Morgan's 29th Letter in 2013 - Photos

This has been a pretty fun week. Wednesday I went on exchanges with Elder Clawson all day. He is from Murray, Utah, and has been out for like a month now. A member in our ward, named Shyanne, she just sent in her mission papers. And she asked if she could come teach some lessons with us, so she can get some practice being a missionary. So she came out with us on Wednesday to a couple of our lessons. Our first lesson was with the Lee and Tina Kealoha, they are 8 and 9 years old. The parents are starting to come back to church, so we have been teaching the whole family all the missionary lessons. They are gonna be baptized next weekend if all goes well. The lesson was great, we taught the Plan of Salvation, and drew out a picture/diagram to help them understand it better. The spirit was their strong helping us to teach simply, and powerfully. I love teaching kids, they are always my favorite lessons, and the spirit is always their very strongly.

We then headed to the Church, and the Young Womens President asked Me and Elder Clawson to teach the Young Womens class. So we shared the Restoration with them that lasted maybe like 20-30 minutes. And then with Shyanne we taught our Investigator Rainbow a lesson on Faith. Were just trying to continue teaching her even though Baptism is a touchy topic for Her, since she wants to but her parents are holding her back. I know that as she continues to learn and grow, and strengthen her testimony, that her desire to be baptized will grow, and things will work out so she can be baptized.

So Transfers is this Wednesday. I am going to be staying with Elder Cutler for another transfer, which I am really excited about! Because I wanted to stay in my area and zone longer. I love it up here, im having tons and tons of fun, and the missionary work is going very well too. Today for P-Day we are having a Water Party!! Were going to have a massive water balloon fight, we have 3000 water balloons to fill up. And a Squirt gun fight, and then a gigantic  slip & slide that's probably 25 feet long or so. I'm really excited for Today, ill try to take some pictures.

I love you all, have a great week BYE!

Elder Durocher

Hike up in Sunset on the North Shore

All the missionaries in Laie Zone. We are wearing our Zone Shirts

Me at the Temple

Elder Seitz beating me up

Jumping off a bench. And Me licking Sister Mckinneys finger haha!

Morgan's 28th Letter of 2013 - Photo's

Dearest Ohana,

Hi family, this has been a pretty good week. First off, last Monday after I had emailed, Me and Elder Johnson were driving to Laie. He was driving and I was just watching the road. We passed a parking lot next to a beach, and I happen to look over there. I saw a middle aged guy who was wearing a BYU hat, and sunglasses covering his eyes. So I could barely even see his face, but then I thought to myself, "Dang that guy looks familiar." Then it clicked in my mind that that was Derek Whetten from our Sunset Heights 10th Ward in Orem, Utah. I immediately yell for my companion to turn the car around and drive back there. We pull into the Parking lot and I step out of the car, and stare at him for a few seconds, wondering if it really was him, or just some random guy. Then he recognizes me, and then I walk over to him and say hi. He was like "What in the world are you doing here??" I told him I was driving by and saw him standing there. Then he told me how the Ward was doing. That they made another stake in Orem, and renamed the ward to Vineyard 3rd Ward. He told me how some of the ward members are doing, especially how the Cancilla's are doing. And about his Hawaiian Style Shaved Ice stand, and that he was inspired by the shaved ice stands here. 

Derek Whetten was helping his family set up for a week long Ward Camp at the beach. His parents are in Laie 1st Ward, and he was staying with them for a couple weeks. I think he went home a few days ago. We talked for maybe like 10-15 minutes or so, then we had to head out. It was super amazing that I ran into him, I had no idea he was even in Hawaii. He took a picture of us, and I think sent it to Nick and Mom.

So the Fourth of July they didn't want us to Proselyte in the afternoon, so that everyone could have family time for the holiday. So all the Elders in the Zone just hung out together. We got invited to a Nacho Party at the Miyasaki's. They live right on the beach, and wanted to take all of our picture standing on a log on the beach. So we all posed there, and then they sent it to all 8 of our parents. Then at 4pm four of us elders started tying up water balloons for a water balloon fight we were going to have that day. At 5pm we had a zone Barbeque at the Stake Center. We grilled hotdogs, and had tons of food and drinks there. We played capture the flag, soccer, Bacci Ball (that one mom has that you throw the big colored balls at the little white ball), we played basketball too. Then at the end we had a giant water balloon fight! We had around like 300-350 water balloons, so the fight didn't last that long, but it was super super fun!

Right after the Water Balloon Fight

 

Sister Kim from South Korea, Sister Jones from Alaska, and Elder Iotepa from Kiribati, and Me!

