What an amazing blessing I have to be a missionary!

Here is Morgan's letter for this week.  Things are going well again.  Thanks for all your prayers and support! We really appreciate each one of you! (See that Email #48 - #52 is a year!!!)   =) No pictures this week! She ran out of time I think.  I got a blank email, I think the photo didn't have time to load!

Lisa

Hello my dear,
How is that eye issue/problem coming along? Do you have any idea what would have caused that? Cuz if you remember right, you were told not to take contacts. If you are keeping your contacts away from the water there, you should be ok. If you feel like it is from anything like that, please do not wear that same pair again. Make sure you are changing them out often enough.

I know exactly what happened...we were on this dirt road waiting for a bus and this big truck past and COVERED me in dirt. hahaha and i think something just got in there...but all is well. I changed contacts and my eye is just fine!

Well, yesterday was Andrew Dunford and Adelide Christensen's homecoming. You will want to listen to both of their talks. She is a great gal. She feels very lost having left her mission, her sister got married, her parents moved, and Henry left since she left on her mission. She is very humbled about her new situation of HOME. She had a great analogy of "Welcome Home" in that she had a sign to welcome her home, and she compared it to we should always have a welcome home sign for those coming back, or into, the gospel. It was pretty cool.

Ya she is awesome. I never new her super well but i always knew she had a great testimony and spirit!

Christine Alley and her family should get home this week. Maybe Thursday or Friday. I'm excited to see her. She has had some of the greatest letters. I think I will print off a couple "last emails home" and send them to you. Hers and Adelides, Andrews, and Emily's were all great messages. Ali W is having a great experience in Phillipines, too. 

I get Ali's emails every week. I have read some of Christines and the other wardies just in the ward news letter! 

Spencer, Casey and Russ with Lydia and Sarah (don't think you know them) just took off Friday and went to Spokane, Washington for a Zack Brown Band concert in a place called the Gorge.

whats up with the facial hair...super funny! haha

It was tons of driving, but they got home safe last night at 11! Spencer went right to bed to be up at 515 for work and school today. I haven't heard a word about it yet. I know they had fun. I was at work Saturday and Spencer called while I was working on Zack Burnett. He said, do you have Alex's address? I said if you can give me a second. Zack helped me get it, save it, and send it to him. Spencer said, I'm 15 minutes from there. What should I take him. I said let me ask. Well, that took to long. He ended up getting Cliff bars and Gatorade and he went to Al's apartment. Two missionaries come walking out right then, of another apartment, and he calls and says that was the wrong apartment cuz neither of them was Al. I said ask if they know him. I heard them say yes. Spencer said can you give him this for me? They said we don't live there, we were just visiting some people. So, he asked if Al loves there, they said yes and he took a picture of him on the door step for us and left the stuff there for him. That was fun. I told him Al wouldn't be ready to see him, but if he did see him not to ignore him. Give him a hug and walk away. BUT they didn't ever see them. That was fun. Julie couldn't believe he was there. She didn't know he was going. I didn't know he would be that close, and neither did he. I just hope Al got the stuff and it wasn't stolen off the porch. He wrote on the Cliff bar box to say hello. 

That is so fun. hahaha too bad he didnt see him, but it might have made him more home sick!

Okay...now it's your turn. What's going on on your Country? Are you okay? Is your companion doing any better? I can't get your last emergency transfer off my mind. I try, and try, and try but I'm just happy if you're now safe and happy. Makes me want to wish your time away faster and faster. I think transfers are this week? I'm guessing you will stay?!?!

I am staying and i am training and so excited! This transfer will only be 4 weeks, so it will be an interesting transfer. But i am excited to see who will be my companion!

How about investigators? Things going well? You have sooo many people you talked about last week, I can't even keep up. Hope you have photos of all of them.

I will fill you in at the end.

What about that sister meeting? Do you have a calling right now? You had one in about 2 areas ago I think, I'm not sure now. You never talk about that stuff.

My calling will be trainer. Right now i am senior companion but other than that nothing.

Laurie put a thing on FB saying Amy had been chased by some man. But she/they are okay. Weird. Glad you're all okay.

hahah i heard about that. it was pretty funny. it happens often in the mission....

Catch us up on your life as a missionary. We love you very much. Take care of Morgan. The foot is still ok? No kidney stone pain? Any packages show up yet?? Should be about the right time for that. We hope so anyway. You're coming up on a year, and I don't know if you want me to send you stuff for that. I wasn't thinking or I would have included in that last package from Gma and Gpa. Will you celebrate? Please? Have fun with that day. If you want anything, I will get right on it for you. That sounds so dumb to ask, but it does take a long time to get anything to you. Wish someone was going there and would show up on your doorstep for me!!! That would be awesome!!!

There are a few things i want/need. 

Who is Hermana Prowitt. You sent a photo of her last week, but I've/we never heard of her before.

