Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should and let go of what you can’t change!

So this week, I went on exchanges with Sister Collier to Albemarle (the biggest area in our mission by far-about four times bigger than Concord! and it takes 2 hours to drive from one end to the other!) and I had a great time there!  Then, as we were getting ready for bed, Sister Nielsen called me and said that Sister Barnett was going home the next day due to illness and Sister Hong would be living with us. We would also now be covering Kannapolis and Concord areas and be in a trio!  So this happened on Thursday and since then it has been super crazy!  It is about 20 minutes to Kannapolis and we have been running back and forth between the two areas, going on splits with a bunch of members from both areas, trying to figure out which area we are going to eat dinner in, and going to both wards!  Yep, two wards!  We got to church at 7:30 for concord ward council, then church, Kannapolis coordination meeting at 11:30 with ward council at 12:00, and then three more hours of church!  I don't know how the Utah missionaries do it every week!  Of course, their areas are probably smaller and their church building closer to where they live...

Anyway, we also unexpectedly had a baptism this weekend!  Jade Pavone from the Kannapolis ward was baptized and we were in charge of arranging everything for it.  That day, we were also on exchanges with the Matthews sisters so Sister Gunderson went to the church with Sister Hong so they could get everything ready while I went with Sister Bowe to see Connie.  When I got to the church, the baptism was about to start!  While Jade was changing into dry clothes, the elders had set up the Restoration video.  The only problem is, it was in Spanish!  Now at Samantha's baptism last Saturday, I had tested out the DVDs and discovered that only certain ones will play in English. So I grabbed the sisters and we booked it to the library so we could get one in English.  Sure enough, when we got back, Elder Cottam was still trying to get it to play in English with no success.  So I guess the lesson here is test it out first! :)

Weekly Planning was also crazy because we were planning for both areas!  It has been pretty crazy getting everything coordinated between the two areas but I think this week should go a bit smoother! Hopefully! :)

Also, totally saw a church called the "big lick Baptist church" in Albemarle.  Yes, big lick.  I know that is the street it is on but seriously??  That is what you are going to call your church???

Anyway, I hope y’all have a fantastic week!

Sure love ya!

Sister Morris

Sister Kennelly and I in University City!

turtle crossing?

Connie's baptism!

Sister Nielsen got really wet!  I told this story last week -here is a picture

Jade's baptism!  Sister Hong and Brother Mayhew 

Epic cake at Jade's baptism!

Sister Javelera, Sister Nielsen, me, Sister Hong, and Sister
Gunderson!  we met up at the church after the baptism to exchange
back!

Don't be limited by your challenges, challenge your limits!

Funny moment of the week: -Sunday, it was raining off and on all day, going from sprinkling to pouring and back to sprinkling.  So we drove to a potential investigator's home and got out to knock on her door and it was just sprinkling.  Once we got on the porch, we were able to stand under a little overhang and stay dry while we knocked on the door.  Soon after we knocked, the rain started getting blown onto us, but it wasn't raining hard so it was okay.  There was also a little boy home because he was sticking his little hand out the mail slot and saying hi to us and calling for his mom to come answer the door.  So we couldn't decide if she was going to come or not!  And then she did come and open the door and we started exchanging information and getting a return appointment when the skies open up and a downpour happens.  At first, it was okay because the overhang protected us.  Then the gutter started overflowing and landing, you guessed it, right on us!!  It also proceeded to fill my shoes up with water until my shoes where overflowing as well!  We got soaked in the two minutes it took us to talk with Michelle!  As we walked away from the house, I took one look at Sister Nielsen and busted up laughing because I knew I probably looked the same!  Just our back-sides were wet!  And we had a dinner appointment where an investigator was coming right then!  So we had to go there instead of changing!  Lucky for me, I got less wet and I was wearing clothes that dried fast.  Sister Nielsen on the other hand...the Sheppards ended up making her use a blow dryer to dry off a little but by that point, she had already managed to soak a chair!

Also this week, we had two baptisms. Saturday, Samantha got baptized (she is 10 and Latoya's daughter) and it was a great program. Funny moment though.  We decided during the middle part, we would show the Restoration video.   So we get the tv out of the library and put the disk in and it plays-in Spanish.  So I started messing around with the remotes and everything says it is in English. So we go get a different DVD that also says it plays in multiple languages and put it in and it plays in Spanish too!  At this point, I figured we wouldn't be able to figure it out so we would try the really old Tv.  So we put a different DVD in and it plays in English! Yay! Though at this point, I realized, it might be the dvd!  So we try that dvd in the first one and it works!  Seriously though, if the dvd says it plays in multiple languages, then it should!

We also had our district leader (he is actually serving in Albemarle but does such a good job of interviewing people that Latoya and her family love him!) speak at the baptism. Samantha has Asperger’s syndrome and it is hard to get her to talk or answer questions.  The best way is to make her laugh.  Apparently Elder Hutchings was able to make her laugh by pretending to be really nervous and sweaty.  The thing is, she insisted that he talk about sweating at the beginning and the end of his talk on the Holy Ghost.... Hehe!  It was the best because he totally did!  And he just did it so calmly and had everyone laughing.  Yeah for great district leaders!

