"I love my mission. It is the best thing that has happened in my life for my life. I will never forget it. I wish it didn't have to end..."

Here is Morgan's last email of her mission. She is so great! She is not ready to come home, but she will be here Thursday night (whoot, whoot) and she will do just fine (sooner or later)! 

Just so you all know, her homecoming report is on Mother's Day, May 10 at 1 pm at the church on 2000 East and 3900 South. Not the building she spoke at when she left, we are back down 39th and to our original (rebuilt) building. You are welcome to come and listen and see her. I think we will have an open house after the meeting at my parents house across the street from the church, but I am leaving that decision up to Morgan. How cool - everyone will already be parked and just get to walk across the street!!! Awesome. Thanks Mom and Dad. 

Thanks for your support of Morgan these past 3 years while she has been on her mission --- I know it was only 18 months, but it FELT like 3 years!!! =)
Love you all!
Lisa

My district and our neighboring district

Oh my, Morgan, Hermana Oliphant, this is going to be a week to remember. I/we have prayed for you all week that this past transfer will be a successful one for you. I pray that you have been able to touch the heart of this new companion. My heart aches for her. Her mission will change her - I pray it can. There is no one better for her to start off with (even late), than you. Your mission president knows that. If anyone can do a miracle for her, it will be you. Even if it is months down the road, if you keep in touch via email, whatever, I think you can help her. I pray you can. Our lesson in RS today was the conference talk from Pres Eyring entitled "Is This Not the Fast That I Have Chosen?". At one point Sis Renlund pointed out that we can fast for someone. She said something to the effect of that we can fast that people can show their love and let love into their lives. I immediately went to your situation right now in my mind. I thought a fast for this missionary would do a world of good. That is what I will focus on next week on Fast Sunday. If I can, I may do it tomorrow, Monday. In fact, that is my plan. I will fast for her on Monday. I hope that is effective.

Thank you. she is doing so so much better. i truly love her. she is a special person. its a longgg story. its going to be hard to leave her and i know she is having a hard time because i am leaving....i was going to leave her my camera because she doesnt have one...she had no money before she came to buy one...but today my district leader accidentally dropped it. so i laughed and told her sorry. the surprise is over. hahahahaha

Who was your visiting General Authority at Sacrament meeting? That will be fun to hear about.

It was elder alonso...from the area presidency. it was cool because 170 people from the states came to do a medical jornada...or in english they came to do medical exams for the youth preparing to go on missions and they came to our ward. so then they took pictures of each family and gave them fun gifts and clothes. it was super cool!! but it was really scary to see so many white people...it made me reallllyyyyy nervous. it was almost too much for me. but i think it was a good preparation.

Well, what happened with your baptisms on Saturday? One, maybe two you said. I thought a lot about you and that on Saturday hoping that they both came through.

Araceli got baptized!! i would send pictures but the camera is broken...the pictures are on the card, but i dont have a way of sending them. but in a few days you will see them!!!

Have you heard any updates about Estuardo or even about Pablo's baptism? Maybe you will, if you haven't, at transfer meeting this week.

Pablo got baptized!! estuardo, as far as i know not yet, but pablo yes!!! i hope i will get to hear more at transfer meeting!!

I hope you have a great visit at the temple. Remember to look for the Brubakers. That would be sooo fun to say hello to them. If you see Hermana Hyland, give her a hug, or get one, and then tell her we will deliver the hug to her parents very soon. They want to come to your homecoming!! That would be such a great thing for them. I would have loved that!!!

MAKE SURE YOUR RECOMMEND IS CURRENT BEFORE YOU LEAVE!! You might be getting close on its expiration. 

I WANT TO GO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY !! That is so awesome. i am so excited!!!! BUT i don't have temple clothes...which is kind of a problem....but my recommend is good. it expired in January...but i got it renewed back then. 

Okay, this is much toooooo long. I am looking forward to Thursday!! So much!! I am so sorry that you have to leave your mission that you love with all your heart, and I am feeling a bit guilty for being excited that it is time. So I apologize! But I am very excited for you and to see you! We love your guts!! You are an amazing missionary/representative of our Brother, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father.

i am excited to see you...but i will admit it is SO hard. i am SO scared. but i know i have a great family who will help me along. I will NOT fall back into the things of the world...i have so many goals, and i pray we can all work together to reach the greatest goal...the eternal life. LOVE YOU ALL!!

I LOVE YOU!

We still want to hear about your week if you can!! I hope it has gone great!! And that this week will be even better.
MOM

Araceli got baptized }and it was so sweet. she is such a special girl. she is 17 and 3 months pregnant. her husband is a member but was inactive. they are both active and doings o great. they got baptized about 2 months ago, but she is so special. i wanted to send pictures but very soon you will see them. anyways, it was super special. she was SO excited. and she is so prepared. i am grateful i was able to be there for the experience. baptisms are the best. and this was not the exception.

We found our the transfers theis past week. and my companion is also being transferred. we dont know if they are closing the area, or who is coming, but our district leader and his companoin are both being transfered asw ell as well as the 2 other sisters in the other district. ITS CRAZY. closing so many areas, but i know the Lord has a plan.

I dont have time, i have to go print out some pictures of the baptism, but soon enough we will talk and talk and talk. KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU ALL. I appreciate all you do. i love you all so very much. i cant wait to hug you. i love my mission. it is the best thing that has happened in my life for my life. i will never forget it. i wish it didnt have to end, but i know there is a new adventure awaiting me. i have goals and i have new trials coming but i am grateful to know that i have you all by my side. i have THE best family inb the world. i have the BEST family. i love every single one of you so much.

LOVE YOU!!
Hermana Oliphant

"I am grateful for the chance that I have to be a representative of Jesus Christ."

