Durochers Ditally Dot: Morgan - 1 / 2014 Kona, Big Island, Hawaii Jan. 6, 2014

Aloha Family!,

So this week was awesome! So I dropped my old companion off at the Airport, he is getting transferred to Oahu, and I picked up my new companion flying in from Maui. He is another Red Head, he is from Portland Oregon, and his name is Elder Painter. He is super cool, hes been out for 4-1/2 months, I like him a lot already, I think were gonna get along great. He's really good at Music and is singing, so he's gonna teach me a few things, because I suck at both of those.

For New Years Eve, we were allowed to stay up until 1 AM to celebrate with all the missionaries. So we met together at 5 pm and played games through out the whole night. We played Musical Chairs, Psychologist, SMURF, Missionary Tag, Board Games, Signs, and a few others. It was super fun to get to know each other better and to laugh the whole night!! So New Years Day was another P-Day for us. I had an idea to have a Mini Marshmallow Fight, with our Zone. So we went to Home Depot and bought 4-20 foot pieces of PVC pipe, and we cut it into 2 foot long pieces to use as a blow gun. Then bought 4 big bags of mini Marshmallows to load into your PVC pipe blow gun. It ended up costing like less than 20 bucks for everything, and turned into a really fun activity. We played with those for a couple hours.

Today for P-Day we went to the Top of Mauna Kea, which is the tallest mountain in Hawaii, at almost 13000 feet. It had a little bit of snow up there, we got up there around 10 AM. I found an American Flag for 1 dollar, and we all signed our names on it. We then found an isolated hill and climbed it and put our flag up there. Hopefully writing on flags isn't disgracing it, we weren't trying to, our whole purpose was to motivate our District to work hard and do our best. It was a super fun P-Day today.

So I had an amazing experience this week. So we only had about 45 minutes before we had to go the Dinner with the Comesarios (They sent you a pic of our dinner). So i looked at our planner and we had down to visit Conrack. So we drove over to his house and parked outside. I felt a little uneasy, like something wasn't right. For some un-logical reason i felt like i should go visit someone else. So i told Elder Painter to back me up, and then jump back in the car. He was confused, but i told him i felt like we should see someone else. So we drive to this other persons house about 10 minutes away. They were not home, so i visited their neighbor down a few houses. And we happen to catch them while they were outside. Edwin and his Girlfriend. Edwin is a less Active Member, and his Girlfriend is not a member of the Church. We have been trying to visit them for a few weeks, but have not been able to catch them at home, they are always gone! So we talked to them and asked to share a short message, and they say Yes! So we go into the garage and we sit down, and we teach a 15 minute restoration lesson to them. They asked lots of questions, and had lots of good comments, they were super into the lesson. The spirit was there really strong, and was helping us to teach well together. That was our first time teaching the Restoration together and it went amazing!! We committed them to read the Book of Mormon and to pray about it. The Lord really blessed us to catch them at home, im so glad that the Spirit could tell me to visit them right then. Even though it was a little thing, I know it was still a miracle. Like Alma 37:6 says "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me, but behold i say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass, and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."

It was really cool experience to know that the Spirit is helping in this work, and with the Spirit we are way more effective missionaries, And We can do little or nothing without the Holy Ghost. Im so grateful for the opportunity i have to be on a mission. I have had so many ups and downs, but it is most definitely worth it, and one of the greatest experiences i have ever had in my life. I dont know where i would be, if i wasn't on a mission right now, maybe somewhat lost. I have learned so much on my mission, I feel like i have learned more about myself, more about the Gospel, more about the Spirit, and more about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, these short 17 months on my mission, than i have learned the first 19 years of my life. I know this Church is true, I know Jesus Christ died for each and everyone of us. I'm so grateful for my wonderful family, I feel like i have the best family and friends on earth. Each and every one of you are special to me, and have helped me in your own way. Thanks Mike for your Special Facebook Post, Mom sent me the Quote in an Email ( No I didn't get on Facebook haha!). Thanks Mom and Dad for always writing me every single week without fail. You 2 are the best parents a person could wish for! The other Elders are always Jealous by how many emails i get from my Family haha! :) I love you all dearly, and you are all in my prayers!

Love Elder Morgan Durocher

New Years Eve Party with our Zone!! :)

Me and the Snow in the Background!! Im on Mauna Kea, at 13000 feet, its the worlds largest mountain when measured from the Bottom of the Ocean haha!! :)

Our District on top of Mauna Kea with the Flag we all signed!

This is Me in my "I Love Kona" Shirt, and with a flag we took to the top of a huge mountain, almost 13,000 feet elevation. Everyone in our Missionary District Signed it.