8/9/15... E-P-I-C week of miracles..

the SISTAS...McKnight, Forte, Morgan and Olsen

FAM!!! 

Wrapping up the Lake Powell adventures, getting back to the grind.. It sounds like it was such a good week! I am glad you are all in one piece and even more glad that Brad is about to land the back flip on the wakeboard......  so sick!!!! the wakesurf footie is like priceless too ขอบคุณหลายๆ! (thanks so much!)

SUCH A GOOD WEEK HERE PEOPLE..............

I have been pondering my reading in Jacob chapter 5 from earlier this week and it really just sums up the thoughts/feelings of the week: "And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come. And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things."

It has been continually on my mind as well that the phrase "it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard" is found in this chapter SIX times....  

The truth of these two pieces in the 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle that is Jacob chapter 5- That the Lord is working along side of us, and that he will do all he can to not lose even one soul, have been manifest like 100 fold this week.. OMG secure your belongings and hold on tight because there is some good stuff coming your way......................

So do you guys remember พ่อสอ (Pah Sah) the tuktuk driver who was baptized a few weeks ago?The one who sits in his tuktuk on the side of the big road about 30 minutes out of town and drove us to teach the RC family that lives out in the boonies etc.... how could you forget him? So we are sitting in the church the other day waiting for a new investigator, a guy I had invited a few days earlier. I couldn't quite remember what he looked like, so a guy walks into the church and we start talking to him like it is this new investigator, but in the back of my mind I am like "what the heck I feel like I have never seen this person in my life!" Sure enough it wasn't him... We get talking and he tells us he has been a member for 20 years- baptized at the age of 10, the only member in his family- but left the church several years ago. He tells us of the trials and challenges that are filling his life right now- no work, nowhere to live, and ultimately no hope. With tears in his eyes, he tells us he came home to อุดร (Udorn) to find his father and just had nowhere else to turn. So he makes the trip back home and finds his father, sure enough, in the same place he always had as a boy- sitting in his tuktuk on the side of the big road about 30 minutes out of town. His dear old dad is none other than the recently baptized พ่อสอ(Pah Sah) who told him that the one place he needed to go in this state of hopelessness was the church on Jinthakam street. SOOOO cool.. we read in the BOM, prayed, and obviously shared some pics of his dad's baptism day too haha! 

พ่อสอ's (Pah Sah's) son!! 

Then the other day we were inviting at this fun market called UD Town, and Sister Forte kind of wanders through and invites this cutest shop owner lady. If I was to paint you a pic of her, she is like 50 year old go-green boho yoga chic lady and is just SO SO NICE. Sis Forte runs over to me and is like "Umm I just met this lady, and I think she is ready to be baptized..." So we go over and keep taking to her, and sure enough, she has learned everything with missionaries before, keeps all of the commandments and just really has a deep love for the Savior/ desire to do good... she was just must have fallen through the cracks (for lack of better term) and didn't get baptized. We went back and gave her a BOM and prayed together in the back of her store. She came to church yesterday and has a date to be baptized! It is so cool to get home at night and go........ "ok there is no way we would have taken that route or invited down that little aisle if it wasn't for the Lord just softly leading us along." E-P-I-C

Speaking of the soft whisperings. Thursday we are studying, and เล็ก (Lek) Mr. Radio DJ calls and says he is free at 12 and that he wants to meet us at McDonalds.... we had totally already made plans for the day, and I think I was a little bugged (I have repented since haa) that he hadn't answered the phone for a few days when I tried to set stuff up, so I just told him it probably wouldn't work... but we would call him and see for maybe later in the day. In that very moment that I hung up, it was like an audible voice whispering to me that we needed to meet with him asap.. and it was just like laid out before my eyes exactly what changes we needed to make in our schedule, who we needed to call to help teach in such short notice that would benefit Bro เล็ก, and exactly what scriptures we needed to share. So we get there, and I kid you not, during this lesson, his countenance changed. We answered each of the questions he asked with the scriptures I had quickly jotted down in my planner and we just saw the spirit working within him. He now has a solid date for baptism with a true contrite spirit and humble heart and I cannot deny that the Lord led us completely in the whole thing. IT WAS AWESOME and especially with this guy, I know that we have been prompted several times to just "spare it a little longer", to just hold out and wait on him. Pray for him to have the strength to keep changing and desiring the fruits of the gospel!

this would be the day that we left the house thinking it wouldn't rain too hard... then within 2 min we literally both looked like we had jumped in a pool HA oh Thailand............ goooooood times!