"My birthday breakfast from hrmana wong and montecino..."

"...and my closet for the last 18 months."

my new companion. story coming shortly...

Hello,

How are you this week? How was your birthday?? I hope you had a great day! I hope you were able to use some of the stuff we sent. I thought you could share the smarties with the kids. seems like you like to give them stuff. Anyway, HAPPY 21ST!!!

Thank you. I had an interesting birthday. I will explain it later, but I am grateful for the fun stuff you sent. thank you thank yoou!! just know I am craving a birthday cake.

Some gal the shop was saying there was a big earthquake in Guatemala. I said, well I didn't hear about it, so it must not have been noteworthy. I looked at an earthquake tracker, and there really are earthquakes there about every two weeks. Do you feel them? Are they just another thing for the day? Just wondered.

ya its kind of normal. we feel about 1 every week or so...just really small, i have only felt a few bigger ones that make one a little dizzy.

Tell us about your week. How did things go. What is schedule for this week for you?

Dentist appointment? DONE. I made it a long, long time ago assuming you would want one.

ya, cause my permanent retainer is broken....oops. funny yet dumb story for later on. sorry....

I'm grateful your knee felt better. And the "kidney stone".

What happened with Lenny? What happened with Estuardo? I'm so sorry for the bad bus ride with the yelling man. Hopefully it will have a positive effect on some of the people who heard and FELT the whole thing.

im getting there....

Your president's interview? All I can say is WOW! 

it was awesome. so much to tell you later.

Okay, your turn. I don't have much to tell this week. Keep pushing along Morgan. Keep working hard. We still pray for you every prayer.

Love you, Morga. I'm off to my dentist appointment soon. Take care of you.
Love, Mom

OK so its story time. the short version. Wednesday at 1015pm i got a call from the assistants and they said...Hermana Oliphant, you have emergency changes. tomorrow at 12 pm we will be at your house to take you to your new area Patzicia with your new companion hermana zepeda. So i said ok, and when i hung up i just started to cry. my companions started to cry and we just cried together for a bit. i was crying mostly because i didnt want to leave the people and my companions, but i knew there was a plan, and as i prayed i felt peace. So Thursday morning my companions made me a cute birthday breakfast of eggs, pasta, and beans. We went to go get my clothes from the lady who washes the clothes and then went home to study and do weekly planning. the assistants showed up and i went with them. my companions stayed and off i went with the assistants on the hour and a half car ride. i got SO car sick. hahaha it was funny. anyways, we finally got there and i went with my new companion hermana zepeda from el salvador, who i am training, she is just finishing her first transfer in the mission, and her old companion left with the assistants. 

So here i am in Patzicia. We are covering 3 WARDS. and it is crazy. but i really do love it. we have a baptism this saturday and possibly 2, one is the wife of a member and the other possibility is a 10 year old kid of some members we met last night who told us he wants to be baptized and he goes to church every week. MIRACLE!! but i am grateful. we have had some great miracles and there really are people progressing. we have seen miracles. i know i am here because i need to be here. i am learning to love the people quickly and i know it is going to be equally hard to leave them. but i am just so grateful..

So before i left my last area i called Estuardo to see if we could quickly go say goodbye to him and he started to cry on the phone.he said he was working and that there was no way he could go back to his house. anyways he promised me he would keep listening to the sisters and i know he will get baptized. i keep praying for him every day. it was hard to leave the area. 

So this week is normal. Everything normal. Sunday a general authority will be in one of our sacrament meetings. i dont know who but i am pretty excited. then monday is p day an tuesday is my last real day. wednesday is the transfer meeting and from there i believe all those that go home are going to the temple. then we go to presidents house to eat and talk ad have a testimony meeting and we will sleep there i believe and thursday early i will be on my plane ride home. its pretty crazy to believe and i am seriously in shock. i dont really know what to think, but thats the story.

This keyboard is really awful, and it is so hard for me to write. but the good thing is there is lots of time to talk coming. so anyways, thats the story. i love you guys so much. grateful for your love and for your support and for your examples. keep strong and keep doing the things that you know you need to do. i promise you that the blessings of the Lord will be fulfilled in the way that he has promised. You are my examples. I am grateful for the chance that i have to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I know He is my Savior and my Redeemer. i love Him and am so grateful for the peace we can feel because of Him and the enabling power of his atonement.

Love, Hermana Oilphant

"I have met some of the greatest people every here in Guatemala and I will NEVER FORGET THEM!"

"Grateful for companions who like to cook."

Hello,
I think you know how it starts, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I, we, hope you have a great birthday! Now you can open your birthday package Thursday and I want pictures. I don't know if you'll be able to use EVERYTHING, but hopefully someone can help you out. We just hope you have a great day. 21--holy cow!!! That's awesome. I'm old!! Dad's older, so it's okay!! ;) it's also Lila Dunford's birthday, I forgot about that.

You are old huh...i still don't believe i will be 21...so weird. all the people here think im like 35..its so funny! hahaha but its just cause i'm tall!!

Speaking of which, did you see Kimberly's parents when you went to the temple with your favorite couple? Remember, the Brubakers. If you get to go to the temple before you come home, please look for them. Kim said her dad is always there, and her mom is there a lot. That would be fun to say hello to them. They will be here this week. They are coming for their son, Kim's brothers, wedding this week. So, of course they are having a birthday party for Lila while they are here tomorrow.

I didn't see them when i went, but i did look. i will go tot he temple one more time the day before i go home....so i will look again.

So how has your week been? We did get your pictures last weeks they were great. Thanks.

I'm sorry Luis didn't come for conference. How is Edward progressing? Have you found Luis? How about the 17 year old kid? 