Saturday afternoon we got to go meet our new Mission President, President Warner, and his wife, Sister Warner. All the Missionaries in Laie Zone, came to the Temple Visitor Center. So he met with our Districts, so Me, my companion, and 10 sisters, and a senior missionary couple. We just introduced ourselves to him, where were from? how long we been out? what we like to do for fun? Then they introduced them selves and told us about their family, and how they met, how they got their mission call and stuff. It was really fun to meet him finally.  

So theres this lady in our Ward Barbie Kaahu, her daughter is the one who got baptized like a month ago, Kaila. Barbie's moms name is Sheila, and they live in the same house, Barbie and Kaila are the only members in the family. I would say hi to Sheila and stuff, but that's it. She always is drinking and smoking with the rest of her family, she kind of looks mean and scary and intimidating. So I totally pre-judged her as someone who wouldn't want to learn about the gospel and take missionary lessons. Well we go over to see Sheila the mom, on Saturday. We talk story a little bit, (talking story is like Hawaiian slang for talking about life). Then we start with a prayer. Sheila told us that she had been praying that very morning that someone would come over and teach her about the Gospel and teach her about Jesus Christ. And then Miraculously we showed up that very morning. She had a vision the day before, of her getting baptized into the Mormon Church. And every time she prays about it, she feels good and peaceful about the Mormon church. Sheila said she sees a difference in Barbie and Kaila, that they just have a glow, and a light inside of them that no one else in her family has. And that they are just different. Sheila said she wants Jesus Christ to guide and direct her life, and that she wants to follow him. We were planning on teaching her the Plan of Salvation, but the Spirit told us to teach her something else. Instead we bore our testimonies on Baptism, and how that is the way we can follow Jesus Christ. Then she had a concern about the Book of Mormon, so we helped her understand what it is, and why we need it, and that its evidence of what we are saying is true, and evidence that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God, and a way for us to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the True Church on the earth again. We gave her a Book of Mormon, and invited her to read it. We read over the introduction, which I encourage all of you to do if you haven't recently. Then we asked her to be Baptized and she said yes! Her Baptism is going to be next month in August.

I definitely learned my lesson on not judging people by what I see on the outside. I think Mike is the prime example of that, One the outside he can look scary and gruff because his huge Beard and Biker Gang cloths, but on the inside we know he's full of love. And always watching out for our family, and always cares about each and every one of his siblings. Always bringing laughs to everyone around him. Kind of like the story Mom told me about Bishop Cannon and Mike sitting right next to him. Hahaha, I totally did the same thing. I learned that I need to love everyone I meet just like I do my siblings. And I need to see everyone through Gods eyes, and see them how God would see them. I know that this is Gods work, and he is preparing peoples hearts for the message I am sharing. " This is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." That's one of my favorite scriptures, this is also our work and our glory, and brings us so much Happiness and Joy bringing our brothers and sisters back into the fold, and back into the Kingdom of God. It reminds me of the Scripture in D&C 18:15-16 which you should all read right now. I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to share the gospel, im grateful for the Trust that Heavenly Father has in me to watch over this part of his Vineyard, in Hawaii. I know Jesus Christ Lives and loves each and everyone of us, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all have a great week! Mahalo Nui Loa! Love Elder Durocher

Morgan's 27th Letter in 2013 - Photos - July 1, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

What a great week here in Hawaii. For most of the week i was on exchange with Elder Johnston. The reason why is, Elder Johnston was wresting with another missionary and he hurt his knee really bad. That happen on Tuesday, it was a really bad sprain or tear or something. He could barely move around at all. They had lots of teaching appointments, and so did we, so we just did lots of exchanges so that someone would always be home with Elder Johnston so he could rest his knee. The Mission Doctor told him to just stay off it for the week, to ice, and elevate it, and take Ibuprofen. I have gotten to know Elder Johnston a lot better this week. He has a big loving heart. Quick to apologize and to forgive. And Dang is he smart! He knows the gospel so well! He has a mental handicap, he has Asperger's Disease. So we did a Test with Elder Johnston, we would flip to a random scripture in the Book of Mormon, and read the verse. Then Elder Johnston through memory could tell us exactly where it was in the Book of Mormon. He would tell us the Book, the Chapter, and the Verse. And he doesn't just know the popular or common scriptures, every single one! We could read the most uncommon random scripture in it, and he will tell us where its at. I think he has Photographic Memory or something. His companion Elder Samani has a hard time getting along with him, but I love being with him. And always have fun with him. He makes everyone laugh, all the time!! He's also huge, he is 6'6'' and 255 pounds.

Elder Johnston, Morgan, Elder Samani, and Elder Cutler.

 

That was Me, Elder Johnston, Elder Samani, and Elder Cutler.

  This was for District Meeting, we were the motivation. We acted out a role play thing, and then talked about the Armor of God, then bore Testimony. It was really fun, everyone was laughing.

