Storm Chasers

Celestial Valley District

So this past week was super good! Birthday's on the mission are totally different but so awesome. Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes and love and support. I appreciate it SO much! 22 is going to be an incredible year for me!

So when I first got to the Valley, all that everyone talked about was how miserable the heat is in August. But they forgot to tell us about the CRAZY MONSOON/SAND STORMS that come from Arizona! On Thursday we were teaching our investigators Crystal and Richard out in Seely and during the lesson I could see the wind pick up and the clouds got pretty dark. As I'm talking about the Law of Chastity I see this huge flash of light and a booming crash right outside the window in front of me.........the wind was so bad that the power lines were crashing together and sparking! It happened a few other times during the lesson but once we started the drive back into town we realized that we had missed a super crazy sand storm! Then around 8:00 pm we started to have a lightening and rain storm (but since there was so much sand in the air it was like a mud storm!) We decided to go to this one members house who lives out in the boonies off of some dirt roads and as typical Sister Missionaries, we got lost. We pull over by the intersection of 2 roads to try and read this street sign that is being blocked a little bit by a massive tree in someone's yard.

Sister Munns: "You brave enough to go out there and read that sign?"

Me: "Pshh, of course! I'm a big girl, I can handle myself!!"

BIRTHDAY RAIN!

So I get out of the car (leave the door open) and go about 15 ft towards the sign. This stupid tree branch was blocking the sign, so I lift my hand up to move it away when all of a sudden we hear this deep growl/bark and 4 legs coming SUPER fast and close to me! The next thing I know time is moving in slow motion. I saw my life flash before my eyes. I bolted to the car and wacked my left shoulder on the frame of the door and slammed the door closed behind me. Sister Munns throws the car into gear and we peel out as fast as we can (without Tiwi yelling at us of course). Once we get a little bit away we pull over and just look at each other and start laughing! During those 2 minutes the only thing I could think of was all those crazy stories of Missionaries getting attacked by dogs and I just thanked the Lord that I wore good shoes with traction that day. It is probably on my top 5 list of the funniest things I have ever experienced on my mission and I think I had a dead arm for the whole rest of the night! haha

But besides having a crazy bruise on my shoulder now, my birthday was SO good! We had another rain monsoon and it rained THE WHOLE DAY! PRAISE THE LORD! I have never been so happy to see rain and to see the thermometer drop to 85! It was so cold that during studies we pulled out our sweatshirts and sweatpants, I was the happiest person ever! But everyone here was so nice and Crystal and Richard bought me birthday cake. The YSA even sang happy birthday to me in English and Spanish! :) It was a GREAT DAY!

Birthday cake with Crystal and Richard

So for the next story I am just copying and pasting it from my companion because it literally was the FUNNIEST THING EVER! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

"Monday: BEST STORY EVER....well if you have never seen the youtube video Shiz Mormons Say you might want to look it up! But it think missionaries need  to make a video about Shiz Investigators say... ;] I have never laughed so hard in my life yesterday at this conversation with our investigator:

Daniel: Sisters, what is up..I am on chapter 19 now in the BOM. You proud of me? Are you going to come visit me now?

Us; Heck yes we are. You are doing awesome.

Daniel: ya i keep getting distracted but at least i am reading.

Sister Morgan: That is ok. Just pray every time you read and it will get better. Are you understanding the things you are reading?

Daniel: ya kind of. if i dont i sit and think about it for a while or re read it! But why is Nephi building a boat?

S.Morgan: To go to America.

Daniel: WHAT? Why did he need a boat though? Did he think he would drowned?

S. Morgan: No he was going to cross the big waters and go to the promise land remember?

Daniel: What is the promised land?

Me: AMERICA

Daniel: What? He isnt in America? Where is he?

S.Morgan: He is in Jerusalem!

Daniel: JERUSALEM? What the hell is he doing there?

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA i lost it completely!! could not hold in my laughter!

How many times does it say in the Book of Mormon Chapters that they were in Jerusalem. In the chapter heading of 19 it says Lehi leaves Jerusalem!

Daniel: When did all this happen?

Us: A long time ago.

Daniel: is this all before Joseph Smith?

Me: Yes like 600 B.C.

Daniel: no way before Christ..that is when dinosaurs roamed the earth. I thought Nephi was related to Joseph Smith

BAHAHAHAHAHA isnt that the best conversation ever!! We think Daniel needs a study buddy! But hey at least the effort is there and he is reading! Bless his little heart! Hopefully soon we will be able to add him and begin teaching him again!

Oh the shiz investigators say..."

Sorry for the super long email but I just wanted to share with everyone how AWESOME it is to be a missionary! I love the people out here SO much and I am just having the time of my life! My words of wisdom for the week: Remember that Jesus Loves YOU! :)

Love,

Sister Morgan xoxo