We are done with Luis, he is not progressing, and the 17 year old isn't ever home. and Edward is kind of just a creepy old man. But he came to church again, but i think he just wants money. hahaha but just wait, i have SO MANY STORIES THIS WEEK!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your Pablo story. Is there any chance they'd let you go to his baptism? It would be so great if you could be there with him. Did you get your "something" from him? Is it worth asking if you can go??

I cant go. There is no way. I have to be in my own area. I would love to go, but no. I have a note for him that president gave me permission to send. I have a man in my branch here who is going to go, he met him on Sunday and said that Pablo told him the whole story and that he is SO READY!!

MORGAN-so are you sure this is kidney stones you're dealing with? Are you drinking tons of FILTERED water? I'm so glad you are feeling better, but I worry about all this stuff. It's my job, I'm the mom. I'm so sorry. Please drink, drink, drink!!

I am drinking more!! but it is gone, that's all i know. i am just grateful.

Well, fill us in on everything. How are the mountains of the Waters of Mormon? We love you. We are still praying every prayer for you. Stay healthy, drink lots, use sunscreen, use BUG SPRAY, (I'm so sorry about your attacked legs, was it mosquitoes?), and be safe.

Thanks!! I am loving every second!! It is now a mission rule to use repellent. so i will use it. promise.

Love you so much. Thanks for so much for writing you're article for the newsletter, it was awesome. I added a picture of you. Lots of people did pictures. Spencer Evans just had an appendectomy in Romania. Wow. It went well, there was one American dr. Elder Evans seems to be doing great.

wow, that's crazy. good he is doing well.

Take care, love you!!!
Mom

SO MUCH THIS WEEK. It was a miracle week.
First of all, i got to go on divisions TO CHIMALTENANGO. It was incredible. I got to see Flori, i was there for his baptism interview. And i got to see so many other people. it was hard to say goodbye for the 3rd time, but so fun!!

Real quick, if you don't already have one, i would love if i could have a dentist appoint asap! THANKS

Also, Aunt Elise sent me a check a while back, but i haven't been able to cash it because of where i am, but maybe its best if she just cancels it? i don't know. just a thought.

Another health miracle. The other day i woke up and my knee was soooo sore and stiff, i could hardly walk. I suffered the day, but praying all the way. It was really a bad pain, and the next day as well, but prayer is powerful, and i am just fine, and stronger than before. 

This past week was the birthday of a member. I had been talking to her a few days before and she told me in her whole life, 23 years, she has celebrated her birthday 1 time. SO OF COURSE I HAD TO DO SOMETHING. we went and got a cake and some ice cream and sang to her. it was small, but meant a lot. we left her with tears of gratitude in her eyes. She is so special, and she deserved something special!

The other day in the bus, i contacted this kid Lenny. I asked him how he was doing and all he said was...i'm not from here...and i said, i didn't ask you that. i asked how you are doing...and we got talking...he is from Honduras and he is here visiting...i came to find out that he has been to church before in Honduras but he stopped going all the sudden, anyways, we taught him on the bus, and it was really cool. who knows what will happen, but hopefully when he returns to Honduras he can find the missionaries there!

This past week we traveled to the capital 2 times..waking up at 2 am and we had so many great experiences. The first time, we got up and contacted the bus like we always do, standing up in front of everyone and sharing a message then talking with them individually. we finished and up stood a preacher...and for 30 minutes YELLED AT US MORMONS telling us to repent and that the word Mormon means devil, and that we were condemned, and a ton of stuff, but he was literally screaming in my face for 30 minutes...and the whole bus was in shock. it made me sad for those listening, but i know they felt the difference. when we contacted the spirit was present, and when he got up it was so ugly...the spirit was gone. and as much as i wanted to stand up and try to help the people understand, i couldn't say anything, because i couldn't cause more contention. so we just smiled and stayed quiet.---it was really sad. we felt awful after and talked to president and he said there was nothing more we could have done. but i pray one day this man can find the truth and find peace in his life, because it was obvious he didn't have it. 

The second time, yesterday, we went to go catch the bus that leaves at 4 because we had to be in the capital at 8 am....and it never passed. at like 420 a bus passed but didn't stop for us, and at like 445 as well, a bus passed but just passed, and didn't stop for us...finally at 530 we were on our way to the capital and got there an hour late...it was crazy, but funny. on our way home, a bee entered the bus and was hanging out by me and the man i was sitting by...the men behind me were trying to kill it which just made it mad and i was so scared, i was like pushing the guy next to me off the seat because i was so scared, hahaha the whole bus was laughing at me, but we all left laughing and friends! hahaha 

I had my final interview yesterday. can you say weird. president goes zone by zone doing the interviews and yesterday was my final interview. i learned so much, that in a few short weeks i will share with you, but there was some special things he shared with me. I was talking to him about Pablo and asked if i could sent the note and he said, yes. normally when someone send a note to a man, he reads it to make sure its all appropriate right, well i said, here it the note so you can have it,..and he looked at me and said...send the note. I TRUST YOU. when he said that i felt so much peace. I felt as if the savior was talking to me. it was really special. Accept the hug from my wife right now, as it if is from me. President Markham and Hermana Markham are so special to me and it is so hard to know that i have to leave them here.