She was in my zone in Solola...and before the mission we had talked on facebook a few time....but she is just a good friend!

Did you go to Santiago for pday? Did you get the skirt you wanted?

Yes we went. No i didnt buy it because i tried it on and it drowned me...like all my skirts. The other day as it started to rain i had to walk around holding my skirt up because with the water and it already being too big, it was just falling off. then my companion slipped and fell and she tried to stop herself and pulled down my skirt..the good part was that i had my long rain coat on so no one knew...hahaha but it was quite the experience.

Are you still drinking lots of water?

TONS!

Love you so much! Take care! We pray for you in every prayer.

Mom

So i just want to fill you in on some people.
The other day...Friday we had divisions. I got to work with my good friend Hermana Rasmussen. She is so amazing and we loved it. We had so much fun and i learned so much from her. what a great experience.

Lucy went to the women's session of general conference with us. She is 19 and has a 3 month old baby. Her boyfriend, who she is living with is very catholic and doesn't want to get married. He also never wants to listen to us. Well the other day when i was with Hermana Rasmussen we were teaching lucy and in walked manuel, her boyfriend, and i invited him to listen just as i always do. Well this time he said ok. He pulled up a chair. We were talking about prophets and helping them get prepared for general conference. He was loving it. He told us he wants to go to general conference. I am so excited for him and Lucy. Lucy would be baptized today if she had the church assistance and if he would get married. She is so awesome. She told me the other day that like all of her family are members. They all live far away in the capital, and when she was little she went to church a few times with them, but she is just awesome. I am so excited for them.

Esmeralda is doing great. She fell the other day while mopping her floor during the night. When it rains here her house fills with water, and she woke up to mop and she slipped and fell and hit her eye on the corner of the bathroom...huge black eye...i thought her husband hit her...but he didnt. It was clearly from the bathroom. but she is doing great. She too is going to got conference with us. She was going to go this past sunday but didnt because she was embarrassed for her eye.

Imelda is set on being baptized but she isnt going to church. She is the cutest little lady. He kids have all abandoned her...and it makes her so sad. The other day she started to cry and tell us about her son who died when he was 24. He was handicap and she told us how she just wants him to be baptized. Because he never got baptized in his life, and she wants to see him again...we explained to her how we are baptized to be clean of sins and that he didnt have any sins. but we also explained to her about the resurrection and she loved it.

Found this awesome guy the other day with hermana rasmussen. We were looking for this kid nery that we had taught once but he wasnt home and we met his brother juan jose. juan jose is like 25ish i think and he started to tell us how the past week he took the decision that he wasnt going to smoke or drink any more. He wanted to change. He was so excited. Then we showed up and he started to tell us he knew it wasnt an accident that we showed up at the door in this time of his desire to change. He prayed at the end of the lesson and thanked Heavenly Father for sending the 2 angels to help him change. He is also going to go to general conference.

Juanito is DONE WORKING SUNDAYS! I AM SO EXCITED! He has officially stopped. He is so excited to be able to go to church now. We are planing Emilys baptism for the 15, but it might happen before. I dont know if i told you about emily. Her parents are henry and mirza. They have bee members for about 12 years. But inactive for about 11 years. Well they have been active since the day we met them in the street. Their little daughter emily is 9 and not baptized so we are working with her. Henry and Mirza have changed and i just love them so much. We are going to go eat with thim tonight because they invited us cause my companion is leaving. But Henry told us last night he knows why we had emergency changes. He said his wife had no desire to go to relief society before cause she had no support from any of the sisters..she didnt feel welcome. He said when we got here she clicked with us and she now has a desire to go. They havent missed a sunday since weve been here. I just loveeee them so much!!

Ah so much to say and so little time. I am just loving this area and the people! What an amazing blessing i have to be a missionary! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH

Hermana Oliphant

I have never been so grateful for my Savior...

Here is Morgan's letter for this week. I asked her if she was out of contacts or contact solution because she is wearing her glasses. She said she got a very sore eye and it went very red. Instead of taking any chances, she has been wearing her glasses for a while. Ashley got hit in the eye with a ball at school today. I promise, these two are attached somehow. Ashley broke her foot the same day Morgan fell off a curb - which is what Ashley did, but Morgan's was not broken. It is just so weird to me that they DO the same things. I know, CRAZY AND DUMB, but it is weird to me!
Lisa =)

Hermana Prowitt and I

Mi hijita!!

Hermana Newman and I

Hey,
You're killin' me. I know there is more to this story, and I know I probably won't hear about it until you get home. I also know how grateful I am that you have been watched over and kept safe. There is nothing good when there are gangs involved. I was so shocked, though, because last week you said how tranquil (yes, that is a word that means peaceful--you asked me that!) the area was and that you felt the Spirit just walking down the street. Something must have changed in a hurry. I know I should be worried, in my mom uniform, but I am just grateful that you have been removed from the danger and that you or someone was in tune enough to know what to do and how to handle the situation. I am just grateful. I'm sure I would be dying if you really told me "the rest of the story", but I am just grateful. 