The second baptism was for Connie Denton on Sunday.  Now this was the day Samantha was going to be baptized on as well, but since the elders had two for that day, we moved Samantha because she doesn't like big crowds and is afraid of water.  (She had no problem getting baptized by the way!  She was really fast!). Anyway, Saturday night, the elders texted us to tell us their two baptisms weren't going to happen anymore.  So we had to hurry and redo the program since they were supposed to do half of it.  But we got it all done and the baptism was amazing!  :)

We also had a dinner with a member who lives out in the boonies!  So she came and picked us up and then proceeded to drive really fast the whole way there!  And there were obstacles that she had to swerve around!  First a wine box, then a small dog, a flock of chickens, and a man on a lawn mower!  And we drove past this OLD lady (like 90s) mowing on a riding lawn mower.  The best part was, she was dressed up nice and wearing a big strand of pearls & pearl earrings.  #onlyinthesouth!

Also this week, we went on exchanges with Harrisburg and University City.  It was super fun!  Though really rainy!  In Harrisburg, Sister Buckley and I went to go see a less active and she had two great Danes in her home!  (why would you have such big dogs as indoor dogs??)

Anyway, she invited us in and the dogs are all sniffing us.  She invited us to sit down and then the two great Danes proceeded to try and jump on our laps!  Prime example of why cats are better than dogs!

Anyway, Sorry for the long email!  Too many exciting moments this week I guess!

Sure love ya!                       Sister Morris

"Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance! The only thing it cannot be is moderately important." CS Lewis

On Tuesday, we went to MLC in Charlotte and had a great meeting! Funny moment though, after the meeting, we go to use the bathroom and as Sister Nielsen was washing her hands; the water splattered her skirt in just the wrong place!  It looked like she had wet her skirt! And she refused to leave the bathroom unless it was dry!  So we were in there for more than 10 minutes as Sister Nielsen flapped her skirt to dry it off and I just laughed!

Also we were contacting a potential investigator who is not ready to be taught the gospel but was trying to give us $20 for lunch. Old people are funny!  And no we did not accept the $20!  We even showed him the part in the white hand-book where it says we cannot accept money from anyone and he was still trying to make us take it. Very sweet lonely old man!

Zone Meeting was pretty great!  We did lots of role-playing so that made it  fun!  So we only had a short training . . . which was lots better in my opinion!  Who wants to hear me talk for 20 mins? Not me!

After Zone Meeting, we went on exchanges with the Reedy Creek Sisters so Sister Cottis came here with me.  My favorite lesson was with Amanda (a recent convert) because she is super gung-ho about how much money the church has saved her.  She was talking about how the W of W has saved her a couple thousand a year and not going out to eat every Sunday has saved a lot as well.   As she was talking, this enormous bug flew over and landed on her and she jumped right up trying to get it off!  Except it was actually a leaf.  Really looked like a bug though!  Just saying!

We also got to meet with Connie Denton and talk about the Word of Wisdom, which she has already been living for years.  I just love Connie and love watching her get happier and happier!  She loved church this week and Sister Bowe was just amazing, taking Connie under her wing and going to classes with her and everything. Yay for her!  I love it when members are so willing to help out and actually make friends with the investigators!

Also on Sunday, Aneesah had been planning on coming to church but since Latoya and everyone was sick, they were no longer coming.  So Aneesah left their house and started walking to church!  It is about a 20- 25 minute drive from there but she was determined to make it!  Thankfully, Brother Simpson was running late to church and saw her on his way so her took her along to church with the kids!  I love it when investigators are so bound and determined to get to church!

Sure Love you!  Hope y'all have a fantastic week!

Sister Morris

You'll never be brave if you don't get hurt. You'll never learn if you don't make mistakes. You'll never be successful if you don't encounter failure!

      So our mission has been really stressing the need to get rid of extra things in our apartments because a ton of areas are getting closed down.  Since SLC is trying to get our numbers down to 200, a ton of places have closed.  But the missionaries have left behind extra furniture and what not.  The problem is, it is the elderly couples that are in charge of closing the apts!  So since they have to move all the furniture and whatnot they sent out a pleading email for us to get rid of extra furniture now.  So this week, our WML Brother Watson came over to pick up some extra stuff (ie a rocking chair, a chest of drawers, a couch, etc) So we were all carrying stuff downstairs and then over to the "truck."  I put it into quotations because this is the most sketchy truck I have ever seen!  It is super low to the ground and the entire dashboard is missing! All the wires and everything are just hanging out!  And the bed of the truck was tiny!  They were tying all the stuff onto the back of the truck!  I think they must have acquired it from a junk yard or something....?

