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!