Then.......... so funny. We were inviting at the park, and I get kind of dragged away by this lady who wants to introduce me to her friends (HAHA) I could still see Sister Forte, but she had totally lost sight of me and got a little worried. She borrows the phone of this random guy.......calls me, we reunite, we start talking to him.. and turns out to be the NICEST/most prepared guy ever! We set up an appointment after he tells us that the one thing he wants to know, is "who is the Joseph guy?"........ummmm ok, super unexpected golden question from a guy in a way huge Buddhist necklace?!.. So we meet with him, teach the Restoration, then start introducing the Book of Mormon. He goes, "wait, I already have this book, this exact book with this cover and color and everything..." He then tells us how several years ago, he was at his University standing in a group of his friends and a man came up to him and gave him the book and told him to read it and that it would help him. He said it sits by his bed and he has read from it from time to time and way loved it, he was just a little confused about Joseph etc. OK...............so awesome! He has a date to be baptized!

So yeah, the Lord was good to us this week...I feel like I didn't even give you the slightest taste of it all! I can testify that He knows and loves us and will do whatever he can to nourish the trees of his vineyard จริงๆ (just some emphasis added hahaha). IT IS SO COOL 

บางนา (Bangna) members totally visiting อุดร(Udorn)!! Ran into them while we were inviting... she pretended to be someone interested and I'm like talking to her and decide to just go for it and am like "OK WAIT I KNOW YOU!!" Can you imagine how awkward that could have been if it wasn't her............ total fun blast from the PAST of those greenie days!!

Some other good stuff without all the gnarly details:

learning that the owner of ice cream in a tube is actually a member of the church that hasn't been in years...... WE ARE BRINGING HIM BACK

New dater for baptism named Nooker who I met the other day, learned with the Elders years ago and SO ready. (I'm telling you people, the Lord is just leading them to us!! so grateful)

dinner at แม่พร's (Mah Pawn's) yesterday night turned GNO... for some reason none of their husbands came and it was so fun just spending time with some of my MOMS in Thailand... I love them!! Mother's day is this week here!

with my แม่s (Mahs)!!! I LOVE THEM!!

din din with the LADIES

ok funniest thing.. in the Branch 1 sacrament meeting, this member from Australia brings her two little boys to sacrament and for some reason she like left the room for a while and they were just going out of control running up and down the aisle. Like it was in the most adorable way possible, but everyone was way disturbed and no one knew what to do. So I get the head nod from the other missionaries, grab them and bring them back to sit by me--- and for some reason before we left church I decided to bring this big pad of paper that I never have before..... and so we totally COLOR in silence for the remainder of the meeting. YES that is a miracle if I have ever witnessed one. hahaha see Dad, I am actually good with kids ok??????????

also the realization that the wooden chapel pews are like a small child's worst nightmare... I don't know how many times I watched those little boys bonk their heads on the way sharp corners of the hymn book holders and just like look so shocked and hurt every time when it happened...... hahaha its not funny but it kind of was. obvious note made to self: have your little toddlers wear helmets to church.......................

ha ok we are digressing......... that is all I have for you! I hope you have a great week! Extra prayers headed your way with all of the good stuff coming up in this next week for you guys! 

xoxoxo Sister Morgan

next time we talk I will have prob shook Holland's hand.... a little bit freaking out over here!!

here I am on my bike............with my signature helmet tilt. HAHAHA
it is hard to rock the bun and wear a helmet like I do but don't worry I manage 

district pic at the wad....minus our fearless zls

this would be Sister Olsen and I on a little switch off this week, the last ones to leave the house, totally locking the key in the house! luckily the WINDOW was open and the key was within reach of a pole we found by the house. HAHA shhhhh don't tell the other Sisters

another funeral in the branch

probably the grossest pic known to man.......... but I couldn't not share with you the joy that filled our hearts inviting and finding these blessed chokers from our childhood..... we are thinking they are maybe coming back in???? HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

8/3/15... Legendary happenings from the week and Thailand gems...

