Signing Off

Well, the time has come. For two years, I have been having the experience of my life. It has been a long 

journey that has gone by way too fast. I have learned so many things that I know for sure I would have 

never learned on any other place. The mission is a beautiful thing that changes anyone who is willing to 

to do the will of the father. It is a very bittersweet thing finishing. Sweet because I get to come home to my 

wonderful family. Bitter because I have to say goodbye to the family that I have formed to have over 

these two years. Many tears have been shed for the separation of the special relationships that we had.

I will forever love the Dominican people and will be forever grateful for the love they have poured

into my life. I am so blessed to have been called to work among these people. Now the real test in 

life really starts. I know without a doubt in my mind that this church is the only true church on the earth.

God loves each and every one of us and has a plan of happiness made for 

us. I love you all and thank you for your love and support over these two years. For the last time,
Luv Elder Morgan

Working Hard and Renewing Visa

Brother and Sister Anderson of Sandy, UT

Another week came and gone way too fast.  Even though I felt like I just wrote I will write what I remember of this week... Me and my comp are still working super hard. We have lots of people who little by little are progressing. I think it is possible that we have around 4 baptisms within a month of Me leaving. My main goal now is to leave my area prepared for whoever will be coming in. I really feel like I have learned a lot in these past few weeks about sacrificing my will and being as obedient as I can until the end. 

On Monday me and all of the guys that will be going home had do go down to the capital, Santo Domingo, to renew our visas. It was a super fun trip. We got to sleep in the MTC building. We were all just walking down memory lane remembering our first days in the mission. We saw the new Elders and they all looked the same, scared and clueless.. haha They have no idea what waits for them in the next two years. We were all talking about how crazy fast the time went by and all of our different stories. Man, I realized that I really am going to miss the mission. The next day we spent the whole day waiting to go through and renew our visas. 

Today was an awesome last Pday. We went to this multi-millionaire's house and just chilled. From their house, you can see the ocean right behind this super pretty pool. It looked like something off a movie. I played tennis for the first time in three years and totally sucked it up.. Haha but it was super fun. Then the maids of the house made us super good food. Chicken rice and beans. I am going to miss it.. haha Well that's all that is going on with me. I can't wait to see you all and give you all a huge hug! Much love! 
TTYL.

Elder Morgan

Saying Final Goodbye to Naugua

Heyo! Well, it is so crazy to think that after today I will only get to write only two more times.. Crazy. This past week was awesome. My companion, Elder Cabrero and I are super good friends.  It is weird but he has been my only American comp in the mission field.  We are working like crazy. At the end of a missionary's mission, the missionary either dies, which means they just don't work and sit at home thinking about home.. Or there is the missionary who is alive who works harder than ever before. I am proud to say that I am very alive. We have a few investigators who are progressing a lot. I know that I probably won't be here to see them get baptised, but I at least want to prepare this area as much as I can before I leave. 
Everything is going good. Wednesday was a bittersweet day for me. Elder Quesenberry and I went down to our first area, Nagua, to say our goodbyes. It was so great to see all of these people that I hadn't seen for over 14 months. Our time there was super short because we had to be back in Puerto Plata before 6 so we only were there for about 6 hours... It sucked because there were so many people that I wanted to see but didn't have the time to see them. Sister Dulce who was pretty much my mom cooked enough food to feed an army just for us two missionaries... She made rice, chicken, beans, spaghetti, avocado, bananas, salad, a 2 liter of natural cherry juice, and another 2 liter of sprite.... soooo much. No wonder I got fat in Nagua... haha But it was fun walking down memory lane with Quesenberry. We remembered all of our firsts. Our first lesson, our first dinner, our first shop where we bought our food. Two years has gone by super fast and in these last few weeks of me preparing to come back to the real word, it will all be bittersweet. I love the mission and all of the many things that I have seen and learned. I am so blessed in every aspect of my life and I have no idea why. I love you all and will see you soon!