I promise. All is well. There was nothing threatening in any form.

I'm so sorry you didn't get many photos in that area. I guess you could ask people to send them to ou? I mean later, when you are home, or from other missionaries. 

I was sad, i at least wanted a picture of the lake. BUT I THINK WE ARE GOING THERE FOR P DAY AS A ZONE. Not our area exactly, but Santiago where we went a few times before that is close to our area.which i will get to take some pictures hopefully and buy this great skirt i was going to buy the last time but didn't do it.

How is your companion doing? Is she better. I found that her name is Sis. Vasquez, but I don't think you ever told us where she is from or much about her. 

My companion is struggling. The heat kills her and she doesn't like to do much when it is hot, but i just keep pushing her and keep her talking so she forgets it. She is from Honduras and she has 1 transfer more than i do in the mission. The zone leaders asked me to help her prepare to be senor companion, but she is very shy and reserved. She is great though. She is SO humble and has a great spirit. She is teaching me a lot!

For your Sunday meetings this week, what did you have? Was it the Ogden Temple Dedication? We did, and I wondered if it is church wide. Just curious. 

We didn't hear anything about the Ogden temple. I didn't even know it was being dedicated. Sunday was just a normal day. 

Anyway, so now you have a whole new set of people to talk about and places, and what is it like, etc. Do you have to deal with lice there? Are you careful about bugs? Please use that Terra Shield (for bugs) even just everyday as you leave home, spray some on you.

Did you receive your package from Grandpa and Grandma yet. I added lemon to it, so please use it in your water. Even one drop. AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE DRINKING LOTS of CLEAN water please. Especially now that it is hotter where you are. It looks as though you still have rain every day. I watch you weather every day and there is always lightening and thunder and rain on the picture of it.

I haven't gotten it yet, but i am sure i will at transfers or after. We don't know what will happen with transfers yet, but if i don't go, the zone leaders will bring it for me. I am drinking lots more water than before. Don't you worry. OH MY! The thunder here is incredible!! I LOVE IT! SO MUCH and so often!! SO beautiful! It does rain here but its not cold rain like it was in San Lucas. It rains and it is still hot and only rains for a bit. so its better! 

Tell all, Morgan. We love you very much. We pray for you every day, every prayer and now I keep a little extra grateful one in my heart all day long that you have been protected and that you will be protected. We pray that you will find the people who are waiting for you and are prepared. We pray for you health and strength --- foot still good? And we pray for you safety and protection. (I am grateful for that!!!!)

My foot is great. No problems there. Another miracle...the pain just disappeared.

LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Mom

I AM SO EXCITED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS GREAT WEEK!!
First of all Anna got confirmed Sunday. She was SO excited! She just had the biggest smile. We also spoke in church on Sunday. The speakers bailed so my companion and I spoke. We spoke about mission work and I tied it in to the Atonement. I can't say I understand the Atonement the way I wish I did, but I have come to understand it so much more than before. I have never been so grateful for my Savior and had such a desire to be more like him and show my love for him as I have here in the mission. I am so grateful. I know that I am in the mission for a reason. I don't think i would have had the same growth spiritually as I have had here in the mission had I not come....I know I wouldn't have!!

So our first day here we spent our time knocking door to find people because we didn't know where anyone lived. So we found some miracles. 

First, Esmeralda and Rolando. They are this great family. Esmeralda is catholic, but she is way open. Rolando doesn't go to any church, he works a lot so its hard to find him, but they are both incredible. Esmeralda told us she received her answer our 3rd visit. She said she knew Joseph Smith was a prophet because the spirit touched her heart. It was incredible. We were disappointed when they didn't come to church Sunday but this next week i am confident they will come. 

Next, Gabriella and her kids Michelle and Boris. I found her entering her house and i just went and started talking...my companion went across the street and was contacting this other lady and so i just kept talking with Gabriella and her kids. Well we grew to love each other fast and set up an appointment. Well she told us as well that she received her answer as well as Michelle. Boris hasn't yet, but he is only 8...but THEY ALL CAME TO CHURCH SUNDAY!! AND LOVED IT. They were so excited to go and felt the spirit so strongly. I know that they are going to progress. I don't know why we are here, but if it is just for this cute family, that's all that matters to me. I am so excited for them. 

