Miracles and Life Changing Events

Hello everyone!

I feel like the past few weeks I have not been able to do this email justice. I have left out many miracles and some life changing events because they are very sacred! Today I will talk about some experiences and a few people that we have been teaching for a few weeks.

To start off, we have 5 people we are preparing for baptism. Desmond Hilliard, Christiana Kamara, Samuel Rogers, Mamusu Sam and Augusta Lansana. 
I have talked about Desmond a few times, but just to recap... He found a Book of Mormon on a train 40 years ago in America and has been reading it ever since. As we taught him more and more, we found out that He was into some crazy stuff in America. He got into smoking marijuana, cocaine and about any other drug he could get his hands on. Because of these, he got into a few life threatening situations and has been stabbed twice and shot in the ear. He came back to Sierra Leone because his father began a saw mill and needed help running it but right as he got back the rebels took over the mill and destroyed it right when the Civil War started in the 1990's.

He has really gained his own testimony and knows that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is needed in his life and has made so many changes including quitting cigarettes. This was a very hard thing for him to do because he had been smoking 2-3 packs a day since the 1970's, but with constant help and prayers he finally stopped!! 

Every time we talk to him about how he is doing with cigarettes he says "Elder's I have done so many bad things in my life that I can't risk another offence. I just wish I had been a member of this Church when I was born!" I am so grateful for his tireless effort to serve Jesus Christ!

A picture with Desmond. (The flash made him blink, he doesn't actually look Chinese)

We have been teaching a pretty big Pastor around here named Elvis Vamboi. We met Him on the road and he asked about the Book of Mormon and why we used it. We talked to him a little bit and set a return appointment to talk more about it. 

As we have taught him more and more we have come to find out that he is so interested in the Church! We have taught him seriously for about 3 weeks and he finally came to Church!! He had so many questions, but says that he wants to come back to church this week! I am so grateful for him and for The Lord answering our prayers to find the elect people in our area!

We have had so many experiences these past few weeks but if I wrote them all, it would take the whole day to write! I am so grateful to be a missionary and to share the good word! Thanks!

-Elder Morgan

Flexing with Branch President.

Had to climb a small cliff to get to an investigators house. #DEDICATION.

Quick Email This Week

Hello Everyone!

Today I will shoot off a quick email, because we are running out of time.

This week has been fun and busy like always. We have committed 5 people to Baptize in December and I will be hitting 1 year this week!

We are working hard and doing good!

Love You Guys!
-Elder Morgan

Transfer News and a New District Leader

Hello Everybody! 

I had such a great week, it was full of joy and hard work. 

This week was transfer news week! We got two new missionaries in our apartment and Elder Obasi and I are staying together. I am excited to stay with him for one more transfer. We will do great things in this area! 
I really felt a lot of joy this week from the people that we are teaching. They have shared their testimonies which have added to my own.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation. We have such a loving Heavenly Father who  knows us and wants us to be happy. The only way to truly be happy in this life is to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we become more like Jesus Christ everyday we will feel joy! 

I am so blessed to know and understand the Plan of Salvation. We will be together with our family again after this life, this brings me joy. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I know how much he knows and understands each of us. I am very grateful to have that knowledge. 

Love,
Elder Morgan 

Parent Note: Unfortunately, we had some devastating news to give Eli in our Skype call on Monday morning. His close friend, Brenden Nichols, passed away on Sunday. It hit Eli pretty hard. We ended our call with a very somber, teary-eyed boy who wishes he was here to mourn with and support the family and friends who are deeply affected by this loss. He said to tell everyone that he loves them.

His email was written after he received that news. Here are a few things that he told us but did not include in his email.

• Eli has been called to be a District Leader. This means that he's responsible for his and two other companionships and the work they do in their areas.
• Desmond, the man who found a Book of Mormon on a train in the U.S. 30 years ago, has made the decision to be baptized. We'll here more about that experience over the next few weeks. 

Zone Conference with Elder Nash - And Civilization!!!

Good Afternoon Everyone! 
Sorry I could not get a group email out last week, we ran out of time. But nonetheless, this week was so so awesome! We had the opportunity to go to Bo for a Mission Tour with Elder Nash. He is the Area President over West Africa, this means that he controls all of what happens in West Africa. We had such a fun week and I cant wait to tell you all about it!

On Tuesday we left at about 11:00am for Bo, along the way we picked up a few other Elders in the neighboring areas. It took about 5 hours to get to Bo, mostly because the road from Bo to Rutile is the worst road in Siera Leone! It is kind of like a very bumpy roller coaster for 5 hours... pretty fun. We got to Bo and immediately went to the super market! This was like heaven! There was so much food! 
After we went to the super market we got some dinner and then went to the Mission Nurse's house for cake and ice cream! It was pretty fun to see everyone again.

The next morning we left at 8:30am for the Mission Tour. When we got there I saw so many missionaries that I hadn't seen in quite a while so it was fun to see and talk with them. At about 9:30am we sat down and waited for Elder Nash to come with our Mission President. They arrived at about 10 o'clock. As they arrived, President Harper (Mission President) told me that Elder Nash would like to interview me. At first I was kind of nervous because Elder Nash is a pretty intimidating guy, but then realized that I had really had nothing to worry about. 

At about 11 o'clock I was called to interview with Elder Nash. It was one of the most awesome interviews I have ever had! He was so nice and complimentary, easy to talk with and fun to be around. He only interviewed 3 elders. (Parent Note/Brag: Elder Nash asked President Harper to give him the names of the 3 missionaries for the interviews: 2 of whom had been struggling and that the mission president was concerned about, and 1 who is very a very solid, obedient missionary who President didn't have to worry about. Eli was chosen to meet with him because of his hard work and obedience. Elder Nash thanked and expressed his love for him and the work he is doing.) After about 10 minutes we shook hands and he gave me a hug, then we went back into the main meeting hall.

It was such an awesome meeting. President and Sister Harper along with both Elder and Sister Nash talked to us about different topics. I was really impressed with the conference and really learned so much that I am excited to put into practice in our teaching here in Rutile! 

Zone Conference with Elder Nash

The next morning at 4:30am we were back on the road to Rutile! We got back, made some lunch and then hit it hard for the rest of the day. 

This next week will be a little bit busy because we have found out we will be getting 2 new missionaries in Rutile. We will be moving furniture into our apartment to accommodate them. Then transfer news is on Friday! Well thanks for listening! Talk to ya next week!

-Elder Morgan

This is a picture of all the missionaries from the 2 Bush areas in our mission!