Morgan's 8th Letter

Sorry if this is the 3rd time getting this message. My computer keeps saying the message failed to send to the recipient. If the other 2 emails didnt work, ill have to send the pictures next week, cuz i cant send the pics now.

 

Yet another great week here in Hawaii. So Here in Waianae, and Maili which are both my Areas, i have never seen so many ice cream trucks! I probably see like 2 or 3 different IceCream trucks like  3 or 4  times a day, and then im always hearing the icecream song that they play. Its kinda crazy. Hawaiians also have a Manapua/Snack truck, that plays the icecream truck song, and looks like an icecream truck, but sells snacks and Manapua. Manapua is like a shredded meat, thats inside of a roll. Hawaiians really love it. So i see IceCream trucks, and Manapua trucks, like all the time every day.

We have found 3 new investigators this week, They are all super prepared and super solid. We teach them this week, and im super excited for them, because i know it will bless them so much, and help them so much. I am really enjoying it out here. I love the Weather out here in Hawaii. it took me like a week to get used to it, but Now i Love it. We have an Investigator Named Jordan who really wants to get Baptised with his Wife. They just have a struggle getting to church. Because he just started a new Job, and he has to work on sundays, he said he tried asking for it off but his Boss wouldnt let him. We were gonna work with him some more, to try to hopefully get him baptised. Because Investigators are supposed to come to Church 3 times before they are baptised. So we are working with him on that. He has 2 little kids, ages like 6 and 3. He is really an awesome.

Im gonna explane one of the pictures. So like on wednesday we were driving to some apartments to visit a kid named Jazen. And we parked our car, and then we saw a Pigeon get ran over by a car driving by, the car only ran over the Pigeons wing and Leg so it was still alive and breathing. So the Pigeon hops on one foot to the side of the road. We leave to go see Jazen but hes not home so we go back to the car, grab a Book of Mormon, see that the Pigeon is still there. and then we go to another appointment in the Apartment complex. after the lesson we go back to the car, the pigeon is still there, and drive somewhere else, to another appointment. Then like an hour later we come back to the apartments so that we could look for Jazen again and the Pigeon is gone. So we decide that a Cat must have found the pigeon and took him away. Then We walk to Jazens Apartment, and hes not home. Then We started talking to a little girl named Savanna that just got baptized. and as were talking to her, i look up in the air, and i see the Pigeon that had gotten ran over. Some Little kids tied a string around the birds wings, and hung the bird off of their Balcony. I was so shocked when i saw it, but it was super funny too! I never thought i was gonna see the Pigeon again lol. The Pigeon was just sitting there on the string, haha it was so funny! Then that night at 8 pm, we went to visit a ward member, Brother Hyde, he is the 1st or 2nd counselor to the bishop. We were talking to his son Paa, and Paa told us that they were the car that accidently ran over the pigeon!  Small world haha!

Well I love you All, thanks for everything!

Elder Durocher

Morgans Seventh Letter

Dear Family & Friends

I have had a pretty great week here in Hawaii. Today, Tuesday, is our P-Day for this week. Monday was a normal proselyting day. Tuesday was is our P-Day this week because we went to the temple. It was a beautiful drive there and back, to seee the jungle on one side, and the ocean and beach on the other side. The Temple is super pretty, and Inside is way pretty too. The Temple grounds is super gorgeous, plants and fountains and pools all over the place. We get to go through the temple every 3 months if were on an Island with a temple on it. Which is Oahu, and Big Island. I had a great experience there, and was able to feel the spirit super strong.