FHE at จินตนา's

fammmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!

Look at you guys cruising down to Lake Powell as we speak...... so stoked about that and I kind of can't believe it has been a whole year since we were down there. ummm, WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?! 

Speaking of time passing, Happy 25th to the cutest parents in the world! I probably haven't told you guys this.. but I made this picture book that I teach with like everyday and I have this BEST pic of you two that I I use almost every time when I teach about the Plan of Salvation or temples or actually the Law of Chastity too. It puts it in the perfect real light that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, it is central to His plan and our exaltation, and it can bring us so much happiness as we have it in His way. so THANK YOU GUYS for your super example... my investigators probably thank you too cause it def takes some of the possible awkwardness that is the law of chastity and makes it so apparent and simple that they want what you have...... you can just see it on your faces! <3<3

the pic that gets those investigators thinking about eternity.................. how cute are you guys?

Anyways, enough with this mushy stuff and on to this week.. it was another good one! We are seeing crazy miracles and still having a crazy good time. Udorn really is the Promised Land in every aspect of the work, I'm not just saying that!!

 this is Udorn.  my people!!!!!  hahahaha

So yesterday at the baptism after the second branch the lady that got baptized bore her testimony after and said something to the affect of "before there was hell and darkness and now it is only heaven and light. I am going to keep the commandments with all of my heart and bring my family to church every Sunday because now we have found the light." (it sounds kind of awkward in English, but in Thai it was so tender and made sense and was so beautiful..) I sat there and was just pondering what she said. She is this CUTEST mom with two little girls and they are always so put together and just seem so with it. One of the little girls was learning English and piano with Sis แก้ว (Gaew) a returned missionary here, and so she introduced them to the Elders. From what I knew of them, their life just seemed like, even without the gospel, it was happyish. But hearing her say this with such overwhelming emotion, it really made me realize that in this life, we all need the same thing... The gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. Anything less, no matter how "put together" and "with it" your life is or seems, you are still ever thirsting after something more. Still feeling that "darkness" and "hell" that surround when the hope of a Savior and a loving Heavenly Father with a plan are far from your knowledge. I have been overwhelmed as I continue to ponder this thought at how apparent it has been in our work this past week with investigators, less actives and members alike.  

I think of แม่พัด (Mah Pad) our miracle baptism this week!! She is the mom of a pretty recent convert here, been Christian her whole life, but not super open to the church after her daughter got baptized. The Browns (a senior couple that just left Udorn a few months before I got here) visited her a couple times, but nothing really came of it, and Sister ดรุฌี (Darooni) her daughter, just trusted that it wasn't the right time. Well she brings her to church the Sunday before last and says that she wants us to teach her mom because she is finally "ready". We made the hour and a half drive out there with one of our dearest member friends and as I invited her to baptism, I KNEW it was supposed to be this Sunday. She understood and accepted the Restoration and the laws and ordinances of the gospel so readily. She was baptized yesterday, that first step in the covenant path and bringing the overwhelming light and clarity to ideas she has always been familiar with, that only the Restored gospel brings. Dispelling the darkness...

she is the best missionary... almost her whole family is now baptized!

teaching แม่พัด with her daughter!

we love BAPTISM! and แม่พัด(Mah Pad) ...So cute how much they look alike huh?!

I think of Sister บิว (Biw) one of our new investigators, the niece of a member who is from Udorn but now lives in Bangkok. Well Sister ออ (Aah, the aunt) came home to visit this last week, and came to the church and said "Sisters! I want you to teach my niece and I will bring her here tomorrow!" We were so excited and of course accepted (there is nothing more golden than a member referral especially when it is a family member. OMG) and come to find out, her niece is 17 and an only child, and both of her parents have cancer. Sister ออ(Aah)  knows that only the perspective of the restored gospel will comfort a child with the possibility of losing her parents any day just staring her in the face. It was so so special teaching the Plan of Salvation and I can't wait to keep working with her. Pray that her parents will open their hearts as well!