Ok, I think i told you about the R. family. Well, Juanito, the 15 year old son wants to get baptized...and this Sunday, just to the end of the month is his last Sunday working. Then he will get baptized. He LOVED when we visit, he is reading, he is praying and he has his answer. I am just so excited for him. Now for the sad part...the other day we were out in the street contacting and i saw Blanca, the mom go into a little tienda. So i chased her...i thought she ran in there like playing around to hide to be funny...but she was really hiding from us. Her husband as well was hiding from us. So we cornered Blanca and asked what happened and why she was hiding and she said she did something bad. She and her husband were totally drunk....WHAT!? Blanca got baptized about a month ago and her husband still isn't a member. He has had drinking problems, but Blanca gave it up a long time ago...She told us they have lots of problems and that they just went to drink...I WAS DYING!! I wanted to cry...but I had to be strong for her. We told her to go home but she said she couldn't because her kids were there and she didn't want her kids to see her like that. So we went to go visit the 4 kids. We had a great time with them. I really just love this family so much and it just broke my heart, but Blanca did go to church Sunday which was great. We are spending a lot of time with them lately, to be able to help them all have stronger testimonies. They live in a really hard situation, and have lots of economic problems. 

This past week we had a meeting with just the sisters. It was Friday at 830 am but in the capital. Well we are like 4 hours away from the capital so Thursday we went to go work with some sisters in the capital, we did divisions with them and then slept there so that we didn't have to wake up so early to get there. It was a great meeting. With just the sisters they focused a lot on the worth of each individual. I learned a lot but i realized that i really need to change a lot. There are so many things i want to work on and i don't know how quite yet...i need to be more humble, i need to have more charity, i need to be more loving, i need to be more diligent, i need to be so much better in so many things. It is over whelming to think of doing it all at once, but the great thing is i don't have to. Today we talked about the charity in our district meeting. I thought a lot about Christ. He is the perfect example. He died for us. So we could have the salvation and if i want to have charity i need to give all that i have to be able to help others have their salvation If i were the only person here on the earth, Christ would have died the same. The same goes for you all. If you were the only person here on the earth, Christ would have suffered and died the same. He loves us, and we need to love others. I love reading about Charity in Moroni 7. Even though I have no room to talk about the charity,i love learning about it. I have so much to change and improve and each day i will try to be better. To have the Christ like attributes. I am SO grateful for my mission and all tat i have learned on the mission. I am becoming converted and i am trying my best to be changed. That is what President Brough asked of us...its more like her commanded us to " Be changed" and that is what i am trying to do. I know that i have a looonnnggg ways to go but i am grateful for the chances that my Father in Heaven has given me and for the many opportunities more that i will receive to be better!! 

I love you all so much!!! Keep being amazing and keep doing all that you can to be a little better each day.

LOVE; HERMANA OLIPHANT! 

I have seen too many miracles in my time here in the mission to not know that this is from a reason.

Here is Morgan's letter for this week. I have been a tiny bit worried because she didn't email on her regular day. I assumed it was because of the storms, and I was right. But, I had no idea she was "emergency changed"! Here is her story... You get to decipher this time again. Sometimes they way she types so fast and messes so much up makes me laugh, so I left it because it made me laugh as I cried reading that she was emergency transferred for their safety. I am grateful that they are watched over. When she gets home, she will probably have a great story to tell about that "tranquil" place. She said last week she could feel the Spirit as she walked down the streets. Something must have changed!) ((For any of you that are new to Morgan's letters, my letter is in green, her answers are in red.))

Well i wish i had updates ont he people in San Lucas Toliman but i dont. We had emergency changes this past friday we were taken from our area. We were taken from the mountains and the cold to the coast and the hot. There were just some unsafe circumstances that invovolved some gangs so they took us out to keep us safe. Nothing more than just the precautionary stuff. But we have had a CRAZY week!! But i will answer your email then fill you in on my week!!

A bit of my new area....

How has your week been. I hope you are still feeling better and I am still praying for your FOOT. That's strange, I know, but I would hope to let you be pain free for a while. You are enduring, that's probably your test. At least one of them. I have watched your weather report - every day and it usually is rain and lightening every night, like you said, or at least once every day. So I worry about your foot healing because you wear those wonderful black and pink, non-supportive, quick drying, silly shoes you love so much. I hope they aren't making it worse babe. That's all. How long is your rainy season? Is it almost over?

My foot is great. I have had no probhlems with it this week! MIRACLE number 9 million i think i nt he mission!!

Were you able to find a warmer jacket you were hoping for? Are you layering your sweaters and shirts and staying warmer? Do you still have your little fleece blanket you took with you?

No need for a warmer jacket here in the coast!!

Alma 26:22. We were at Kirkhams's fireside tonight and they were talking about their evacuation from Liberia. They used these scriptures and described how things "felt" for them. They were the mission pres there. It says, "22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth goodworks, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance." 

This is one of my favorite scripotures. Alma 26 has to be one of my all time favorite chapters in the whole book of mormon!!

D&C 84:88 - 88 "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

This is also one of my altime favorites. President brough always talked about how we have famioly members who have passed on and who are here with us as our angels. i have felt them throughout my whole mission and especially this week!!

These seem to me to be good scriptures for you and all you have been going through. D&C maybe comforts me...for you.

How do you cook/wash now?? Do you have gas stoves? PLEASE, make sure your gas is always turned off completely, if that's what you have. Pretty please.

