More Viola Morgan Baptism Pictures

More Viola Morgan Baptism Pictures

OUR FIRST BAPTISM

We now have OUR FIRST BAPTISM! It was a wonderful experience!! We met Viola for the first time at church when her husband, President Monte Morgan, who is the branch president for our branch brought her. We had been in the mission field for 3 1/2 months at that time. they have been married for 29 years and she has refused to come to church or be baptized all this time. Well, we decided to go visit her and Pres Morgan. the first few times we called they said they were busy. But we persisted and finally got into their house. We gave her the first few lessons and the next time we came to give her the baptismal challenge, she flatly told us right off the bat that she like us and our religion but she would not be baptized!!!! We visited for a little while longer and then said we thought we had best be going. She got all upset and wanted us to stay longer. She said we needed to stay and visit. (I think she was feeling the spirit leaving her home and didnt want it to go). So we stayed and began discussing the gospel as she told us about what she believed and why she didn't need our church. We finally told her we had nothing to give her. We already told her about the apostasy, the restoration, and it was either true or not. Joseph Smith either saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ or he did not! We came here 900 miles to give her that message and it was up to her to accept it or not. the church is the only true church on the earth today and receives revelation from our Heavenly Father. We testified of that! Then we got talking about her marriage and told her that after her or President Morgan dies, their marriage would not longer be in effect. In the gospel of Jesus Christ, we believe marriage can be eternal for time and all eternity. You could just see the change come over her. It was the most beautiful feeling I have every seen. She began asking questions and said "I think I want to be baptized in your church". We were so excited, I could have fainted right there. She didn't want to wait either. She wanted to be baptized right away to receive those blessings. The spirit of the Holy Ghost really works!

I had to tell myself to control my excitement because I felt like shouting for joy as we walked to the car. We have watched her change right before our eyes. She is a wonderful woman and is trying hard to embrace the gospel. I love being a missionary!!!!!

Enjoy the pictures.

More Thanksgiving Day Pictures

Here are some more Thanksgiving Day Pictures on the Reservation with Martinez family 2010.

Thanksgiving Day on the Reservation 2010

Wow, what a wonderful day we had on the reservation for thanksgiving. We were invited to Thanksgiving Dinner at Lula Martinez home. She is Navaho and her husband is party Apache/Mexican. We had a wonderful time! At first it was a little awkward because we didn't know anyone and when the food was brought it it became more relaxed. We ended up taking pictures and going a little crazy. I hope you enjoy them.

We sure miss our family though. Nothng is as good as family gatherings. We sure love you and thank our Heavenly Father every day for such a wonderful family.

Love mom and dad

News from the Mission Field November 22

It has been a hectic week! We have been on spiritual highs and spiritual lows. We had a comittment from Sister Morgan for baptism. Then we didn't. Then we did. Then we didn't. Then, FINALLY, we do!!!!!! It is going to happen next Sunday right after Sacrament meeting. We are so excited but drained from all the emotion. I have learned a ton about how much our Heavenly Father really does love us. I have learned that he will help in ways I never thought he could. I love missionary work, but your right it is work! We think of you all often and hope you will be having a great Thanksgiving. I will write more next week. OK?

Love ya!

More Branch Thanksgiving pictures

Here are more Branch Thanksgiving pictures

Branch Thanksgiving Party

Wow, what a week this has been. We had our Annual Thanksgiving dinner at the branch. The church provides the turkeys and everyone else brings pot luck. It was a great time! These people love to eat and socialize. I took some pictures of some of the people there.

Enjoy.

News from the Mission Field November 15

I am looking out the library window and it looks like a terrible storm is coming in. I had to get my winter coat out because it is so cold. We met two young mother's (who aren't married) who are interested in taking the missionary lessons. However, one of them is a chain smoker. She sat on the doorstep and smoked her cigarette while we talked to her. She felt very sad that she had made so many poor decisions in her life. She became pregnant while being drunk and is really struggling. She asked us if we could help her because she feels bad about all the things that have happened in her life. While having a drinking party at her house a young man was stabbed and died. She can't get over it and feels she was responsible. I can't believe the problems we keep coming up with.

However, good news! President Morgan's wife (who is not a member) is taking missionary lessons! We were so excited because she has lived with him for 26 years and finally she feels like she wants to do something to be with her husband for the eternities. We were pretty excited.