We Visited a Less Active Member on saturday. We got along really we'll, and connected really well. We got him to come to church sunday, and hes gonna hopefully keep coming, i think we helped him out really well. Hes like 30 probably, hes got a wife and 2 kids. We had a lot of similarities. Like We both worked at a rental store out of highschool, and both had back surgery, and back problems, and some other things. He opened up and shared a lot of stuff, and we were able to really teach through the spirit, and i connected to him perfectly. It went so well. I feel like we were both Edified, which is a sign of the spirit working. It was really cool. We did some service for them saturday night, then we visited them sunday and monday to teach the 2nd lesson of the Plan of Salvation. We are going to start coming over once a week, to teach them the lessons again. His name is David Quindt, and he told me that i was the good version of him. And i was the version of him that was born into the church. Cuz hes had lots of struggles and problems in life. He joined the church a couple of years ago. and Growing up he said he was the leader of a Gang in LA at age 15 and then by when he was 19 he went to jail, and turned his life around.

My back is about the same as last week. I am having more leg pain though. Im still just Icing it, and taking Ibuprofen. I talked to Starlene at Doctor Reichmans office, which is the guy who did the surgery. She said to just take it easy, ice, and Ibuprofen. and call her back this week. She says she doesnt think i would have re-injured it, and that its hopefully inflammation.

Oh and i think the MTC send you a bill for a shot i had to get in the Mtc. Thanks mom love you.
Well i love you Family & Friends, sorry that this week is so short, but today has been cut short cuz the temple trip. So i love you all thanks for reading.
=

Morgan's 6th Letter, 3rd from Hawaii, 2nd with Photos AKA: Mai Ke Kai Kimo KapohakuOKalani

Dear Family & Friends,

So yet another week here in the mission field. It feels like I was just barely at this computer writing the last letter to my family. Time goes by so fast when you serving other people and serving the Lord.

Well I guess I'll start off by telling you what I've done today. since its the freshest in my memory... lol. So this morning at 7 we started a hike. The hike started a little past Makaha, and goes all the way to the very point of the island at the north shore. So back in the 90's there was a Tsunami or something that destroyed the road past Makaha to the point of the island. It was a road that went all the way around the whole island of Oahu. But now that part is ruined and hawaii doesnt want to rebuild the road. Because somewhere along the road is a holy and spiritual place to Hawaii. It is a place where they say all the spirits of people go when they die. and that its like a resting place. and they dont want to disturb it by having people drive past it all the time. so they dont want to rebuild the highway. So we hike that trail that was ruined. The point of the island was really cool. It had lava rock all over the place. and Tide pools everywhere. So we were playing around on the lava rock beach, chasing crabs, and stuff. The Beach and Ocean is so beautiful and amazing. So that was really fun. not as crazy as our hike 2 weeks ago up mount Kaala.

So on Saturday we were on a Zone Exchange. So i was with Elder all day long saturday in NanaKuli and another city. from 11 til noon we did a window to heaven, so thats like knocking door to door. We found talked to a bunch of people, and got 3 New Investigators, and 4 OYM's (open your mouth). a New Investigator is when you share a message including 2 principles, a closing prayer, and a return appointment and phone number or address. An OYM is when you share 1 principle and get a return appointment. So that was really succesful. and then at 3 There was a party for a guy named Matt Moa who just got off his mission on wednesday, from Mexico. So he had a dinner party thing. So we ate a bunch of food there. Then at 4:30 we visited a Non-Active Member. He decided he wanted to cook us Steaks. So he Made us 2 giant steaks each, and gave us like 3 sodas. they were delicous, and i was soooo full! Then we Still had to go to a dinner appointment with a member at 6 pm. cuz we didnt want to cancel it. So we went to that and had a couple Chili Dogs, and Soda. Cuz they like make you eat alot of food here. Then at 8 we met with the Ward Mission Leader, Brother Wise. To talk about our area, and what we had done that week. We had no idea, but he prepared a dinner for us too! so i didnt want to be mean and say no. so we ate there dinner too, and it was big plates. and they had homemade juice too. I ate 4 dinners that night, i was soooo full! i felt like i was gonna throw up. It was like the most food ive ever eaten.