I have got to tell you about Estuardo.. He is 19. last Tuesday at 830, we were walking around trying to find miracles and i was trying to teach my companions how to do a heel kick....like jumping up and clicking your heels in the air, when around the corner came a kid with his bag of tortillas, and he started to laugh at us, seeing what we were doing. So i decided to talk to him. He told us his name was Estuardo and that he would be happy to listen one day to our message. I told him to go put his Tortillas in the house and we would share a message right then. and he accepted. We had a great lesson about the restoration. He understood and accepted everything, even accepted to go to church. I really believed him. lots of times people say they will go to church, but they don't, but he said he would go and i believed him. We never found him that week again, cause he was working...well Sunday morning i called him up and he said he would be there at 2 for church...yes our meetings start at 2pm...but anyways, he asked if we would wait for him outside so he didn't have to go in alone. So we did, and at 155 there he was. He was SO NERVOUS. hahaha but he LOVED IT. That night we went to visit him with this great returned missionary. and we answered all his questions. Then yesterday some other members invited him to a family home evening in their home. so we called him up and he said he wasn't sure if he would be able to make it cause he was still working, but he would do his best. At 615 he called and said he'd be there. So he showed up and we had a great lesson. In the lesson he said, you know, i was looking for the church. I was looking for the way to become close to God, and to be more obedient. that's all i want is to serve him and do his will, and that's when the missionaries showed up. and when they invited me to listen, i said why not...haha. I am so excited for him. I am grateful for the members for taking him in. The youth are going to pass by his house tonight to take him to institute and then to play soccer after and he is SO SO excited. I gave him a book of Mormon on Sunday during testimony meeting because like EVERYONE was talking about it, so i handed it to him and said, this is the book they are all saying will change your life. and he was so happy. he asked a man during church what he had to do to be a member. We are so excited for Estuardo Castro. He is a huge miracle. Keep him in your prayers. His family is not interested at all, but he is strong, and doesn't let them change his desires. 

Its starting to get a little bit more rainy here. at night in comes the clouds and the fog and it has sprinkled on us a few times, but during the day it is hot, hot, hot. 

We had a combined activity with the zone leaders branches. Actually, it was just their branch, but they invited us and our investigators, they planed it all, we just showed up. it was called Viaje Celestial....or in English its like celestial trip....and we build an airplane and the people all got in the airplane and it crashed and everyone died....so we went through the 3 kingdoms and they learned about it. It was a fun activity, and we received a reference of this great 30 year old lady named Lisbeth. She is incredible. and we pray she can progress, and make it to church next week. She is really special.

I HAVE SO MUCH TO SHARE. So much learned, but its going to have to wait to few more weeks. 

This past week we went to a meeting and i had to say good bye to some of my good mission friends, because i don't think i will see them at transfer meeting. it was really hard for me, but i am grateful for them and for the things they have taught me. i have met some of the greatest people every here in Guatemala and i will NEVER FOR GET THEM! I am just so grateful, grateful, grateful.

LOVE YOU ALL!

Hermana Oliphant

"I just burst into tears."

Here is Morgan's letter from yesterday! It is short, but sweet. She is surely being taken care of. Thanks for all the prayers in behalf of the missionaries. We know they work!

If you're reading this, you are her friend somehow, and I am wondering if you all would do me a little favor. Morgan's 21st birthday is next Thursday, the 16th. If you have just even a second, would you send her a quick Happy Birthday message?!? I think it would mean a lot to her to hear from each of you. SHE WILL BE ONLINE ON TUESDAY SO IT WILL HAVE TO BE BEFORE TUESDAY!

Her email address is morgan.oliphant@myldsmail.net. I believe if you click on that address it would open a new email for you automatically and should be fairly simple.

She is finished with her mission on the 30th of this month. She is feeling the twangs of pain of leaving these Guatemalan people that she loves so much. She is so happy and loves what she is doing.

Thanks for your help! I appreciate any of you who can just drop her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY message. But no pressure!!!

Lisa

"Choco bananas."

"The Waters of Mormon P-Day." 

"My legs...I got attacked."

Hello,

HAPPY EASTER!! Hope you had an awesome day!!

So did you get to hear conference? I emailed you the part that I thought you would love the most, in case you didn't hear it. About President Brough. I hope you got that email from me from earlier this morning.

Also, President Pingree got called to be an area 70 and also Spencer's mission President Peterson, from Ogden, also an area 70. WOW. I think a guy your dad went to school with also was called, but not sure on that one. Name is the same, but there could be more than one of them.

So cool!!

Anyway. I hope you loved conference. I hope you got to see it. I hope you are safe and happy. I hope you have had good luck this week. Did Luis come to conference. You said you thought he would.

Luis didnt come but the guy from Russia, Edward did show up and the husband of a member that we didnt know wasnt a member. so that was cool. I absolutely loved conference. i received so much guidance and so many answers. I absolutely am sad that it is over but grateful it happened!

Your "climbing Mount Rushmore" was funny. Is that really the name of it? Not funny that she wasn't there, but just the way you talk about it was funny. Did you have more contact with the boy you found there yet? The "17 year old future missionary", I think you called him.

Its not really called that but it feels like it. hahaha we havent found him yet but its because he left out of town for the week. EVERYONE LEAVES THE WEEK OF SEMANA SANTA. it is ridiculous, but we will find him this week.

I am glad you got to hear the RS session. That is good. 

The ropes course, I'm glad you were cautious. Hopefully the other missionaries understood. Nothing wrong with staying safe, and unhurt!!

Tell us everything. How you are doing, etc. I am worried about you. 

We love you Morgan. I put your name in the temple. I went on Monday. Know that many people are praying for you. Many prayed for you during conference. I noticed how many included the missionaries in their prayers.

Take care of Morgan! Tell us everything.
Love you, Mom

PS Jenny Ellsworth is getting married 6 days for before you get home.
and
If I can, in the morning, I will add some Easter photos of the family for you. Oh, you would be so proud, I made cinnamon rolls this morning. I can't wait to do it again. It was fun. That pic is on here so I can share that one now.