I think of รุธ (Root), a less active that Heavenly Father just totally led us to this week. I don't know what happened to me, but this week I just got soo stoked on LA work..it is a big part of President Johnson's new vision and I am gaining such a testimony of it! So I just started going through our phone and calling ones that said "LA" next to their name to share a scripture, or to try to set something up with them or if nothing else to just give them a little love. So I call รุธ(Root) get to know her, share a scripture, and she just starts bawling. She agrees to meet with us that night, and it was just so evident that Heavenly Father knew one of His daughters was struggling and needed to know He was there. Long story short her fam are all members, her dad was even in the branch presidency before, and they have just all fallen away. Hearing her speak of those same things.. the "hell", the "darkness" that have come into their life since then, just left Sister Forte and I a little speechless. I cannot deny that the Spirit literally filled our mouths with what to say to help her see what she needs to do to bring the "heaven" and the "light" that her family once knew, back into her life. Pray for her and her family, who have tasted of the goodness but just forgotten. 

the cute FHE board I made to take to some LAs...
artwork courtesy of Sis Coates, idea courtesy of Sis Stoker (two of my favorite Sisters EVER!!)

Last but not least (sorry is this getting too long??) I think of การ์ตู้น (Cartoon!) our newest member of the Udorn Branch 1 as of yesterday! We went and visited her this week, and I can't even tell you the turn around that has taken place in this girl and the LIGHT that she just exudes. She comes running out of her bedroom as we rode up, greets us, pours us some water, grabs her stack of gospel books she had just been studying, and invites us to start the lesson with a song. HAHA we are like 'umm yes any song you'd like girlfriend!!!!' She told us of her plans to enroll in early morning seminary asap, finish school then go on a mission-- which she has already started saving for. speechless. A girl entangled in the bonds of darkness, and sin to be quite frank about it, who realized that the only thing that would fill her completely was the gospel. And how full she is now and will be forever more......its the best thing ever!!

So yeah, this week was a good one and we are SO so happy. We are trying to prepare for HOLLAND to come... August 15 and we are definitely counting down the days. And trying to figure out what to wear... hahaha you know me. But more than that, trying to prepare spiritually of course! I have been trying to read some talks by him and the one that I read today just felt like an anthem to my life as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and reminded me why I am so excited to have an apostle of the Lord in our midst so soon. He closes his talk: 

"Friends, especially my young friends, take heart. Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world. I testify that the true and living gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth and you are members of His true and living Church, trying to share it. I bear witness of that gospel and that Church, with a particular witness of restored priesthood keys which unlock the power and efficacy of saving ordinances. I am more certain that those keys have been restored and that those ordinances are once again available through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than I am certain I stand before you at this pulpit and you sit before me in this conference."

 ahhhh my favorite part of conference every single time is the testimony of the apostles and prophet at the end of their talks. It is sometimes short and if you aren't paying attention you will maybe even miss it, but without fail it is there, and it will pierce you to the very soul when you realize that these are men that truly know, and dare I say, converse with the Lord himself. I am super excited and humbled to have my soul pierced in the flesh here coming up soon.... its going to be legendary.

FHE at จินตนา's, we love Suki!

Other legendary happenings from the week and Thailand gems:

I rekindled my love for pulling weeds doing some yard work at Sister จินตนา's (Jinthna's) house. Nothing more satisfying than pulling out a nice big weed.  Finding a huge dead rat in her weeds though was a first for me........ SO GROSS  

realizing that sometimes as a missionary you totally feel like the guy on the RM that is trying to be way good on his home teaching and is like shoving the cookies through her mail slot and is like "Um, Sister I know you are in there... I can see your arm... Is there anything we can do for you?.. Ok I'm just going to leave now... But don't hesitate to call if you need anything" hahahaha its seriously so funny when you just kill with kindness and it is recieved like not at all........... omg  

I can ride my bike with no handlebars

eggs in Thailand are brown, never white, and sometimes they are pink. still a mystery to me why they are pink sometimes. the implications seem very unnatural to me. Flamingo eggs? probably not......................

waking up to the sound of rain everyday..... "Make you banana pancakes, pretend like it's the weekend... Can't you see that it's just raaaaaaaaainin' there ain't no need to go outside...."

Actually its more like no time for banana pancakes around here, the weekends are the same as the weekdays, and we definitely still go outside in the pouring rain, but it is the BEST BEST BEST. Wouldn't trade it for a lazy Jack Johnson day ever.

hahaha yep thats where I'm at. And that's all I've got. I love you guys.