 

We had an awesome lesson with our investigator Rainbow on Wednesday night. We taught about Jesus Christ and the Atonement. And i just wanna say how greatful I am for Jesus Christ and that he died for me. Im so grateful for him suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, and Bleeding from every pore, just so that i can be forgiven of my sins, and also so i can receive strength when i am week, and help through my hard times. Im so glad i can be a representative of Jesus Christ everyday. And be able to teach people about Jesus Christ every single day, and Share my Testimony every single day because that has helped it to grow so much, and to grow so strongly. I know Jesus Christ loves each one of us perfectly, and knows each and every one of us by name. Im glad we could teach Rainbow about Jesus Christ. She is so ready for Baptism, and would be baptized tomorrow if her Dad would let her. We have a member of our ward, who is cousins and close to Rainbows Dad. He is going to talk to her Dad, and see if he can soften his heart or help him change his mind.

We visited Ted Kenesi 3 times this week to help him prepare for his Baptism on Saturday. I was super stressed out the day leading up to the Baptism, because we had no one from the Ward to give talks, or to pray, or participate in the Program. I tried to get lots of people to come, so he could have lots of support for his Baptism. I found no success, Missionaries ended up having to do everything in the Program, Piano, Talks, Prayer, Baptism Ordinance. But that was okay, i just was trying to get the Ward more involved, and connected to Ted. Their ended up being tons of the youth that showed up, which was AWESOME!! Ted had lots of family their to support him, and lots of the youth in the ward to be there. Elder Cutler my companion Baptized Ted, and it took him 3 times to finally get it. The first 2 times Ted's toe kept popping out of the water. The 3rd time his foot almost popped out, but it didn't, and the Baptism was good. The spirit was their so strongly, and it was such a great day! 

Me, Ted Kenesi, and Elder Cutler at the Baptism

We had an awesome lesson with our Investigator Rick. His mother passed away about 6 weeks ago, so we shared with him the Plan of Salvation. Focusing on the Spirit World, where his mother is, and on Families Can Be Together Forever.  And also the importance of the temple and what its for. The whole lesson went great, we kind of drew a picture of the steps of the Plan of Salvation to make it easier. The spirit was their very strongly. And he said that it all makes sense. He especially loved that we used scriptures from both the Book of Mormon, and also from the Bible, that talk about and support the Plan of Salvation. He is making progress but has a few concerns. One of them being, why African Americans didn't receive the Priesthood until the 1970's? and why they couldn't go in the temple either? So we are still working on getting over that hurdle. But i know that if we can just grow his Testimony of Joseph Smith, and that this is Jesus Christ's true church, then that wont be a problem any more, cuz he knows the church is true. So we just need to help him grow his Faith, so his other concerns so harden his heart, and so he can over come them.

My Mission President, President Dalton flew home today. President Dalton picked up the new mission president, President Warner from the Airport. Went to dinner, and then handed over the mission to the new president. I was surprised they didn't have like a week or 2 weeks of overlap, so they could hand off the ropes, or show the new mission president how to run the mission. But nope, they just go to dinner for an hour or 2, and then they make the switch. This Saturday we have a Zone Conference, and President Warner is going to go around the Island meeting all the missionaries. So im excited for that to be able to meet the new one. 

Oh yeah 1 more exciting thing. So Elder Johnston accidently broke our Bed in half. Since his knee hurt, and he didn't want to bend it, he kinda just fell into the bed, And then it broke in half. So with my Ingenuity, and my problem solving mind, and handyman skills, Which ALL came from my dad, went to go fix the bed. We went to a members house, and got a electric saw and a drill. Then went to the store to get some screws. While walking out of the store and to the parking lot. I hear someone call the name "Morgan," then I hear my name again, "Morgan!" I haven't heard my first name for so long, that I was really confused, and didn't really respond to it. Then i slowly turn around in my confusion. And i see a girl walking towards me, the sun was bright so i couldn't really see who it was. Then once she got closer i recognized her. It was Heidi Hardman, a really good friend from back home!! I talked to her for like 5-10 minutes, then we had to go. It was really fun to see her, i had no idea she was even in Hawaii. And what are the odds that i randomly run into her!? Its funny how everything led up to me being at the store at that time. Its definitely part of Gods doing. She took a picture of us together, and i think sent it to Ethan.

Then i went home and fixed the bed, making it super sturdy, and adding another leg, so now the bed has 5 legs. It was really fun working on the bed, and i miss doing that kind of labor.

Well i had an awesome week! Congratulations if you made it through this whole letter without falling asleep! Ethan make sure you have Dad show you him blowing into the Shell he got, and see if he can make it make the Horn sound. I love you All and have a great week!

Love Elder Morgan James Durocher

Derek Whetten and Morgan happen upon each other in Hawaii!  Derek was a former ward member in Springwater Park 10th Ward in Orem, UT.  I'm sure it was a great reunion!