Luv Elder Morgan

My First and Last American Companion

July 16, 2015

Well, only four weeks left.. Today was transfers and we found out that yesterday that my companion was changing areas. We were both pretty surprised because he only had about 2 months here. But we both know that wherever that we are sent to serve that is where the lord wants us to be. 
Now I am with my new and last companion. His name is Elder Cabrerro and is my first American companion. We have only been together for a few hours and are already good bros. He is from Cali so you can tell by that that he is a chill kid. I learned a lot from my last companion and am grateful for the time that we had together. 
This week was a pretty normal one. We are trying to work hard with the less actives that we have and also with our investigators. But at the end of it all you have to respect the person's agency and not force it. 
The American dentist came back this week so we have been helping them out again with translation and other things. It is so awesome for me to see people like these dentists who have plenty and come down here to share with the needy. I really hope that in my life I can also do the same and follow their example. One of the great powers is putting Jesus Christ as our perfect example. We start to always focus on others and not ourselves. Sometimes it is hard to be selfless sometimes but that is the great test, to fight and control the natural man. 
Well, again I feel like my battery has been recharged one last time so I can just go all out and give it my all these last four weeks. I know that this gospel changes the lives of the willing and humble. I love you all so much.

Luv Elder Morgan

UPS and DOWNS

How are all of my RM bruthas doing?  Man, I love you all. 
This week was pretty good even though it was full of ups and downs. It is crazy that President Douglas ended his mission yesterday. He really was the perfect President for me. I learned so much from his and Sister Douglass teachings and examples. They really helped me become a better person. I am going to miss them a ton. Our new president's name is President Castillo. He is Dominican and is super young. He is in his low forties and has a young family. It is going to be weird to being use to an older couple and having it changed you a young family. I am going to meet him on Friday in the zone leader meeting that we will have. I have heard that he is a cool guy. 

So as for those ups and downs. Last week was really a miraculous week. Out of nowhere we just started finding people that were golden investigators and others that we have been working with were also doing great. Yesterday was one of the weirdest days that I have had on the mish. We had a meeting with a golden investigator in the afternoon that I have been looking forward to since the last time we met her. Then right before we went to her house we got a message from her saying that we couldn't teach her anymore because her grandpa doesn't want us to teach her. I was so bummed... Then we also had permission to go fishing from President and were going to go today, something that we have planned for weeks. The last minute the guy canceled... Soo bummed.. But, on the other hand, we do have lots of other investigators progressing. We also had a super fun Pday today at the beach. I felt like it was spring break 2012 all over again because there were so many youngins... 

I really love the mission because every day I see the power of God in the many mini-miracles that happen. I feel so blessed to be in the best mission in the world with so many awesome members. #BLESSED Well,  I love you all so much. As always enjoy your summer! HAGS

Love Elder Morgan

"Aren't We All Beggars" Elder Jeffrey R Holland

June 24th, 2015

Heyyo! I want to start out by saying, Happy late Father's, Day Pap! Thanks for everything that you have done for me in my life. I love you and will always look up to you as my best example. 

This week was a pretty good one. We have been doing lots of splits with the missionaries in our zone to get to know them better and to help them out with whatever they need. Last Thursday we did one of the coolest services that I have done on the mission. As a zone, we went to a disabled children's care home. I didn't really think much of it before we left but when we got there I was so humbled by what I saw and heard. The director of the home said that there were 32 kids who were in the home. About 30 have disabilities so severe that they can't communicate. We went over to where they were and got to go interact with them for about an hour. Some of them would smile as you talk to them. Others were just sleeping. It was sad to see them in such poor conditions. It was super hot, there were flies that were flying all over their faces and some were just laying on the floor. It made me really think about life for a second. I really want to live my life so that I can help others. They told us that a few weeks ago that 2 of the residents had passed away. We spent the rest of the time counting diapers and doing an inventory on food and other supplies. 

We have also had a good week with finding some new people. This Sunday a less active family that we have been working super hard with came to church. I was soo happy to see them there! I just hope that they can keep on coming to church. We celebrated a birthday of a super sweet member last night. She turned 69 years old. Also yesterday when we were eating lunch we randomly saw a huge cloud of super black smoke. We ran over and saw that A wooden house had caught on fire. There were so many Dominicans with their phones  out filming. I just had to join them... haha I got a good selfie. 

Well this was pretty much my week. I love you all so much!
Luv Elder Morgan

American Dentists in Puerto Plata

June 18th, 2015

This week was a super fun/ activity-filled week. I don't know where to start.. We have had lots of FHEs with the members and investigators. We are trying to spend more time with the members to strengthen them so that they will have more confidence to work with us. 

This week we had a group of American dentists come to Puerto Plata and give free dental work to the members and non-members here. It was a great experience. We as missionaries got to go help translate, and contact people who came. It really was a huge help for the people here. The Dominicans are terrible with taking care of their teeth. From the time that they are young they eat lots of candy and drink lots of soda and don't clean their teeth.  Most have rotting teeth at a young age. Also the dentists here are using outdated practices and are expensive so people never go if they have problems.. 