Have the best week in Powell, be safe, eat all the "Sarah Morgan" popcorn you can, cause next year I will be there and I'm not sharing with anyone........... (so honored to have my name associated with such a heavenly food. hahaha love the Olsens!) 

xoxo 

Sister Morgan 

แม่หนู (Mah Noo) in the middle there had us over to teach us how to make food and to have a little lesson... and I am not going to lie, for some reason she is obsessed with me. Love her!!

the lunch group!

a little action shot of two of my Udorn besties... Elder and Sister แสงเวียน <3

Mother's day in Thailand is coming up in August... does that mean we get to skype again?! haha I think not... but this totally sums up my feelings LOVE YOU MOMMMMMSY

7/26/15... I think its safe to say that the miracles were not in short supply and neither were the laughs

best friends or Sisters??

hello!!!!!!!!!

Kkkk what a killer week with the reunion, the DAT, and the BYU baseball.. so happy about it all! might have even cried some way happy/excited/proud tears. geeeeesh I love you guys 

So anyways, such a good week here! We are working hard and having a GOOOOD time doing it..... I think its safe to say that the miracles were not in short supply and neither were the laughs

Probably my fave miracle of the week... to start you off with the big stuff, การ์ตู้น (Cartoon!) got baptized! Her date has been for this last Sunday from the beginning, but at the start of the week, she was just kind of like "Sisters I am not ready... I need to wait... next week or something..." Seriously though, we KNEW this girl was ready. Of any investigator I have ever taught, การ์ตู้น (Cartoon!) is one who understands the Atonement so beautifully and humbly and had/continues to apply it in her life. Like truly felt to "sing the song of redeeming love" and felt of the love of the Savior and Heavenly Father, just needed to have the courage to make the covenant. We taught her on Wednesday night, and she just knew too... she was ready. After her interview, Elder Visser told us he had never had someone answer the baptismal questions the way she did before... I'm telling you, she is awesome! Her baptism was so perfect, all of her family was there, her aunt spoke, and her uncle did the baptism! And the hymn that she requested be sung was Count Your Many Blessings, how cute is that?! I think it was like one of the only ones she knew... but nothing better than seeing a FAMILY grow in the gospel and seeing how Heavenly Father just totally prepared a way for it to happen. YESSSSSS

BAPTISM TIME... family love

Some snippets of other good stuff from this week:

Sent เค้ก's (Cake's) mission papers finally! We had so many little bumps in the road, but we finished them together, we road our bikes straight over to the post office and those babies are sent! He is going to be the BEST missionary. Kinda funny, I see a lot of Bradley in him, he is great.

mission papers... CHECK

We sent Sister โม (Moe) off to PROVO, MTC bound! 

one last goodbye outing with โม(Moe!) before she becomes Sister โม(Moe!)!!!

We had our first official day of rainy season where it rained ALL DAY LONG... and I bought my super cool poncho. Kind of regretting not trying it on before the purchase because it's a thicker plasticky one and definitely has a breathability of zero... so you can imagine how that feels in the humid hot rain. its like my own personal hot pink sauna on my body..... HAAA how could I not love it and there will for sure be pictures to come

We had literally the CUTEST family at church (young little mom dad and baby) on Sunday. They were a referral from some other missionaries, and they literally called like three or four times confirming that they were coming, just way excited. At first I am like talking to the dad on the phone and he was way unclear and says something to me like, "we have a baby...way interested...want to go" And I am kind of like oh no not again.... we have totally had people say that to us before in P-Log like, "my 3 and a half year old is super interested in religion and Jesus Christ, can I drop him off at the church?" and you are just like "Um really, your three year old who just learned how to speak and walk has been showing interest in Christianity, huh?" hahaha we are missionaries not daycare workers. But after a little clarification he was just making sure that they could bring their baby.... and of COURSE, bring your baby, the gospel is for FAMILIES!!! Pray for them to have more time to meet with us this week! Their names are Thaw! and Ewwie!

Definitely celebrated some Pioneer Day with a little Come Come Ye Saints companionship study singing. We love the pioneers.