As for now, in our new area, we eat in the house...we ahvent quite figured out the whole eating thing yet. That is the last of our concerns. As we are opening the area, or in other words, starting from scratch, we are more worried about the people. We have great memebers though willing to help!!

Ashley had a get party Friday night.  We didn't think through that one very well.  The homecoming game was the same night.  Pizza, cake and ice cream, smores and the candy bar game.  I think they had fun.

So fun!! I always love the candy bar game!! and good old smores!!

Saturday, Jeremy went to Homecoming dance. He seemed to have fun, but was tired. He had a water polo game in the morning. Dad said he was probably the MVP of that game. 

I AM SO SAD I AM MISSING HIS GAMES! Honestly. That is one of my favorite things. Watching games...any type. Basktball, soccer, polo...it doesnt matter if i know the people and i get to watch them....gotta be one of my favorite hobbies....WAY TO GO JER!!! Keep being amazing!!! Way to go with the whole date thing!! wait is he 16??

Spencer brought a friend (Abby) home, he met her at UT State, and I don't know where he got her from on Saturday, but she needed a place to stay. So we cleaned off your bed and she stayed in there... in that not so organized place. I felt so bad. She is from Tampa, Florida and going on a mission to Nampa, Idaho on October 15. They are just friends. She was super cute and very friendly.

SO EMBARRASSING that she stayed there...but its all good...she wont even know who i am to judge me..

Alley's leave Thursday to go spend 2 weeks touring with Christine and bring her home. And the Burgoynes are leaving soon to go get Emily. Sunday, maybe. The Dunfords left today to go to Mexico to get Andrew. And Adelide gets home in about a week also. CRAZY!!!

K that just weirded me out!! I cant believe that they are lll coming home. I am toooo weirded out!!

I like your Daily Reflection Journal idea. I always have things that happen and I wish I had thought of something better to say or do. 

I LOVE this journal. It has changed my life!!

How is the Mazat family coming along.

I dont know!! I AM JUST PRAYIING FOR ALL OF THEM SO MUCH!!! I know the elders who are ther ein the area now are taking care of them.

Angelica? Were you able to find her?

We did hear she went to church this past sunday!!

Dwan is sort of in "no change" mode. I think that is better than lots happening. She sounds like, from Janae, she is doing great!

Thats greaT!!

Why do those kids throw ants at you? Can you tell them something so they understand it isn't a nice thing to do?

They just love us...they just want our attention, but we wont have that problem anymore...they live farrr away!

Well, now it is your turn to fill us in on your week. I want to hear all about you and your work and your thoughts, and your foot, and EVERYTHING. K??

We love you so much. We are very proud of you and your courage and convictions and especially your dedication.

Take care of Morgan!!! She is a good, good missionary. 

I hope to hear from Sis. Z on email day. I asked her to send us an update on your Proyectos family. Hopefully I can forward it to you as we are emailing.

LOVE YOUR GUTS!

Mom

So this past thursday we had a conference with Elder Ochoa. The area 70. It was amazinggg!!! I learned so much. WE did a musical number. Me and some other sisters and elders in my old zone in the mountains. It was really pretty. Elder Ochoa really just loves us as missionaries and we could feel it. But we learned a lot about what our roles here is as missionaries. He said we should have goals to baptized every week...Which is totally possible. but requires a lot of obedience, diligence and faith!!

Friday morning when we woke up we were informed that we needed to pack up and go to a members house...we had a man from the church security come to our house and pick us up. He took us to this way nice restauraunt for lunch....it was like red lobster...the only sad part is we cant eat fish here...but i had a great fettuccini alfredo with chicken and a frozen lemonade. The best food ive had in a LONGGG time! hahah then he took us to Antigua. There was stayed with some sisters over night while President figured out where we would go. Saturday Morning President and Hermana MArkham came to Antigua and spent the morning with us as we waited for the AP´´s to come and pick us up. We had abotu 2 hours with just us and pres and hermana brough (she is missing Pres. Brough - she meant Pres. Markham). Just talking. It was so great!! Then the AP´s came and picked us up and off we went. After 4 hours in the car with the APs and my comp we arrived in our new area. Patulul. In the coast. IT IS SO HOT! We go to bed sweating and wake up sweating. but I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. The people here are amazing. It is quite fun to open the area. Not knowing anyone. There are no directions here so we just have to figure out creative ways to find people and remember where they live.

The members are incredible. We had a baptism this past sunday. This cute 13 year old girl got baptzed. Anna. Her mom and sister were members. And now we are working with her brother and dad. He brother Juanito wants to get baptizerd. This is his last sunday working and then he cant go to church and be bpatized. Her dad as welll..he just has to quit drinking nd he has told us he is committed to quiting!! We are having a Family Home evening with them tonight that i am so excited about!! They are so ecited about it and the mom, Hermana B is oging to teach us to tortillar...aka make tortillas...but the good gautemalan tortillas!! I AM SO EXCITED!!! That is the picture i think i sent you...it is of this wonderful family!!