THE MIRACLE OF THE DAY.
So remember when i was san lucas toliman and we had emergency changes, well they closed the area until this past change and they put in new sisters. Ok, now we have to remember back in Patulul when we were teaching Pablo and he had his interview and that night went and drank....ok well today in my last zone training ever, the sisters from san lucas toliman came running to me and said HERMANA OLIPHANT WE HAVE GOOD NEWS. they said, WE FOUND PABLO! I just burst into tears. He is there in san lucas with his other sister and he has his baptism date for the 19th of April. i cant explain to you how happy i am. It is such a miracle. I know that GODS PLAN IS PERFECT. He just needed a little time, and now 7 months later, about an hour from where we taught him and got to know him, he is prepared and he will be baptized. I know it. I WISH I COULD BE THERE. but he told the girls there everything and how much he really is ready this time. they told me he is going to send me something next week with a note...and i am just so excited for him. I dont even care that he didnt get baptized when i was there with him, i am just grateful that he is getting baptized now. I TRUST IN GODS PLAN.

MIRACLE OF THE WEEK.
These past couple days I have been dealing with back and stomach pain. Monday the back pain moved to the side...right where it always hurts when i get my kidney stone problems. WELL...during the day it got worse and worse and the nausea also got worse...as we got home from district p day at the lake it was almost unbearable again. i just started to cry because i didnt want to deal with it again...at least not right now. I got down on my knees and poured my heart out to my father in heaven. About how i want to be able ot give my ALL these last weeks. I asked him, if it was his will, to take the pain away, and if not, that i would deal with it and still give my all. I dont think i have ever received an answer so quickly, but i got up from my knees and the pain was GONE. absolutely gone. I feel completely normal. It was such a miracle to me and such a testimony of the love of my father in heaven and the fact that he does listen. I have a testimony of prayer.

Ok, well i don't have much time left, but i will write more next week. Know that i am well. My heavenly father is blessing me, and he is aware of me and that is all that matters. I know that to be true. We are trying to work with the members here to find more people who are ready, and i know we will see more miracles.

LOVE YOU EACH!!!

Hermana Oliphant

"I know that the refiners fire is real, and I am being refined for my last bit...."

"Happy birthday mom...."

"...and my cool elephant shirt."

"The girls in my zone...and Hermana Macias...

she reminds me of CARA. SO MUCH! just from Ecuador."

"Hermana Hyland and I."

Hello,
Well, how was your week. We didn't have a lot going in. Grandma had her surgery. She seemed to do well. I was at the hospital the second day when the dr came in the chat. She asked why she can't go home and lay in bed as easily as laying in the bed in the hospital. He said as long as you are released by the physical therapist, you can go. He said, if we aren't doing anything for you here that you can do for yourself at home, then I guess that's okay. So, she came home. She has had more pain than last years surgery last time, but she seems to be doing really well. That's good.

That's good. I hope shes good as new when i get home! I will keep her in my prayers so all goes well in the recovery.

Connie and Craig left for their mission in Tacoma Washington. Dad reminded me that is Keely Tanners mission. I'll have to ask Dixie about it and tell Connie about her.

That's pretty fun!

Today Ashley came in primary with me again and our CTR 4 class that I used to teach with all 8 little girls and Caleb, the Karren's grandson. They didn't have their teachers show up to start. They did come later, but Ashley just volunteered to teach their lesson. Jill M. wasn't feeling well. So she read though it, we pulled pictures, and she made some word strips, and taught. She missed YW, but her teaching is a great opportunity. I was proud of her. She really got us out of a pinch Primary. Ann was so appreciative of her being willing to help.

MISSIONARY!! haha that's awesome!! 

Bro. Silver passed away. He went in for surgery and had a stroke on the table. He never came out of it. Apparently he almost died 45 years ago. She said she cannot complain, she had 45 extra years. I got to cut his hair last week, it was a sweet conversation we had. 

What happened in the conversation? 

Morgan, I need you to ask when Hermana Newman's talk is. What time? Where? I want to go, but if we cannot, I wondered if you would ask if she has someone who would record it for us on their phone or something.

I asked her but she doesn't know what time. She thinks its at 1...but you could maybe ask her mom on facebook? Or you had her number at one point i seem to remember? I'm not sure..but she doesn't know. I just know that the Laws homecoming got moved so i will go to that the week after mine!

Blake and Julie are getting home from their cruise tonight.

I cannot think of anything else.

Oh, Spencer is trying for another job. Better, more flexible hours. If it's right for him, he could come to church, he could do school easier, a lot of things. I'm praying for him. I would love it, except for driving to park city every day. Keep him in your prayers for me.

Will do. I will pray he can get the job...but i have faith that he will like it says in Nefi, the Lord prepares the way we can complete his commandments...and so for him to be able to go to church, i pray it works out.

Tell us about your week! We want to know who you have found, worked with, everything.

So, if you have time you could write a ditty for the ward newsletter. If not you still have next week. With conference we have an extra week. But you HAVE to do it for the April newsletter. Okay?? I bet your excited to have conference next week. AND, I found there are Spanish speaking sisters in our stake. I showed Becca that from 10th ward program today.

That is SO GOOD!! That makes me so excited. and YES I AM SOOO EXCITED FOR CONFERENCE! We were able to go to the relief society session..it was SO GOOD. I hope you were able to see it. I loved loved loved the talks. I am just so excited for it!!

Just heard from Julie they just got home. 1055 pm. That's good.

Love you. Take care. Looks like you are back to the rainy season, is that right?

Love you so much, 

Mom

We are actually not int he rainy season yet, it doesn't start until may. But it has rained a bit here and there here...but that's ok. 

So, i will tell you a little about the people we are working with. 