Teaching our favorite พ่อสอ (Pah Sah) about family history and temples and getting him thinking about having his wife's work done! He told us he has been having dreams about her (Thai people are so into dreams and visions and stuff and will like way embellish them.. sometimes it is SO FUNNY) so we just capitalized on the opportunity to talk about how happy his wife is that he can bring her these ordinances that she can't do herself! He has requested a temple picture for his house... done and done. Kkkk other funniest thing ever... he didn't wear his dentures to church on Sunday for some reason and we died a little. I asked him why he didn't wear his teeth and he just laughed and laughed and laughed... LOVE HIM!! 

Then this week I have been thinking a lot about sacrifice. I have been pondering the scripture in D&C chapter 97 verse 8 that says:

Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice--yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command-- they are accepted of me.

I feel like every time I read that I get a little more light on what the Lord is trying to say, but I love that it talks about our hearts and our covenants. We observe or hold to our part of the covenants we have made with Heavenly Father through sacrifice. But even more than that, the Lord wants us to have our hearts in the right place as we do so, and then we can know without any shadow of doubt that He is pleased and, I think I might add, know that He will send blessings. I love this concept and thinking about how I can more fully observe my covenants in this way, especially as a missionary. I see this in the Thais all the time and am so grateful for their example. Like แม่ ตี๋ว (Mah Thiw) the other day, coming to the church after we had taught our investigators, these two 16 year old girls named เบนฃ์ (Benz, yes best friends with the same name)... and they have no way to come to church on Sundays and live pretty far out. Without even thinking twice, she quickly makes a plan of how she will come to the church early Sunday morning for her meetings and to drop stuff off (she is the Relief Society Pres), then leave to get them and bring them to church. WOW. We are standing there kind of helpless in this situation, because we don't want to inconvenience her, but we really want our investigators to have a way to church... in the end the realization that แม่ ตี๋ว (Mah Thiw) doesn't see it as an inconvenience at all- she sees it as a way to observe her covenants, fills me such overwhelming peace and happiness and love and gratitude for someone who just gets it. I love her and all the Thai members, who just remind me everyday through their sacrifices, that they cherish their covenants and know that the gospel is the most important thing. 

some FHE action

Last story of sacrifice and miracle that I will take you home with. So แม่หวาน (Mah Waan) the sister of our fave guy ever พ่อศรีไทย (Pah Seetay) who just got baptized at the end of last transfer...remember? So cutest lady, but she seriously had the hardest time understanding tithing and gaining a testimony of it. We spent the entire lesson on it one day and challenged her to pay it and she accepted, but was still a little bit uneasy.  Sister Olsen and Sister McKnight are now taking care of her, and they came home the other day from teaching her with the best story... last Sunday แม่หวาน (Mah Waan) paid 200 baht in tithing leaving her with close to no money... she knew that was the amount she needed to pay and just did it. So the next day, she goes outside and it is sunny, and she decides she wants to put on a sweater (Thais are way afraid of the sun haha). She goes inside and gets an old sweater out of her cupboard that she hasn't worn in a while.. She puts it on, and reaches into the pocket, and there she finds 300 baht. She was willing to observe her covenants by sacrifice, to the point of not knowing how she would have anything left, and just as the Lord promises, "it was accepted of [Him]" and she was blessed. Nothing more special than seeing a new RC or investigator realizes that the promises of the Lord are sure. SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

So yeah, that is all I have for you cool cats......... life is SO good and I know the Lord is taking care of you guys too. 

All of my love.......

big hug little kiss

Sister Morgan

hahaha this is what the elders consider "conversation" in english class.. toooo funny

totally suckered into buying these bamboo fish things.... dang it HAHAHA
(think dad walking around Cabo or anywhere for that matter with one hundred trinkets... classic)

giant duck on the water... you always duck face selfie... always

looky looky my old wheels found me in Udorn

this is Udorn by the park........ bliss

some p-day foot massages... we work hard ok?!

that companionship selfie you have been requesting.................

7/19/15... The people here in Udorn have become my family... I can't even tell you how special they are to me.....