Familia Rivas Roche! LOVE Them. The girls are all members...Anna, the oldest daughter just got baptized this past Sunday. The son Juan wants to be baptized, he just has to quite working Sundays and this Sunday is his last. The dad also, but he has to quit drinking and go to church. 

But he is committed to doing it!

The house was a mess when we got there because elders lived there before. But we cleaned it up monday and its actually a really great house. We hear EVERYTHING that goes on out back in the church Principe de Paz, but its all good. It si a great house. In a gated apartment area. 

Emergency changes = here I am in the coast. This is what we find in the house in the coast!

My companion has really been struggling. As we left the area we didnt have time to say good bye to ANYÖNE. She had 4 months in the area. I only had 4 weeks and iot was hard to leave. We both left just crying...we didnt get ot say goodbye to AN¨YONEEE! and so much companion has really struggled with the adjustment. She has been very negative and very down, but i am loving every second ! Honestly. I lvoe this area. We find new amazing people EVERYDAY. The hard part is that our district leader is the elder who used to be in our area...so they moved to a different area here in the zone and the areas in their area moved to our old area in san lucas...so it was a rotation of 3 companionshiops!! But i am happy were we are. This elder that is the distrcit leader just tries to tell us waht we should be doing. Who we need to visit. and i realize he is just trying to help us out, but we are trying tto work here in the area now and he is kind of butting in. But we are praying for patience and trying to follow his counsel because he is our leader called of god and he is trying to hel pus out. But it has been a willlldddd!!! week! So fun and crazy. But i am loving it!!

We found this great family our first day here in the area. Rolando and Esmeralda. They are catholic but asked us right away why trhere are so many churches in the world. So we explained it and then we went back for our second visit and they are super excited. They want to be baptized. I know there is a reason we are here right now and not in san lucas. I dont know what it is. but i know we are going to find peopole int his change. We are going to find miracles because there is a reason for everything. I am excittedto see all the miracles that are in store.

We also found this great lady. I contacted her like our second day here. Well i was talking to her and my companion went and contacted this other lady on the other side of the street...so i just talked and talked with this great lady gabriella and her kids michelle and boris. We set up and appointment and went and visited them last tnight! SHE IS SO EXCITED TO GO TO CHURCH!! I have never had someone accept so easily. She is catholic but she is so open. She has been prepared. I KNOW ITI!!

Anyways, I dont have much to tell you. Its been wild and we are trying to learn the area quickly and we are trying to follow the spirit to do what we need to do in this are.a There are transfers october 1, and i have no idea what to expect. I assume we will stay here at least one more transfer, but i dont know. I love the hot. I really do. You all know i dont like the cold, and even though all we do is sweat here, i am LOVINNG it!! I am so grateful. I know that the Lord has a plan. Even though it was very unexpected, and some other missionaries arent super happy about it, I know theres a reason. I have seen too many miralces in my time here in the mission to not know that this is from a reason. It could be so that the people in San Lucas that we were teaching and not progressing like we were hoping can progress more, it oculd be just to teach me to have more faith...i dont know and im not worried about ti right now, but i know its for a reason and i now i will figure it out in time! I just feel grateful and bleessed and happy!!

Love you all so much! Keep being amazing annd keep smiling. Elder Ochoa taught us one thing that i lvoed....he said, ¨´All I want for you is that you can try to be a little better every day.¨Which i sfunny cause thats what ive been saying my whole mission. That all we need to do is try each day to be a little more Christ like. and that we int he end of our lives we can be satisfied and have peace. That is what i am tryhing to do. Im not perfect, not even close, but i am loving evlery second of being here and cherishing each second. I am trying to learn from each experience and trying to love the people anbd serve as a real representative of christ. Which is who i am. I am a personal representative of my savior jesus christ and i need to do what he would have me do.

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!
HERMANA OLIPHANT

A couple of other notes she sent:
1-Oh and we didnt write yesterday because the internet was down in all of this little town of Patulul. So we had to wait until today. hahaha rpetty funny but its what happens ihere in the coast. Sometimes the lights just go off...they like randomly go off and on allll dya long!!

2-hope the pictures worked....i will for sure be taking more pictures from her eon out because i have NO¨pictures form my last asrea. Like none of the lake of my investigators of the members...non!! I think i have 3 and they are silly...nothing of importance. I am sad i didnt get pcitures...but i wasnt expecting to leave so quick. so more pictures for sure!!
LOVE YOU! HASTA PRONTO!
Hermana Oliphant

3-I jusrt wanted to assure you again, because i know how you are mom, that this emergency transfer was nothing. It was just to avoid any problems. There was nothing to be worried about. All is well and happy here in the coast! Just wanted to reassure you because i love you!! BYEE!!!
Hermanita Elefante!

Thank you for all the prayers. I felt them.