The dentists who came were some of the coolest people. It was awesome to see them donate all of their time, equipment, and services to help these people. they were doing fillings, cavities, taking out teeth and lots of other stuff. On Monday, it was our day to go through. I was super confident going in knowing that I wouldn't have a cavity because in these last two years I have been brushing and flossing like crazy. So I go up to the dude who is checking what everyone has and...He found a cavity.... I was in shock.. haha He said it wasn't really preventable with brushing or flossing because it was in a little crevice in my tooth.. but they took care of it. Today was the last day that they worked on people. They are going home on Saturday. There is another group of dentists that will be coming in a month so that would be good. 

Yesterday I went with Elder Kunzler to visit an old area of his. It is called Jarabacoa. It was so cool to go and see because it is a little town up in the mountains. It didn't even feel like I was in the DR, it felt more like Oregon. 

We have been working super hard with a few little girls that have been taking the lessons from us.  On Tuesday, the mom said that they can't be baptized because they are Catholic and always will be.. I was pretty bummed.. We are always looking for new people to teach, but most people don't
want to hear anything... But I still have to work hard until the end! I love you all so much! HAGS.

Luv Elder Morgan

Change For The Better

Well as always another great/fast week has gone by. There are so many things that are going on in the mission. We are all getting ready and preparing everything for the arrival of the new mission President.

Last night might have been the last time I will see President Douglas here in the DR. I have been lucky to have been a Zone leader in this time of my mission because I have been able to form a good relationship with him. I have learned more about him and Sister Douglas. They really are one of the most amazing couples that I have met. They are such good examples to all of us here and just want to do good in the world. I love them both. 

Now that my mission is coming to an end I have been thinking about all of the blessings I have received, the things I have learned, and the people that I have met. The thing that surprises me the most would be how much that I have changed. I remember always saying before the mission that I wasn't going to change and that I was going to come back the same
person. For me looking back at the person I was in the MTC and the person I am right now I can say that I am a different person. I have changed for the better. I'm not saying that I am perfect or ever will be, or that I will never argue with my sisters or parents again. Or that you will never see me cliff jumping naked at Lake Powell again... haha okay maybe..  The thing is that the mission has shown me and given me a greater appreciation for everything that I have in life. I hate to admit it, but I love my family so much more than I did before the mission. We have all been blinded and have taken everything for granted in our lives. I am so grateful for all of these things that I have learned. I know that I don't have that much time left but am going to live every minute up. This week we have been able to find some new investigators. It is really tough for us to find new people to teach because people are pretty hard here with their Catholic beliefs. 

Today we hiked up the Puerto Plata mountain. It made me miss little cottonwood canyon.. haha but it was awesome. I love this gospel and I love my Savior Jesus Christ.  I love you all so much!
HAGS!!
Luv Elder Morgan

June 3rd, 2015 Good Times With President And Sister Douglas

One more week down. This last week we had the last Zone meetings that we will have with President Douglas and his wife. It was a super special meeting. I got to talk for about 20 minutes on how we can help people understand baptism. I am going to miss hearing Sister Douglas talk. She is just so awesome and inspiring. She always talks in a way that gets every ones attention and on topics that are very interesting. This last week she talked about how we can call upon the powers of heaven through prayer. I loved everything that she said and how she said it. Haha I wish that one day I can talk in public like she does. 

This Sunday was Mother's day here. It was a great day because I got to look back at these last two years and think about all of the different mothers that I have had in all of my areas. I called each one of them up and thanked them for everything that they had done for me, I am so grateful for everyone. My companion and I have been working like crazy to find new people to teach. We are having some luck. Last night we had a super fun FHE. We had a karaoke night with some members and investigators. Haha it was awesome because I chose a Queen song to sing and realized that it is impossible to mimic Freddy Mercury's voice so it was terrible.... haha but lots of fun though. 
Well, that was pretty much my week. I love you all so much!
Luv Elder Morgan

Working Hard

Another week has come and gone. Time is going so fast that it seems as if the weeks are blending together. Well, it was my first week with my new comp. I can tell that this time is going to go by super fast because
we have been working super crazy hard. I love it! He is a super good and humble guy and I know that I will learn a lot from him. We have been contacting a ton of people and have been leaving lots with members. I feel great because we are so focused in the work that it seems like nothing else matters. We also have a great zone, everyone works super hard. 