Some post rainstorm selfie for you...... OMG people rainy season is in full affect...... เปียกตลอด translation: ALWAYS WET

FAM! 

hanging out with the best cousins around in the mansion cabin, what could be better?! Thanks for the pics and everything, it is so fun to see your cute faces. I hope it is a way fun week and all I ask is that someone keeps Grandma Nancy humble in Banana Grams without me there to do it! HAHA :)

Such a good week here in Udorn with the new companion. We are having such a blast together, I can't even tell you what a dream it has been working with her. We are laughing all the time and just happy as can be. But yeah, she definitely does know some of the BYU Hawaii crew so that has been fun with all of our random connections. We had such a great week............ a little run down as always:

So we had the funeral for แม่ตี๋ว's (Mah Thiw's) husband early this week and it was just a really special day. It was done in the perfect light of the gospel and the Spirit was so strong. I feel like my testimony and gratitude for the Plan of Salvation are constantly growing, especially as I see it so completely comfort and strengthen people around me (members, other missionaries, investigators) in real life situations.  The people here in Udorn have become my family, and I just sat there in the cultural hall with all of the members and just felt so overwhelmed with love for these people who were so banded together in this time of need. They are so amazing you guys, and they definitely understand the concept of truly being one "family" as children of Heavenly Father. I can't even tell you how special they are to me.....

love my แม่! (it was her husband that passed away)

at the funeral with the Sisters

A little update on พ่อสอ (Pah Sah), he is doing so good! We went out and taught him, and he is just cute as ever. He kind of speaks this giberish อีสาน (Esan) and so there is definitely some lost in translation, but he got the Holy Ghost this week and is just happy happy happy. It is way nice to have the แสงเวียนs (Sangwiens) go with us to teach because they are close in age and are คนอีสาน (people from the Esan) too, so they totally get him and just make him feel so loved. We are excited to keep working with him and his family, apparently his son in law has learned with the missionaries before so we are hoping to meet with him! And the newest/most favorite news we received from this last visit was that he has two women that he is kind of going on "dates" with......... hahaha! Who would have thought?? In Thai the word is หลายใจ which literally means "many hearts"...  พ่อสอ the LADY SLAYER!

Then this week we have been teaching การ์ตุน (Cartoon!) a new investigator who is the niece of one of the members here. She is the CUTEST girl ever, and it is seriously the best when you are working with member referrals because immediately there is a total support system. I can't even really tell you just how grateful I am that we are teaching this girl.... I don't know that she has always had the easiest life and definitely got caught in some situations and things that really just make your heart wrench to think any 16 year old girl has been through this or felt this way. It has been the most beautiful thing to watch the Atonement take affect in her life... to be with her as she realized that only through the Savior and making real changes to follow Him can she feel relief. It was definitely an Alma the Younger experience:

"And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the chains of death. And now behold when I thought of this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy. 

She came into the church yesterday just BEAMING... so happy and filled with light. Pray that she will continue to make the changes necessary for baptism next Sunday!

This weekend we had a little goodbye party at the church for 2 of the girls in the branch that are leaving on their missions at the end of the month (sidenote, SO many people on missions/ about to leave on one from Udorn, they are KILLING it here!!) We get upstairs to the cultural hall right before it is going to start, and แม่พร (Mah Pawn) totally asks me if I will be the speaker to just give them advice and encouragement... I was like uhhhhh ok! So way quick I just kind of had to gather my thoughts... but it was a way fun chance to really think about and actualize how dear my mission thus far has been to me. I think when it comes down to it, the best advice is what we learn directly from the Savior in word and deed and actually.... my fav Jack Johnson put into words in one of his classics when he says: 

"Love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart" 

with Sister โม (Moe) before she leaves on her mish to AUSTRALIA...
she is going to be soooo good. love this girl <3

yeahhhh its true people, more than the baptisms, the companions, the areas, the transfer videos,the bike riding, the inviting at markets........... its all really just about LOVE. The realization that a life spent in the pursuit of loving like the Savior more fully will be a life well spent fills me with hope and happiness unlike anything ever has. So grateful for a mission, a country, a people, and a gospel that have written that on my heart forever. 

The church is true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Love you guys SO much.... hugs all around to the Van Slooten crew this week, have a blast!

xoxo,

Sister Morgan

Sister จอย (Joy) had the baby! Best part....... she named him "Olsen".....
Sister Olsen was like you should name him Olsen, and she TOTALLY DID!!! we all died

some post church badminton....... a must

and sometimes you just need to wear a batman suit to church and keep it on for all three hours...
They are absolutely perfect <3 OMG