Here is Morgan's letter from today! Thank you for your prayers for her health! I appreciate it---and so did she!! This message has some YUCK to it as she describes last week - sorry!
Lisa

my new awesome scripture case...leather and sooo pretty!

mi companera cooking.

my baby banana...good morning

in santiago atitlan

So first things first---HOW ARE YOU DOING NOW??? This has been a very long week waiting to hear if you are okay!!! I was going to ask/email your mission office, but I decided if I was the one that asked and you hadn't told them about your kidney stone---I actually hope it is that and not something worse now---but if I did that, you would be mad at me...so I have waited to hear from you. Hope that was the right thing to do. I hope you already told them, but I just wasn't sure.

I am doing great!! Thank you for all the prayers. I felt them. I am sorry i didn't write much last week...it was too hard for me to be sitting there...i had to get up and throw up and walk around...i threw up like 9 times that day....hahaha...i didn't eat much those days. Funny, i saw this girl that i saw back in January in a change meeting and today she goes...wow, you look way skinny...like i only saw you once before but i feel like you are way skinny,...my skirts are a littleeee big.

i haven't seen it, but i dont have the pain. So who knows if its gone or still in me...i think its the same one i had back in like January...and its still there i think. But the pain and nausea is gone. I can eat now and walk. So all is well! Friday as we were leaving the house, even that morning i was struggling...but as we went to leave the house the pain just disappeared.
But i am doing much better. That Tuesday we went to go eat at a members house and i just laid down on their really hard, uncomfortable, lumpy couch...which didn't help much...but they let me chill there for a bit cause i was just throwing up and couldn't walk...so they took good care of me...then Hermana Markham, the presidents wife told me to go home and sleep...so we went home...i didn't sleep much but we were able to rest a bit...so we did. I FELT AWFUL TO NOT GO OUT AND HAVE A SINGLE LESSON, but i couldn't have done it...i was dying...and throwing up all over the place. Every time i opened my mouth to talk, or every time i sat up from laying down.

I did talk with the presidents wife. She started to cry when she heard me talk cause she knew i was in a lot of pain. She is so sweet. She called a few times to check up on me. I am just fine. I too have been having foot problems but nothing i cant handle with a little prayer and faith! My foot is my outside side part...like the arch part by the pinky toes....its odd but all good!

ARE YOU DRINKING LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF CLEAN WATER --- WITH LEMON IN IT PREFERABLY.

I am drinking more water now. pinky promise.

WEAR BUG JUICE WHILE YOU ARE IN THE MOUNTAINS!!!! It is very important!!!! And do you have enough warm clothes for the evenings and mornings you said were chilly?

Ya I've been attacked by the bugs...but its is FREEEEZZZING here. It rains a lot and we just get drenched and then super cold. I wish i had more jackets but i can find those here in the pacas i think.

PLEASE DRINK LOTS OF CLEAN WATER---TAKE CARE OF MORGAN. (Think she gets it yet?)

OK I HAVE A LOT TO SAY because i didn't write a lot last week.

First i want to tell you about my new goal. I have a new notebook that i am using daily. Each night as i write in my journal and refelct on the day, i think of one thing from that day that i could have done differently. One thing that i can change. and i write about it and think of how i could have been better. Now i am not doing this to be negative....because i am really enjoying it. As i do it, i am able to 1)recognize my weaknesses. 2)repent. and 3)remember these things after words. Because i have thought about it so much i remember that i want to change it and the next time the situation comes up, i remember that i wanted to do it differently. I AM LOVING THIS.

Now i have to tell you about the amazing Mazat Family. I don't know if i have mentioned them before. We found them knocking doors one day. The father came out and accepted to listen willingly, but he was home alone so we just started to talk outside. As we began to talk his wife and kids walked up. So the dad is Santiago, the mom Clara, and their kids Luis (19), Julio(14), Wilmer(12), and Glenda(7).Well when the wife finally came they invited us in. We got talking and they loved it all. It was just Santiago, Clara and Julio and glenda. Julio was super pilas. We went back and this time it was Santiago, Clara, Julio and Wilmer and glenda. They are so great. They accepted it all great. We went back again to teach the Book of Mormon and those same 5...but this time as we started to verify that they were praying in walked Luis. We had never met him before and so i invited him to listen as well. He accepted very happily. Well LUIS is SUPER pilas. He is sooo interested. We hadn't even explain Joseph Smith or the restoration at all to him but we were teaching Book of Mormon and we kept with that lesson and they all understood it way well. They were super excited to read it. We went back again and this time the the branch president. We were planning on teaching the Sabbath day but as we got there and it was only clara and julio and wilmer...we weren't sure what to teach...then all the sudden in walked luis. So we decided to teach the restoration and Joseph Smith. As we did so the spirit was so strong. President Morales was awesome. I just really fell so strongly that this family is going to progress so well. We are super excited for them!! Pray for the Familia Mazat!!

