went to the church to sleep and watch movies because we were feeling so yucky! It was actually perfect and so fun, we watched 17 Miracles which had Spanish subtitles that we couldn't get to go away HA, and the District! haha 

Sis Herrmann working it in the matching pjs.. the only pic I have of them.. but seriously they are so cute!

-Also, MOM, I opened the package a few days before Christmas.. So funny, Sis Herrmann basically forced me! The suspense was killing her, and she had already opened hers. HAHA. But like I said, it was literally PERFECT. You are the best best best and sure know how to pack in the good stuff... not an inch of wasted space!!

Opening the World's Best Christmas Package!

-President and Sister Senior made a surprise visit to our English class on Tuesday... Such a treat! They are so fun and so so kind. Every time I am with them, I just feel of what truly good hearted amazing people they are.. Thailand Bangkok Mission is SO lucky. 

-So the reason we had the baptism last night on the 31st was because for the year 2014, we were literally 24 baptisms away from the goal of 2,000 total for the year! So we will find out soon if we reached the goal or not... But how cool is that?! 

-And then today for New Years Sister Herrmann and I are going to do something with President Wisan and his daughter Wi!! We are so excited.. We have no idea what we are going to do, but President Wisan called us the other day and said he will pick us up at noon... SO FUN!?!?!!

Life is good, it is a new year, and the work is moving forward in บางนา!! We have big goals for the rest of the transfer, possibly 2 baptisms this Sunday, and 3 or 4 as of right now for the 11th. We are so excited. 

I love you guys so much. Thanks for you love and support and EVERYTHING. I hope you feel of my love and prayers everyday, because they are coming your way full speed!

Lets make 2015 the best!

xoxo, Sister Morgan

At Central World this huge mall in Bangkok!

How adorable is my family!?

Too cute not to include.. how fun are the Seniors?! Our Christmas gift from them..
It has been on repeat in our apartment all month! 

One more for fun... "It's spelled Jojoba, but it's pronounced ho-hoba!" Name that movie anyone.... :) :) :)