Morgans Fourth Letter, First in Hawaii

Family & Friends,

So i have P day on Mondays and i got cut short on my email time, because theres so many other elders trying to write there families and theres not enough computers. and my computer wouldnt turn on for like 25 minutes, ugh it was frustrating cuz i want to be able to tell all of you whats happening here in hawaii.

 

So i got to hawaii on tuesday at 2pm hawaii time, after a 6 1/2 hour flight, plus waiting time. so we left utah at noon utah time and got to hawaii at 6:30 pm utah time, so we were all hungry and tired cuz we hadnt eaten since breakfast at the mtc.  and the Mission President Dalton and 4 elders were waiting at the airport. they gave us lei's, and asked if we wanted to go to a baptism or go back to the mission home and have a big dinner. We all picked the baptism, and so at like 3 the president took all the 14 new missionaries to McDonalds for lunch. We then went to the temple in Laie. and drove past the Polenesian Cultural Center, and drove past BYU-Hawaii. Then at like 6 we went to the baptism in a Tongan Ward. After the baptism they had a dinner with the Tongans at the Church. I just have to say it was very Interesting. Some things i liked alot, somethings i thought tasted funny. That night we went to the mission home, and opened an envelope with our new companions and our new areas. We stayed the night at the mission home. Then the next morning we went to a Transfer Meeting with ALL the missionaries that are on Oahu. so there was like maybe a 100 missionaries. Thats where we met our new companions, and our zone leaders, and our districts.

 

My Companion Is Elder Pincock from Highland Utah. Hes been out for 20 months, and hes my trainer for 3 months. My area is in a city in western Oahu called Waianae. So you could look it up. its right on the coast. and its SUPER DRY on this part of the Island. everything is dusty and dry and dead. Not how i pictured Hawaii to be. But its only like this on this part of the island, the rest of the island is super green. Its so wierd to see the ocean every day, and to think that theres ocean on every side of me. but im sure ill get used to it. The Members here in Waianae are super awesome. and we have so many investigators! we eat dinner at a members house everynight, and the food here is more normal, cuz its not a tongan ward. I am loving the food and the people in this area. This month my companion had 5 baptisms with his last companion, and 1 with me. and we have 5 people that committed to baptism for september. Hopefully they follow through and get baptised. They are all super solid investigators too. We had a baptism on saturday a couple days ago, i gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and i was a witness. It was really great, it was my first baptism! He had already recieved the first and second lesson, so we gave him 2 more lessons and then he was baptised. It was an awesome experience. His name Is Jordan Kamalii, and hes 18 years old.

 

 

 

Today we went on a P-day (preparation day) hike to the top of mount Kaala. Its the tallest peak on oahu. It was a 7 hour long hike, and we got lost on the way down, so we were wandering through the jungle for 2 hours. I took lots of pictures but ill have to send them next time, and ill tell more about it next time cuz i have to go. Ugh i wish i didnt get cut short i only had 20 minutes to write. Normally were supposed to have 1 hour to write family. sorry for the bad grammar, ive been trying to type as fast as humanly possible. Love you all family.

 

 

Mission Home in Hawaii

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Click on this link to see the Mission Home in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Morgan has arrived here and will go through orientation and then be assigned somewhere around the islands.  I probably won't find out for a week or so, where he is.  I talked with him on Tuesday, August 21st as he was waiting at the airport.  He sounded great and it made me so happy to talk with him.  He told me about his experiences in the MTC and the close friends he made there.  He sent a hand written letter home to Ethan and I which was received today.  We sure do miss him and look forward to his next letter and hopefully some pictures! 
Please write to him at:
Elder Morgan J. Durocher
Hawaii Honolulu Mission
1500 Beretania St. Suite 416
Honolulu, Hawaii  46826

He would love you get letters from his family and friends!
Thanks,  Sara

Morgan's Missionary Letter #3

Annalisa's photo from April 2012

 

Morgan will be flying out to Hawaii on Tuesday the 21st of August.  Here is his Mission Home address:

Elder Morgan J. Durocher

Hawaii Honolulu Mission

1500 S. Beretania   Suite 416

Honolulu, Hawaii   46826

 

Dear Family & Friends,

 

My time is super short cuz its my last P-Day before i get into the mission field, so everything is super busy, and i dont have a lot of emailing time left. I wrote mom and told her about my experience giving a blessing but i wanted to share with the rest of the family.

So last tuesday i was teaching My teacher Brother Yamada as he was pretending to be an investigator named casey, and at the beggining of our 3rd lesson he was rubbing his shoulder alot. we asked him if everythign was okay, and he said that his shoulder was hurting super bad, and he wasnt faking it. and then We asked if he wanted a healing Blessing. We then explained what a Blessing was, and how we give them. We asked him again if he wanted one, and he said sure. So i asked him what His REAL name was, and He told us His legal name was, Spencer Humio Yamada. My companion was going to Annoint the Oil, and me seal the Oil, and give him a blessing. I made my faith overcome my fear, so i wasnt very nervous, even though i thought i would be since it was my first blessing. So i had a lot of faith that it would go well, and that the spirit would tell me what to say. We then proceded, He annointed the oil, and I sealed it and gave him a blessing.