We were talking to a young man about the Book of Mormon. He said he didn't know anything but said he thought his mother used to be a Mormon. We asked him if he was a member of the church and he said yes. When we got back to the Church house we looked him and his mother on the church records. Neither one of them were members. I guess I will have to realize that just because I ask if they are a member of the church, it doesnt necesarily mean the LDS church. Duh???? Your not in Utah mom! Oh well, I am learning and loving every minute out here. We are getting ready for our Branch Thanksgiving dinner on THursday evening. This should be fun.

While driving around Ruidoso, we came across this family of deer. I was able to get out of the car and walk right up to them. It was great! I love this picture. I have seen lots and lots of deer but I am still waiting for my bear! That is my goal, to see a real bear before my mission is over.

We had a great talk in Sacrament meeting on being a fence sitter. It was done every well and he used Moroni 7. Try to look it up because we all have the agency to make our own choices, but we don't always get to choose the consequences of our choices.

The gospel is true and your mom and dad are loving serving the Lord.

News from the Mission Field

It is never dull in the Mescalero Mission field. We have been working with Sharon Pessiwonit from two months now. She has been very interested in the gospel and has felt the spirit many times. We had to postpone her baptism date because her boyfriend was killed two weeks ago. So when we went to see her last week we wanted to firm up our baptismal challenge. We discussed the church and her belief in Jesus Christ. That was good. She said she thought Joseph Smith was a prophet. That was good. But when we gave her the lesson on living the commandments (that was not good). She told us that she didn't feel like she wanted to keep the commandments right now because life was too hard for her. We tried everything we could to convince her but she likes gambling, drinking and says she can't go to church because she has to work. Somehow we missed the boat on this one. Oh, well, we are learning.

Then we went to visit Rex and his wife, and found out they don't want to give up drinking alcohol b ecause it is FUN!!!! She even brought out a can of tobacco chew and said this was her favorite thing to do. My, My, these indians are hard stuff. But dad and I haven't lost faith and hope that the Lord will send someone to us. Keep praying for us ok?

Love mom and Dad

Relief Society Young Women Recognition Night

I took an investigator's daughter, Deseree Beck, to the Young Women Recognition night last Saturday. They held in with the Relief Society because they only have 2 young women. They all displayed their talents and things about themselves on a table and had a talent night. It was really fun and I got acquainted with some of the ladies in the Ruidoso Ward. Deseree brought her basketball trophies, her grandmother's medicine bag, and several poems that she has written. She actually read one of the poems and every one was very surprised to find out she has REAL talent. She said she would get me a copy of some of her poems because I liked them so much.

White Sands New Mexico

We went to Alamagordo last Thursday to get dad's physical for the VA. After spending the entire morning at the VA facility we decided to go do something fun. We drove to White Sands which was about 5 minutes away. It was beautiful!

This is phosphate which looks like sand that washed down from the mountain into a lake. The lake dried up leaving the phosphate. These tiny particles of phosphate (which look like white sand) just move around this area from one spot to another. They say they shuffle along and the sand dune moves inches at a time. We took a few pictures to let you see how pretty they are.

LV Mom and Dad

Halloween with the Elders

The Elders have been trying to scare me for a month now and promising me that on Halloween my hair would turn white with fright. Sooooo, I decided to play a few tricks of my own. Dad and I actually bought a witches costume for me and an Apache costume for him. But we looked so scarry we didn't dare wear it to the Branch party. We didn't think it would appropriate for them to see missionaries all scarry!!!! So on Halloween I woke up early and taped the handle to the sprayer on the kitchen sink in an on position so that when you turn on the water it would spray out and get you all wet. Then I placed mice and spider about the kitchen. We got the Elders good. However, they had plans of their own. When I opened the kitchen closet, there hung a gigantic bat with red flashing eyes staring at me. Of course I was scarred!!!! They laughed with delight. I thought it was all over until that evening as I was washing the dishes and opened the kitchen closet again to get something and this thing came out of the closet. I was scared, of course, but when it started to move, I really got scared. The Elders were delighted, You see they are still kids at heart. Then to top it off, they taped the handle to the kitchen sprayer this morning (Monday) and I had my own trick played on me. We had a delightful Halloween. IT is one I will never forget.

More Halloween

More Halloween