I think that one of the hardest lessons that a missionary learns is how to respect the gift of free agency. There are so many different people that we talk to and teach every week, but lots of them turn us down. It was hard for me at first to just accept it. But it is the sweetest thing when someone opens up their heart to listen and accept our message. That is why the members here are so great and special to me. They are different than all of the other Dominicans. There are so many members who are so good to us that they invite us over to eat with them when I know very well that they are sacrificing a lot to have us over. I hope to be as humble and good as these people are. 

Today we played sports as a zone. It was the first time in almost two years that I have picked up a ping pong paddle. It felt great.... haha well I love you all so much!
Luv Elder Morgan

May 21, 2015 Good Bye Elder Ponce

Hello!! Hey well, we have had a great/crazy week up here in Puerto Plata. First thing is that I have a new and final companion! His name is Elder Ajcu from Guatemala. Elder Ponce has finished his mission and said that he is just going to work and study at home. It was a slower week with the work because its hard to get things done when you have a dead companion. All we pretty much did was pass by members houses so that he could say goodbye. 
On Sunday, I got sick out on nowhere. We were just at some members house and then a hard fever just hit me out of nowhere. I felt super week so we went to a ward meeting
that we had and just went home after. I crashed at like 6 and slept until 6 in the morning. Haha I didn't even feel rested but little by little I recovered my strength that morning. 

I have learned a lot from my last companion and I am grateful for the time that I spent with him. We had lots of good and funny moments because he is a little crazy like me. But now I feel like the battery has been recharged! I am stoked to work super hard with my new companion. The great thing about the mission is that you learn from everything; your comp, the area, the members, the investigators, the dead dogs in the street. Everything. Ha ha, I am super stoked to be entering my second to last transfer. Only 12 weeks left! Well, I hope that you all have a lovely week! I love you
all so much!
Love, Elder Morgan

Mother's Day

Hey everyone! I hope everything is going good in life.  These last two weeks have gone by super fast. It is crazy to think that I only have 12 left... 

I'm writing later because there wasn't any power the last two days... but I have to say that it was so great talking to the family on Sunday. Man, its crazy to see how much people change in 2 years.. When I saw my sisters I was in shock.. It is weird to think that the next time that I will see my families faces, it will be in the airport... Wow.. 

Two weeks ago for P-day we went to a place called Fun City and raced go carts. Haha, It was great because we were the only ones there so we got to spend extra time. My comp finishes the mission next week so we have been going to lots of people's houses to eat. It is super hard for a missionary who is ending the mission because all you really think about is what you are going to do when you get home. I'm going to miss Elder Ponce, he has been one of my best comps. So I guess that the next time you guys hear from me I will be with my new and last companion.  This P-day we got to go to Santiago because my comp wanted to see some people one last time before he left. We did splits and I got to go to my old area Hato Mayor and see some people there. I ate with the Polanco's.  Ahh, it was so great to see them. 

Next week I feel like I will be entering the final lap of my mission. I cant wait to work like crazy with my final comp. I have learned so much in the last 2 years and now is the time for me to put it all into practice! I love the mission and the gospel. I know that Heavenly Father loves us all and that we are so blessed to be in his restored church.
I love you all so very much!
Luv Elder Morgan

April 29, 2015: Its Getting Hot Down Here

Once again, a week that has gone by way too fast has passed. It was a super good week for me with lots of blessings. So after teaching this little kid name is Elian for a few weeks he was finally baptized this last Saturday. This kid was super prepared and knows so much about the church. The funny thing is that he is only nine years old, but he has set a great example to everyone in his family because they don't really live a Christan lifestyle. His mom came to the baptism and it was a super good/spiritual experience. 

I swear that this week has been the hottest week in my life. It is so uncomfortable! In the night it is way too hot, in the day it is way too hot. I use a fan to cool me down, but all it does is blow more hot air into my face. I am taking showers at least 4 times a day to cool my body down and am drinking like 3 gallons of water...  

There was also an elder who got dengue this week so I bet that wasn't the most fun week of his life.. Anyways we have also been working with a less active family who this Sunday came to church for the first time in 3 years. I was so happy to see them there because I felt that if they came just one time, they will keep on coming. We had a good FHE with them and a few other members in their humble house. She told us that when she was at church she felt the same joy that she felt when she had her first child. I know that they are going to be great members in this ward. 

Today wasn't too bad of a day. We went to an awesome beach called Cabarete. It was pure tourist area and was super fun. I just can't wait for the day that I come back to visit and I can spend all of the time I want in the ocean. Well, that was a little summary of my week I hope that everything is going great for all of you. I am off to a ward activity that we are in charge of.  I love you all so much! Hugs and kisses!
Luv Elder Morgan