The week before i was having a question about why when you feel the Holy Ghost super powerfully, it makes your body feel tired and weak and exhausted. Like examples are 1 nephi chapter 1 when lehi is tired after feeling the spirit and lays down, 1 nephi 17:47 when nephi feels the spirit and is week, and ammon in alma 27:17, and Moses in Moses 1:9-10. Giving the Blessing was an example and a learning lesson for me, of how true this is. My Legs and Arms were shaky, and trembling while i gave the blessing, and i felt like my legs were going to give out, and me fall over. This was The Holy Ghost leaving my body, into Spencer Yamada's So that the Holy Ghost could heal him, and make him better. Then A Guy named Brother Mclay told me the story of when Jesus was walking through the multitudes and asked who touched him. And it was the Old Lady with a bleeding problem, and she knew that if she touched Jesus's Garment or clothing she would be healed. and Mark 5:30 says "Jesus immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him." the footnote for virtue is strength and power. So jesus felt himself get a little tired and thats how he knew someone touched him. Some of the Holy Ghost left Jesus, and went into the woman to heal her, and make her become pure, and clean, and spotless. and this is how i felt during my blessing that i gave. The blessing was super powerful and amazing, words just came to me, and i knew what i needed to say. It was an amazing experience, and My companion Elder Copeland said it was a Powerful Blessing. I have 30 seconds left of writing time. So i gotta go. I love you All. And Im greatful for all the Influence you have been to me in my life. I love you family and friends

Love Elder Durocher

Morgan's Missionary Letter #2

I cant really think of anything specific i want to say but maybe telling you about my week will help me think of some things i wanted to tell you. So last Saturday my permanent retainer broke while eating lunch, i could feel it wiggling around inside my mouth. So on Monday i went to the MTC clinic and they got me an appointment with A local Ortho-dontist, and figured out they were sending me to doctor Christensen. Which is the same Orthodontist that all of us got braces at, so i was excited to see everyone there. we rode the shuttle there, then the glued my retainer back on, but while it was broken my front 2 teeth split a little bit, so they glued it on without pushing my 2 front teeth together, and so i have a little gap between my two teeth which is kinda bugging me. So maybe ill go back and see if they can fix it, or just not worry about it. WHat do you think mom?? This week has gone by super duper fast, it feels like yesterday i was writing you all, so i dont really know what to say. Today our whole district got to go to the temple, which was a great experience cuz i havent got to go in a few weeks, and i got to go with all the guys which made it an even better experience. Being in the temple helped me to think through a couple questions i had about how the spirit works, and how you feel it. Thanks for all the packages you have been sending mom, they have been really helpful, im thinking i want another pair of jeans but i dont know how to describe which ones i want. and i dont even know how well they fit cuz i havent worn them forever. So ill try to figure that out. I got a cold this week from my roommate Elder Alvey, he has the flu but i just have the cold so far. Me and Elder Alvey have been Temporary Companions for the last couple days, so that we dont get anyone else sick and so that we can stay in the room, and both our original companions can go to class. ive been sick since tuesday, i got a blessing and some medicine from the pharmacy so hopefully it will go away soon. We had to go acrossed the street to urgent care for Elder Alvey, so make sure he didnt have any other sickness besides the FLU. I had to miss a few classes yesterday and the day before, so me and Elder Alvey just studied and Rested in our Room. Ive been having alot of fun playing Basketball and Volleyball this week, the 40 minutes we get to play never seems like enough time to play. But oh well there are more important things that need to happen in the MTC. I have had a lot of teaching practice this week, im getting better at it. Ive been studying the spirit a lot this week, and the promise we have that if we have the spirit, it will tell us what to say, in the very second that we need it. I just need to build my faith that on this promise, cuz i get nervous before my lessons, but they always end up going well during the lesson. and i feel like the lessons go good. time is flying by here in the mtc, its been 10 days here already, and i only have 10 days before i fly to hawaii. My plane flys out of SLC on tuesday aug 21 in the afternoon. I dont feel like im prepared enough. i have 1 more P-day, and 1 more letter to home, and then ill be in the mission field. So with ethan moving into my room, im fine with that, im just wondering did he pack all my stuff into boxes or what did he do?? Cuz i know that my room was stuffed full of random stuff, that ethan probley wouldnt use or want. Its awesome that annie finally found a job, i knew she would, im super proud of you annie!