WE have this great guy named Luis. He is married and has one little 4 month old baby. His wife doesn't really like us, but he is so sweet and so humble. He is like a little baby. But so interested. He didn't come to church this week, but i think its his wife's fault, but i know he will come to conference, because he really loves that we have a living prophet today, and that he is called of God! And not that he is chosen by the people...he is very special. 

The other day we hiked to the top of Mount Rushmore to go find this lady we had a second visit set up with and she wasn't home...and there are like NO houses up there but we found this other house and knocked the door and out came Kevin. A 17 year old -- future missionary. He is SO prepared. He is very intelligent and very ready to receive the restored gospel of Christ. The problem is that he left to the capital for the week...so we wont see him until Saturday in general conference...where we have faith he will show up. I have never seen someone here in Solola understand the message so well. The ´people usually don't understand very well here...first of all they speak a different language..and Castellano is their second language, and also thy don't have much education..but he understood. It just made sense in his head. So COOL. The spirit is such a miracle of the mission.

FUNNY STORY. Hermana Wong, being a new missionary struggles with walking fast, but the other day we went to knock on a door and she went to knock when all the sudden i see her flying through the air screaming...and out came the dog. THIS DOG WAS ANGRY. But i have never seen her move so fast. hahaha it was a hoot. The dogs here don't like us, and they think that we might taste good or something. But i always assure them that we don't taste good. If they understand me or not, i don't know, but i always tell them.

Yesterday for p day with our zone we went to a ropes course. I will admit it was a little sketchy, because it was just stuff out of trees and ropes, but i was kind of a loser and didn't do very much because i didn't want to land on my knee wrong or die for that matter here on my mission. I just didn't feel good about it and i was kind of the boring missionary there and on some of the things i told everyone it was probably better we didn't do it...as missionaries...but it was a fun day. We had fun together as a zone. 

We don't have tons of people right now, but we are getting there. Little by little. We see miracles every day. Maybe not the miracles we would like, but they are there. I am so grateful. I will admit these last few weeks are hard. Satan is really working hard. I am trying to give all i've got and trying to stay positive. I know that the refiners fire is real, and i am being refined for my last bit....which i am so grateful for. I am happy. I am LOVING every second. IT might not be easy, but it wasn't easy for Christ either. and i pray that i can become like him one day, so i am ok to suffer a little bit. 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Hermana Oliphant

Morgans letter...I forgot to post it. I read it to mom in the hospital, and then spaced it off. Oops! Only four more left!!! 

"My area"

Companions

The Waters of Mormon right here in my area.

Hello...
How has this first week been. I have to admit, I have worried a little bit about you being in a trio. I worry about you being so far away and back in the mountainous "hills". It won't get as hot though, that may be a blessing. So tell me, how is it? How are you feeling? How are you companions? Do you all get along? Are there good feelings between you all? Will you be in a trio this whole transfer, or is it temporary? Not too many questions circling around inside my head is there!! I "google earth-ed" where you are. I couldn't really tell anything. But sort of saw it a little bit.

I am LOVING EVERYTHING!!! It has beeen sooo cold, but finally warming up...and i love it. My companions are becoming my best friends. We have so much fun together and we are getting more comfortable teaching together. We haven't had any problems...and we just are enjoying it. enjoying all of it. the trio is for the whole transfer from what i know. Just know i am loving it. I couldn't have asked for a better last transfer. I know i am going to learn a lot here, and i want to learn all i can before i go home....i want to go home changed and stay changed. i want to be clean.

Tell us about your area. Who have you met?

We are slowly meeting the members and finding new investigators..we are enjoying being rejected, because we know that means that the miracles are coming and they are. We find new great people every day. It is rough, honestly, but rewarding.

We had Alex, Eli and Seth (Blake and Julie are on a cruise as of yesterday) over for dinner with Grandma and Grandpa last night. Sis. Nye is home so we are back to taking food to her too. That is fun. We like to do that for her. I think she enjoys it too. 

FUN!

The boys gave Grandma a blessing. She asked Alex to anoint and Brent gave the blessing. Dad said a prayer before we began. It was neat. Her surgery she wasn't sure about is on Wednesday. Supposedly it is not as big of a deal as "back surgery" sounds. I feel like it will be okay and that she will do well with it. I just hope it doesn't continue right up her back. The dr said that her rib cage would protect it from happening to the rest of her back. I hope that is true.

I will be praying for her. I know shell do great!! GO GRANDMA!

I went with Spencer to get his bike fixed - we dropped it off to Hyland Cyclery - that is the one Mark Goodman owns, who is now married to Julie Oliphant, and they were all there. Carter, Julie and Mark. It was the most fun thing to see them. 

So fun! Hope they are doing great!

Then we took Spencer's car to Jiffy Lube for an oil change and they checked the brakes and they are GONE. Nothing left. So he drove my car to work today and Dad and I are going to change the brakes on his car - he needs front and back brakes. He will probably need new rotors too. I just hope we can do it fast. It has to be done today. He needs his car too much. And, it is supposed to rain today, of course. (Back brakes were just fine, actually!)

Sounds like an adventure always!!

Dad was saying the other day that he always has his eye open for a car for you. We don't know what you want, but he looks anyway.

I DON'T WANT ANYTHING! I WONT HAVE MONEY. Not with schooling...which is stressing me out!!!

Okay, we want to know all about you! I need to know how you are feeling/doing. I have been slightly worried about you this week. I just hope all is well and that this transfer period can be a happy experience. I told Aunt Connie about you meeting Madison Hyland. She went and talked to her parents. So that was good. She asked for your email address. Maybe they or her will write you. I'm not sure. 

She did write me! She was so sweet. (Thanks Aunt Connie!)

Be happy! Drink lots of (filtered) water. Stay hydrated. Remember to take the sticky note off your birthday package and be surprised. I hope you got my email about that last week. I cannot believe they left that on there and gave it to you. I know it was early, but it was such a slick thing to get it to you through that gal.