This Week Me and Elder Pincock have gotten 10 New Investigators, and our regular lessons with our Regular Investigators. So it has been a really successful week. We have seen lots of miracles this week. Ill share one real quick. So on Tuesday we had a dinner appointment with the Saiho's. and so we get to the house. Elder Pincock is reaching out the door, and his hand accidently hits the door and the key to the car goes flying acrossed the road and curb. Straight toward the Storm Drain. It bounces and Stops right on the edge of the drain. if it had gone 1 more inch it would have fallen into the Storm Drain, and we were far away from home, and we dont have a spare. It was nothing less than a miracle. Maybe ill send a picture of it. Ive seen lots of miracles with Our Investigators this week, its really amazing.

So last Night at Our dinner at our members house. We had it at the 2nd counselor to the bishops house. His name is Brother Hyde. He has 3 boys and 2 girls. and 2 cousins that were visiting. Im not sure all of their names. But there is Pa'a who is like 16, Hi'i who is 20 years old, and a 13 year old daughter, and a 8 year old son, and probley a 23 year old son. They are really nice, and way fun to talk to. they're family is really awesome. They gave me a Hawaiin name. cuz they have a book that translates names. and they know a ton of Hawaiin themselves. So Morgan: Mai Ke Kai.. James: Kimo, or Ukali.. Durocher (the rock): Kapohaku.. or The Heavenly Rock is: KapohakuOKalani.. So my name is Mai Ke Kai Kimo KapohakuOKalani.. It was really cool i had fun.

So bad news :( On tuesday morning for exercise time my companion was doing jump rope/ jumping training. And he wanted me to do it too. So i did. I didnt think anything of my back, and that could possibley be hard on it. I feel stupid now, cuz i didnt think anything of it. So that night my back was feeling sore, and a tiny bit of leg pain. The next morning it felt great. By the end of the day, after all the sitting, and walking and moving, and everything it gets sore. So this happen on thursday too. On friday i called Sister Scott who is in charge of health and medical. She told me to take Ibuprofen every 6 hours, and Ice my back, and be careful. and to call her monday. So i need to call her after im done writing. Today its feeling okay. It doesnt feel sore, but thats probley just the medicine. I dont know whats up with my back. But i just feel stupid for even doing the jump rope stuff. cuz it has been feeling great and amazing since my surgery. Like no problems at all. So i have been praying. and have gotten a Blessing. So please just keep me in your prayers Family and Friends.

Thanks everyone for Reading My giant Long Letters, i hope they're not too boring. Thanks for everything family and friends. I love you all so much.

1st Picture: thats a coconut we cut down from a tree, with that machete on a stick. Then we drank some of the juice, and ate some of the meat.

2nd Picture: thats the beautiful beach right outside the city of Kaleloa.

3rd Picture: the beach outside Kaleloa again.

--Elder Durocher

Morgan's Mission - Fifth Letter, Second from Hawaii, First with photos

                                         MTC buddies

                              MTC District and new found friends!

                                 Morgan arrives in Hawaii

                    First Baptism experience

                        Hike to the top of Mt. Ka`ala to be in a cloud  and not be able to see the view!  He's with Companion, Elder Pincock.

                             Mid way down Mt. Ka`ala, beneath the clouds.

I went on 2 exchanges this Week. i went on an excange with Elder Willyerd on tuesday night until wednesday night, and my companion was with Elder Boyle. I guess they do exchanges everyweek so that My companion who Is the District Leader can work with other elders to make sure theyre doing alright. Then i went on an exchange thursday night til friday night, with a zone leader named Elder Grover. It was really fun to go on both the exchanges and see their teaching styles and how they do stuff. IT was an awesome learning experience.

So last monday we thought that my companion had bed bugs cuz he had bite marks all over his body. So we had a member who knows lots about bed bugs, his name is Brother Davis, we had him come over to check. He tore apart Elder Pincocks Bed looking for them but couldnt find any signs of them, he was looking for eggs which look like dirt in the seams. and blood spots from when you squish they when you roll around at night. He said Elder Pincocks bed was totally fine. So then he said it must be in my bed, which scared the crap out of me. So He tore apart my mattress, box spring, and pad, which are in pretty rough shape with holes all over, and sweat stains all over. And he said he found Old Dead Eggs, but no live eggs, and no bed bugs. So the next day we sprayed this chemical on it thats supposed to keep bed bugs away.