Mom, Brother Maes needs a missionary scripture for my placque, so im gonna have to go with the scripture D&C 4:1-4. or if thats too long just 2-3. you cant go wrong with that scripture.

Thanks everyone for writing back to me, i was able to read through them all but im out of time so i wont be able to write back. Thanks for all your love and support Family, keep me in your prayers, and ill keep you all in mine.

Love Elder Durocher

Morgans First Letter from the MTC!

Hi Mom, and Hi family.                                                                                   August 4, 2012

The last few days here at the MTC have flew by so fast! i have been staying very busy here, and i have been feeling the spirit alot. I got a great group of guys as roommates! they all have such a powerful testimony of the gospel, and theres only 1 other guy from utah. my district is really awesome too, theres 10 people in my district, 4 sisters and then the 6 of us. Their names are Sister Huff, Sister Neilson, Sister Barnes, and Sister Haufepeaufi, and Brother Moodie from Connecticut, Elder Neiman from North Virginia, Elder Alvey from Arizona, Elder Kellog from Alpine Utah, and my Companion Elder Copeland from Missouri. On wednesday i got all my info filled out and my name card, then i got my stuff brought to my room, and then we had an orientation fireside, and then we went back to our rooms and unpacked. That night us 6 guys in our room had a testimony meeting, and we all shared our testimonies, a scripture we like, and why we went on our mission. The rest of the week here has just been filled with Classes, Studying, and Practicing Teaching. I am doing a lot better at role playing teaching than i thought, i thought i would be horrible but when i have the spirit i do pretty good. I still need lots of practice though. I was called as the District Leader, so im in charge of those 10 people i talked about. I feel like this is an awesome opportunity, and im so greatful for the calling, and i hope i can magnify my calling. Im in charge of getting the mail, checking up on all the Elders and Sisters, and making sure everythings going okay, and maybe a few more things im not sure yet. I am loving the food here, for the most part. i think in a few more days ill have it figured out what food i like and dont like. Me and My companion have had chocolate milk for every single meal here at the mtc so far. We plan on drinking chocolate milk every meal until we leave. I love the chocolate milk here, it comes from the byu creamery so it is very tasty. My Companion Elder Copeland is from Missouri, he has been a member of the church for 2 years. he grew up looking and searching for the true church, and he has been to many other churches, but then a friend introduced him the the LDS church, he knew it was true and he was baptised soon after. He has a very strong testimony of the gospel, and he loves to share the gospel and share his testimony. He seriously shares his testimony like 10 times a day. We get along great, we have alot in common, and we have fun talking to eachother. My time is short. i have 7 minutes before the computer kicks me off. I just wanna answer some questions from mom. No i didnt get lunch on wednesday, i had to wait til dinner but thats okay it was fine. I love my companion. the first day went great, i talked about it above. and no im not having texting withdrawals. and i am loving the MTC. Hopefully ill be loving it the whole time im here and not get sick of it in a couple weeks. I love studying the gospel, time goes by so fast. yesterday we had 12 hours of class, and study time. it went by so fast, i learned so much, and yes mom, my back was fine, i didnt feel any pain or discomfort from sitting too long. I am having a problem with getting sleepy in the morning, probley because im used to waking up so late in the afternoon. I have a stong testimony of Jesus Christ. I know he lived and died for us. I know he suffered the atonement so that we could have our sins washed away, to be healed, and to partake of eternal life. I know that the spirit does tell you what to say when your teaching, or else theres no way i could have had some of the lessons i have taught. I love you all so much, thanks everyone for reading this gigantic boring letter that has horrible grammar, im trying to write fast and not with good grammar. thanks for everything, and ill try to write you soon mom, im just so busy and writing hand written letters takes up so much time.

Love You all - Elder  Durocher 

 

Some things i need from the store, because they are expensive here. I want a like 5 spiral ringed notebooks. a Key Ring, My notes on the last General conference which should be in the tv room by the computer. some of those ball point pens that i really love, the ones that have the black and white striped grip, that are BiC. and some colored pencils, and some highlighters. I want a few colors of highlighters, like yellow, blue, pink, green and maybe a couple other colors.

Morgans Farewell & Departure

Friends at Farewell luncheon on Sunday, July 29th

Morgan with Cambree his neice

Morgan dressed up for 70's day at the Singles Ward

Morgans Uncle Bryan and family

One last hug for Ethan.  Might be up to 4 years to see each other again.

Handsome Missionary!

Saying goodbye at near the MTC.  August 1, 2012

Brotherly Love, Nick and Morgan.

"You can do this"

Annie and Morgan, one last embrace

Moms turn.

One last kiss from the Mama!  (can't get the computer to rotate the photo)

Morgan gives baby Cambree one last squeeze.  I love you!

 Drop off at the MTC curbside.  Have a great mission Morgan and enjoy the Best Two Years in Hawaii!  We LOVE YOU!