Love you so much! I hope you will enjoy your week! Take are of Morgan! We pray every prayer for you!Love, Mom

First of all.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I love you. Thanks for being MY mom. I couldn't be more grateful. I wish i could give you a big hug, but in a few weeks. Just know that i look up to you as my example of a Christ like person. You are so selfless and so amazing. You are so full of love and i hope and pray that i can be like you. Everyone here tells me that i look like you...and i am grateful for that. but i pray i can BE like you. (of course that made me feel like a million bucks - and made me cry!)

This past week we almost got eaten by dogs like 3 times...hahaha so funny, the 3 of us freaking out and running away laughing our heads off. But the backpack is good for something..hahaha. 

Our area is really small, and i know the area pretty well already...not the little villages that are far away, but the main part of our area, i do know pretty well.

I am grateful for this area. We are finding people each day. First we found this cool girl Leti. She is 18 and her mom just died 3 months ago...her dad is abusive so they left the house, her and her 4 siblings....she is playing mom now. She was very receptive but we haven' t been able to find her since...so we hope we find her soon. We found this awesome guy luis yesterday who had listened to the missionaries before had gone to church but said he didn't really want to get baptized back then...but says hat now he does....his only problem is that the works Sundays...but we are working on that. 

THERE ARE MIRACLES EVERYWHERE!! Having the area closed for so long was necessary, but the people are prepared now and waiting for us. We are just enjoying the finding process. 

I got to take a great nap on p day...like 2 hours...but i didn't sleep except for like 30 minutes...i started out looking through old pictures of the mission and ended crying remembering everything. It was really quite funny. I JUST LOVE THE PEOPLE SO MUCH. I literally cant imagine leaving them, but i was crying mostly of gratitude. Because i literally have been so blessed to be in this mission. Everything that has happened has been a blessing for me and i am so grateful. That is the word i have to express my feelings toward my mission. GRATEFUL. My heart is full of gratitude and love. and I will NEVER FORGET IT!

Hermana Oliphant

This past week in Chimal i had a really neat experience...

A picture of my current area.

My companions and I this morning!

The best ward mission leader ever in Chimal and his brother...our investigator, 

and my Hermanita Irma!

My favorite kids in Chimal.

Flori...she will be baptized in Chimal this week...sad to miss it! and her friend the member in red.

Best dia blanco ever!

Saying goodbye.

Saying goodbyes...the second time is harder.

Hello,
So yesterday, I went to Connie and Craig's "farewell". They are going to the Tacoma, Washington mission to serve. While I was there, Morgan, I met that gal in your mission, Madison Hyland's parents. They were nice. Madison comes out of the MTC this Wednesday. I wish you could read this before so you could tell her I met them. Anyway, I already sent a little bit about her to you. It would be amazing if you were her trainer. She is right there in Sandy and you could give her parents a personalized hug when you get back, and trust me, they would love, love, love that. I think---I know I would. Her dad said they have another friend in the same mission. An elder. I didn't ask who. I don't know any Elders names there.

His name is Elder Heiner...haha he told me when she got her call because he was in my district...so funny. but i did meet her...she is adorable! Tell her parents she is with the best missionary in the whole mission Hermana Garcia. She literally is perfect! I love her so much. and Hermana Hyland is so special and working so hard! SHE IS DOING GREAT!

Anyway, tell us about how your week has turned out. I am still writing on Monday, just in case you get on before Thursday. I didn't want you to get on and have nothing to read. I'm so excited to hear where you have changed to and who you are with. I hope you are safe and happy, and healthy.

Spencer was fine. Apparently he did get lost out hiking alone. Chad Dunford got after him on FB and said he broke the second law of hiking. He said what is that, Chad said tell someone where you will be going. Spencer said, what is the first law, Chad said are you kidding - DON'T HIKE ALONE!!! I thanked Chad on there for that reminder. It was funny. But only because he is home. It wouldn't have been funny if he was lost out there somewhere. Here are a couple of pictures he took and posted. The first is Dead Horse Point in Moab, and the other is probably while he was lost on his SOLO HIKE!!

So funny. Typical spencer! hahaha next time invite me!

His comment on this was something like: "cairns-point the direction of the trail. the most simple form of communication, and they make all the difference when hiking alone."  I didn't know he got lost til the next day when Nate came over and said something about it. OH well, he is alive and home. That makes me happy. Nate said something, I said I didn't know, he said don't you read his instagram? I said I don't have it. Spencer said, thats why I posted it there, she doesn't have it. I may have to look at yours and see what he put on there. He did find Kamie and her hubby down there. They invited him to come hot tub with them at their hotel. He left his swim suit on his bed. Apparently her hubby let him borrow one of his. He ripped his pants and had to throw them away and couldn't find anything open to buy new ones that late, so I'm not sure what he did. He only took an extra pair of shorts.

hahahahaha so funny!!

Andrew Price is home tomorrow. His mom posts a number count down every day on Facebook. It is awesome.

Mom is going to the dr some time this week to decide for sure about surgery. They were telling them about the side effects and she decided she wasn't sure if she should do it. She wants to know more and then decide. If she does it, it will be next week still.

Tell her to just pray about it!

Okay, you're on. I want a picture of you and you're companion if possible. Who she is and where she is from. I'm excited to hear where you are going to be serving. I hope all is well. We still pray for you every day.

I sent that info...if you want to copy and paste it.

Becca's birthday was this past sometime - oh, Saturday. Christine gave her two bunnies from what I can see on FB. Funny.

She sent me pictures. so funny!