Also, Angelica, we don't know what happened...she is never home anymore and she didn't come to church Sunday. We felt strong this past week to wait for her baptism which is good because she didn't even come to church. So tomorrow we are going again to look for her and hope we find her!

Ah not time!! ok what more...

Mom i haven't heard anything from marisol or angel or tommy....maybe you can email hermana zamacona and ask her what happened and if she has pictures. I AM DYING!! TELL HER I LOVE HER AND TO TELL EVERYONE THERE IN THE AREA I LOVE THEM AND MISS THEM!! I would love that if you could do that.

I was thinking about Dwan this past week! How is she?

The dogs here fight and then eat each other...it is ridiculous.

the little kids here are my lifeeee and love!!!

There are some kids who like to throw ants at me which is really annoying but i still love them.

Something weird in Guatemala...the men just pee in the street...and the women breast feet in from of everyone. Like everything open...this one lady went up Sunday to bear her testimony breast feeding her baby...it was quite odd....but normal here. Only in Guate.

Who has come home of my friends? I don't even know. Tell them hi for me! hahha

This little girl came to me the other day and said "Usted, porque salio bien canchita?" aka,,,,why did you come out so white?? hahaha

Sometimes when it rains a lot the lights go out and we have to plan by candle light....its super fun. The lights in the whole colony go out and no one can see anything...its hilarious..

There is a member here obsessed with harry potter and he is going to name his baby Hermoine...hahahaha

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. I am learning so much. I am grateful for my challenges...more than ever. I am really trying to focus on learning from every experience rather than just suffering cause that's not fun and doesn't help us. So i am truly grateful for all the trials i have and know that as i strive to improve daily i can be more like my savior which is what i am trying to do.

Love you
Hermana Oliphant

Prayers are accepted...

HERE IS MORGAN'S LETTER - I have a favor to ask --- can we all combine our faith and would you all please pray for her with us? She is having another kidney stone she thinks! It just started this morning, and she is pretty sick. She wouldn't want me to tell you all that, so I just left it in her letter and you can read it yourself!! =) THANK YOU! (She didn't write much and was) gone very fast!) Morgans part is in maroon!!


HAPPY LABOR DAY! I doubt that is a world wide celebration, but today, Monday, September 1 is Labor Day. Yes, we had the sleepover. (I will send couple pics in another email.) It was chilly. This morning we had breakfast and played a game with tennis balls - Julie did it. It was fun. Last night Gma had photos of everyone as a baby and we had to try and guess who they were. Then we played bingo with pictures of everyone. Pretty fun!

Yesterday was Mike Dial and Morgan Evans homecoming. They did an awesome job. After it was over - your dumb mom saw Jessica, Lindsey and Katherine and went and said hello. Well, one hug was all it took and I was teary the rest of the time at church. It was fun to see them and I haven't seen them since, I don't know when, so I was just dumb and emotional. I apologized that giving them a hug made me cry! They just laughed.

cant believe they are home. that's so wild. tell them hi for me.

So that is about it. How is your new area. I didn't know you didn't have a warm shower since January. That is awful. Good thing you're not in Alaska. I have looked at photos of St. Lucas. That is one big lake it seems. Looks like you are on the most south end of it.

Did Angelica get baptized in this new area? Have you heard if Marisol, Angel and Tommy went through with their marriage and baptism? I really wouldn't be surprised if you got to go. If he really called someone, except, you are soooo far away from them. Well, closer than we are for sure.

Angelica didn't get baptized cause she drank coffee, but she is preparing to be baptized this coming week.

Do the people really not wear shoes? By choice or because of cost? How are your shoes holding up? I hope they are still okay!

I don't know if they just don't have them or the don't want them. My shoes are fine. I've been having problems with my foot this past week, so i have started to switch off shoes and see if that will help take the pain away in my foot.

How is your knee? I really want to know!!!! I need to know all about Morgan! So time to fill us in and tell us all about your week! We are excited to hear how things are going. I hope that all is well and that you are happy! We still pray for you every prayer.

My knee is fine. my problem right now is a pain my my back and stomach. it started this morning and it is just really strong. I've thrown up a few times. i am pretty sure it is a kidney stone. prayers are accepted. I received a blessing from the elders in my district today and i am just praying a lot. i just want to be able to work. that's it.

Well, we love you so much! I hope you remembered everything when you moved.

yes i have it all.

Love you sooo much!
Mom

I will tell you a bit about the week. I am going to be really boring today I'm sorry, but i am in quite a bit of pain and need to go buy some medicine. We have been working on finding a lot of new investigators this week to be able to find the people God has prepared. We found lots of new people. Some way more prepared than others but we are excited ab out them. I have learned to love my companion. I really do love her and i am grateful for her. We are enjoying our time together.

I just have to say that i am obsessed with the kids here. I think you knew that, but i am just in love with the little kids. I have never been so happy as i am when i am with the kids.