Also this week, a member ended up just dropping a meal off from Bojangles.  And yes it is as sketchy as it sounds!  I have only had it once before and it was awful!  I thought I was going to puke or something!  This time, I was much more wary and only ate a little of it.  I also warned Sister Nielsen, but by this time, she knows I am pretty picky and didn’t take my word for it.  The poor thing was sick for about 2 days!  Not sick enough to keep us in or anything, but it was pretty sad!  So word to the wise, avoid Bojangles!!  Unless you feel like making good friends with your bathroom!

For General Conference, we were able to have two investigators come to the church, Connie and Aneesah! :)  It was so fun to have them there and I loved how both of them were just so much happier as they were leaving!

For Easter, we had dinner at the Bishop's house and it was just comical!  Because he is from France and they follow those customs. Like no one eats anything until the Matron has, lots of forks, etc.  I just thought it was fun!  Especially when the bishop would speak in French... :)

Anyway, Sister Nielsen and I are about to dye some Easter eggs so that is it for this week!  Though just a thought from General Conference— Opposition is really unifying and it helps you know where you stand!  As a church, we are united in our support of the prophet and the apostles!  I truly thank God for a prophet to guide us in these latter days and to make it though the dark clouds of trouble to peace!

Sure love ya!

Sister Morris

"One can pray and not really pray- Prayers can be routinized and made very superficial. When this happens, there is very little communication and very little growth....Yet, given the times in which we live, improving our prayers should be one of our deepest desires if we are genuinely serious about growing spiritually." NA Maxwell

This week, we went on exchanges with the Kannapolis Sisters and since they are in a trio, I got to be in a trio for 24 hours!  Sister Hong and Sister Barnett came here with me and we had a lot of fun! Though it’s hard to find a balance between three companions!

 It was a fun exchange!  And we actually had a mother and daughter who signed up to feed us dinner and then go on splits with us!  So I sent Sister Hong with Megan to our set appointments and Sister Barnett, Sister Dickson and I went to go track down some less actives.  So the funny moment is, the Kannapolis Sisters and the Concord elders are in the same district (us and our elders are not in the same district...we are with Albemarle) and when Sister Hong showed up at the appointment with Samantha and Latoya, the Concord Elders were there teaching Chris (the dad)!  I can just imagine their faces! :)  Like where are the Concord Sisters??  haha.  Also weird, we found them two new investigators here in concord!  We actually found Lee at his daughter's home and we set up a return appointment and then handed him over when we discovered he was in their area.  They met with him again yesterday (Sunday) and he has a baptismal date now! He has never been baptized and he had been up at 7 am waiting for the sisters to get there!  (the appointment was at 1, but since they had church then, they went by later)  I love the south!

On Wednesday, we had district meeting and then went to a Thai restaurant for lunch.  It is just a tiny little restaurant but it was lots of fun to get to know the Albemarle missionaries better (our district is only 3 companionships, us, Albemarle Sisters, and Albemarle Elders)

Also this week, three of our recent converts got to the temple!!!! :)  yay!  I wish we could have gone with them!  But Latoya brought four names she had found by herself and they all just loved it!

Earlier in the week, we were teaching Molly about the standards of the church (no multiple piercings...we didn’t even realize she hadn’t been taught that before baptism because when you go on so many exchanges, you don’t know what your companion taught etc.).  As we were talking, we found out that her piercings are not the kind that are easy to remove but that you have to cut them out!  And, to make matters worse, she has piercings by a nerve and if you hit it, then the entire side of your face goes numb and it can be permanent!  But she is so humble and said she would take them out that day.  Later, we texted her and asked if everything went okay and she said, "yeah it was fine—left side of my face was only numb for 2 hours".  I love Molly! And she loved the temple!

Also this week, I finally got to meet a returning member Jenna Helms (I have always been on exchanges when we were going to teach her!)  and guess what??? She has the softest rabbit ever!  And it just runs around her house with her two dogs!  It was kind of crazy!  It also got really cold this week on Saturday and Sunday.  We had an appointment to go visit Connie (an investigator) and when we got in there, it was freezing!  Earlier in the month, she had had to make the choice between paying the gas bill or the electric bill and she had picked electricity.  (she used to be an RN but got hurt on the job and has a horrible back.  She now works at a hotel desk and only makes minimum wage and they wont pay her for overtime.   She also has custody of 5 grandchildren all under the age of 5).  Anyway, we knew it was going to get even colder, so we called our ward mission leader Brother Watson.  Since we were headed to the General Women broadcast, Brother Watson (the brother of our ward mission leader) went over there with a few extra space heaters so they could be warm.  We went back over on Sunday and Connie was so much happier!  I love it when we can help people!

Also this week, the Because He Lives video came out!! Share it! The Church is so inspired!  I hope y’all have a great week and have the chance to serve someone!

I sure love ya!

Sister Morris

we drive past this peacock all the time. . .

Churches here are soo interesting!

Visiting a museum!

Sister Barnett, me, and Sister Hong
(you can see some of my apt behind us)

 I spy a vertical log....

An abandoned mill that has been converted into an apt complex! it feels colder inside than out-

We got ice cream at the Cabarrus Creamery!
4: 

so...What happens if you sit there for too long??

LOVE the flowers here!  This is one I found on the ground-