We went to the Bountiful temple Saturday night. The Spencer family. Steve and Kelly, us, Julie and Blake and mom and dad. It was fun. Julie and Blake leave on a cruise this Thursday. They cruise from Sun. to Sun. I think, but they are flying stand by so they are leaving Thursday to make sure they get there. They will have fun I hope.

FUN! I WANT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE! hahahaa i love it with all of my heart!

Love you, stay happy, healthy and strong. Take care of Morgan!! Drink lots of (filtered) water.

Love you so much, Mom

I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY. Lets just start off by saying, Dilan, my convert in Chimal is preparing his papers to go on a mission at the end of this year. HE IS SO EXCITED! Seriously....and i am just so happy for him. it was so hard to say goodbye to my family in Chimal, but i know i am where i am supposed to be.

So we had transfer meeting on Tuesday and i was completely shocked about my transfers...this is the last place i wanted to come, but i prayed all week long i would be ok with where the lord sends me and i can honestly say that i am so excited to be here!! Even though we just got here last night at 9pm...hahaha so Tuesday after transfers we stayed with some sisters in the capital because Wednesday morning we had a conference with Elder Anderson of the 12 apostles...it was INCREDIBLE. but our area is so far away it would have been silly to go there and then have to go again Wednesday so we stayed the night close....then had the conference...i got to see all my friends from the MTC! IT WAS SO FUN!!! But my camera was dead, so they are all going to send me the pictures....also i saw Elder Marsh who went to Olympus...and he took a picture of us as well...it was so fun. I sang a song with a few other missionaries as the musical number in the meeting and then said the last prayer...it was scary...hahahah i was reallllly shaky...but it went ok i think,. anyways after the conference we got on the bus and headed to our area..we left the conference at about 430...and were on the bus until 830...and from there we were with the zone leaders and had to go another 30 minutes in bus to our area...but there was no buses cause it was so late...so we found a nice man with his flete...aka a pick up truck with bars on the side...which we are allowed to use only in 2 zones of our mission and he helped us out...he wasn't even headed to solola but he went and helped us out. Anyways we got to our area at 9...and didn't have an area book...and as we re-opening the area we know NOTHING! SO...we will literally be starting from scratch..but it is going to be so fun!! I am excited. The area is called LAS CUESTAS...hahaha look up the word in Spanish..lets just say it is all hills...but not just a little hill...they are HILLS! but i am SO EXCITED! I pray to be sufficiently humble to learn what the Lord wants me to learn in this area. to be who he needs me to be.

So, i am definitely not going to be able to share with you all that Elder Anderson taught us, but i can tell you it was incredible. As we read in 1 Nephi 15:14 and discussed our responsibility as missionaries in Guatemala, i felt so strongly that my calling came right from a loving Heavenly Father who knows me and knows my needs. he knew what i needed to become the best person i could become...to become who he needed me to be. he also talked about gaining the confidence of the Lord...having the spirit...and experimenting the conversion and being clean.....i pray i can come home clean and changed!!

This past week in Chimal i had a really neat experience...2 weeks ago we had a family night with a bunch of families in the ward...all the families who went were like less actives with problems..and i was asked to give the lesson that i hadn't prepared at all...i thought...but i had been studying in the week in Mosiah 3:19..and how the gospel is to help make bad people good and good people better....as we put off the natural man, we are changing from bad to good and as we become saints we are able to become better...we discussed in depth the scripture and a few other scriptures..and that was it. the spirit was strong.....anyways, a few days later Moi, our inactive ward mission leader, came to church and he started to tell me how his brother, one of our investigators...who has kind of gone of the deep end, he was there...and he said after we left he and his brother were talking and the Moi said his brother changed completely...that he started asking about what he had to do to go on a mission...and that he wanted to change...and lots of stuff....i wish i had more time, but i will explain EVERYTHING in a few weeks...anyways.l..i know that the spirit had prepared me to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord...that week before, what i had been studying not only helped me to be converted, but it was what Jairo, the kid needed. The Lord knew his needs. Heavenly Father has a perfect plan and everything happens just how he wants it to happen. I am grateful that i was able to be an instrument for the lord and that i was able to recognize the spirit and share what needed to be shared. it is humbling...because i literally did not know what to share...and i had thought of sharing something different, but at the last second, during the hymn i changed...i am so grateful!!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! Keep being great. i cant wait to give you hugs, but know that i am determined to give my all. until the last second. i dont want to look back with regrets at all. and i want to be the instrument that the lord needs.

Hermana Oliphant

A couple of other emails she answered...


On Thu, Mar 19, 2015 at 12:23 PM, Lisa Oliphant <balfoliphant@comcast.net> wrote:

Did you get an email from Matt Stewart??

YES!!" I AM SOO EXCITED FOR HIM!!! SO EXCTIED! He is the best!  (Mission call to Mozambique, July 20 I believe!)


On Sat, Mar 14, 2015 at 4:24 PM, balfoliphant <balfoliphant@comcast.net> wrote:

I think it would be so fun if you get to train the new missionary from Connie and Craig's ward. I need to look up her name again. How fun would that be if you could come home and meet her family. Just sitting at work thinking about it.  She is the one I told you about that was coming soon. This is her week to be finished in the MTC.  Just looked her name up. Madison Hyland. Look for her if you can!

Love you, 

Mom

I MET HER. She is in my zone. She is so sweet. I am not training her though. She is doing well. Tell her family she is safe and sound.I am training a girl from Costa Rica named hermana Wong...her dad is from china. she is great. i am actually in a trio....with another girl hermana montecino...she is training as well..and opening an area that hasn't been worked in for 6 weeks...aka we are starting from scratch!! I AM SO EXCITED! Here on the shores of the waters of mormon in solola!

Same place as the emergency transfer away from??

different place..same zone! farther away now!!