More Service and Arm Wrestling Champion

 Hey Everyone!

Over the past two weeks I have had a change of heart! I have been humbled! I have definitely progressed in my journey to become more like Jesus Christ!

I am so grateful for this opportunity that I had to come back out on a mission, because I have been so blessed it is unreal. I have learned things and had opportunities to grow that I could not have had in SIerra Leone. It has brought me to love this Gospel more. It makes me want to do better and be better everyday. 

Two weeks ago we were hit with a Derecho. I still have no idea what it really is haha, all I know is that it resembled a category 3 Hurricane, with winds up to 140mph in and around our area! It destroyed millions of dollars in corn, beans and other crops. Has destroyed houses and left towns in a disaster! 

We were on our way to the church when it hit. All we saw was this huge mass of darkness, lighting, thunder and rain coming toward us! We hurried and got into the car and began to drive to the church. A 2 minute drive turned into a 20 minute drive, dodging fallen trees, branches, and sheet metal! We stayed in the church for about an hour. 

After the Derecho past, it took us 20ish minutes to get back to our house! There were trees blocking many streets, we began to follow tractors that were clearing the road. We finally made it back to our house and saw a few broken windows along with other things. We changed our clothes right away and went to check on the older ladies in the branch. For the next two weeks we would be cleaning up the aftermath of the Derecho! We have worked from 8am-9pm every single day moving branches, cutting trees and raking yards. The state of Iowa has brought in Utility companies from different states all over the midwest, all the way to Colorado! They have been working non-stop to get power back to the citizens over here. The storm left 500, 000 people without power! 

This weekend we had the Helping Hands organization in Belle Plaine! It was so fun to have the whole Zone here!

It destroyed this gas station!

Kind of a funny story- On Sunday, we were talking with the Stake Relief Society President, SIster Sparks, and somehow got onto the topic of Fitness and going to the gym. I then talked about how strong Elder Harris is and how he could totally beat her in an arm wrestling competition! She got pretty excited and began to talk it up with all the missionaries the whole day! Once the work was done, they provided all of the missionaries with dinner. After we had eaten we had an arm wrestling competition with the whole Zone! Elder Harris beat Sister Sparks! I am happy to say that I am the Arm Wrestling Champion in Sierra Leone and now in our Zone!

We have been blessed immensely these last few weeks. I love it here!!

-Elder Morgan