We got a weight bench on last monday too. We got it from the Makaha Elders because they didnt want it at their Pad. Pads are what Hawaii Elders call there apartments and houses. So we got a bench and a ton of weights for them. so We have been working out everyday, cuz we get exercise time every morning. So hopefully i can keep from gaining weight here in Hawaii because the members feed you tons and tons of food. and we eat at members house like every single day. The members are so nice here, they are poor here in Waianae, but they always make nice dinners for the Missionaries. The average weight gain for Hawaii Missionaries is 40 pounds. Which is crazy!

So We hiked Mount Kaala Last Monday. We left at 6:30 in the morning, got to the trail head at like 7 to start hiking the mountain. We hiked up a paved path for like a mile or two, and then it turned into dirt and rocks. It slowly started getting more green and more green until we were in the middle of the jungle on a tiny path going straight up the mountain. The last 1 third of the Hike it started getting really steep and slick, and there were ropes to help pull yourself up the trail, it was so steep. We got to the Top, but we were in the middle of a rain cloud, so we couldnt see any of the view :( which was lame. but at the top their was a flat spot, with some old like powerplant or something, it had some creepy stuff up there. it felt like a Dinosaur was going to jump out of the bushes and chase us at any second. I guess that Jurassic park was actually filmed in hawaii, so thats way cool. and Also part of pirates of the caribean was filmed here too. Elder Mortensen, my District Leader told me he saw them filming part of Pirates 4 on one of the Islands he was on. While we were at the Top it started to rain hardcore, like straight up rainstorm. Then the Super Steep, Dirt trail full of rocks, turned into a giant slip and slide. The Dirt all turned into slippery mud, and i slipped like 10 times trying to climb down. We had to use the ropes so much, without the ropes we would have died. you had to be super careful with your foot placement. Then halfway back to the car the rain stopped. And i was able to get a picture when i was halfway down the mountain. Then we lost the Trail, Me, My companion, and 4 other elders. Before we knew it, we were in the middle of the Jungle, in the middle of the forest. So we started following a stream down hill, and walking down hill. We were lost for like 1.5 hours and then we finally found the trail. It was super duper fun, and i had a blast every second of it. Ill try to post a picture of it.

I have had alot of of amazing teaching experience the last 2 weeks. We have committed 8 people in the last 2 weeks to baptism, and all of them accepted it. We just need to keep working with them, so that they will be ready for baptism. We committed 9 people to come to church yesterday but only 1 actually came. it was really sad. but we just need to stay positive, and keep working with them, to prepare for baptism. Were teaching 1 guy named Robert who has been born again christian since he was 18. He is open to learning about it, just to learn, but doesnt really want to read or pray about it. so we need to keep working with him. The 1 person that camed to church is named Leini and she has a smoking problem she needs to overcome, and she has a boyfriend issue too. BUt were working with her and hopefully she can get baptised this month. she is scheduled for baptism, on september 29. She is way cool and super solid. I have met so many amazing people out here, i love it here in hawaii. theres nowhere else id rather be. I know im meant to be here.

Today we had a ward Barbeque at the beach. The food was really yummy, and alot of fun talking to people. It was really sad that we had to stay on the grass while everyone else was playing football and volleyball on the beach sand. but staying obedient is the most important thing i can do to help me have the spirit to guide me.

Heres some amazing food ive had here in Hawaii that ive never seen anywhere else. You have got to look for it as the store and try it. Its called a Melona Bar, its like a popsicle. the one i had was strawberry and it was so delicous. Trader Joes- Almond cookies things, they are like crackers, and super delicous. and the last thing is POG. its Passion Orange Guava. Super delicious stuff! Well i gotta go love you all.

Elder Durocher