3.07.2016

no subject.

This past Monday we went into the city. On the way back we were

walking across a bridge and saw a little Hooverville near the river.

we ended up making a detour to go look at it. I have seen homeless

people in the city many times, but it was weird to actually see where

they live. It was really sad to see tents pitched under the bridge.

Also, we saw someone dumping out their bathroom business into the

river while we were down there which was gross. Everyone always jokes

about how they find dead homeless bodies in the Allegheny River when

they clean out the river two times a year, but now I totally believe

that it's a legit thing. It's so sad.

We got home Monday, only to find that Sister Kwasney lost her white

handbook. Inside she had her debit card, temple recommend, and her

ministerial card. We had a crazy packed day on Tuesday, so Wednesday

we traced our steps from where we were on Monday. Sadly we didn't have

any luck. It was colder and by then it was lunch time, so we were cold

and hungry. We decided to stop at the next place that looked good on

the strip, and we found this crazy whole in the wall Italian place

that made these awesome pepperoni rolls. Boy of boy were they good!

That was a blessing after a disappointing morning.

I learned something that I wish I never had to learn on my mission:

how my body reacts when I am fed a bad meal. The meal itself wasn't

too bad, but when it came time for dessert I put one bite in my mouth

and I froze. It was not going to go down, and naturally I started to

laugh. I swear, I laugh at the most inappropriate times! It was so bad

I just sat there laughing for at least thirty seconds until it went

down my throat. It was like that till I finished what was on my plate.

I felt awful about it, but I could not control my body.

This week we went to L's and she made us dinner after we helped her

with some yard work. I really like L, and we have formed a super

good relationship with her. So good that she invited us to a birthday

picnic that she is having at the end of the month. As we thanked her

for the good food she made us she said that it was an honor to cook

for us. I just feel like an average joe, so for her to say it was an

honor to cook for us really meant a lot to me. It's good to know that

I am forming great relationships with people here.

We went to the R's this week and Er's mom was there. She used to

live in the projects in Mckees Rocks, my last area, and told us how at

one point she was pulled into her neighbor's house and beaten over the

head with bottles. Mom, I'm sure you're glad that I don't live over

there anymore! Anyways, we taught her an awesome lesson about the

Restoration. He whole time Ed and Er were bearing testimony like

nobody's business, it was awesome! Ed then started talking bout how

there are ten people that she could call at any moment that she could

talk to if she is struggling. Er then chimed in and said "you can't

even hide from them" (referring to our man hunt about a month ago) and

then stood up at gave both me and Kwasney high fives. We all got a

kick out of that!

Sister Morrison

with Sister Kwasney

Hooverville by the river.

With the Elders

pEaCe AnD bLeSsInGs!!

2.29.2016

She's a freak, she's a freak, she's super freaky

So this past week I was just thinking about my life. We pretty much have all day to think and ponder about random things. I was thinking about how each day I wake up then go and roam the streets of Bellevue and start up conversations with random people about Jesus. As I thought more and more about this I came to the realization that to other people I am not the normal Brooke Morrison that I think I am. Instead, I am totally a Jesus freak! That made me feel a little weird to finally realize that people don't see me as "normal." Haha oh well, I'll embrace the Jesus freak stereotype because at least people know I love Jesus! Plus, this is one of the only times in my life that it's acceptable to be a freak haha :)

Every Thursday we take a bus to West View where the elders live, and they pick us up at a Shell gas station so we can head off to our district meeting. We are usually there for about ten minutes before they arrive and since its been chilly in the mornings we go inside and talk to the girl that works there. Over the last few months we have gotten to know her really well, and I have really started to look forward to Thursday mornings because we get to talk with her! Although we don't share too much of the gospel with her because our time is always limited, but we have been able to answer some of her questions. It just goes to show that you can be an example to anyone at any given moment of the day.

We picked up a former investigator this past week. We had met her once round Christmas time, but nothing really came out of it. Last week we were helping the elders clean out their car when I saw I, M's daughter walk by. I said hi to her and had a mini conversation. Later we texted M and got a time when we could come and meet with her! On Tuesday we went over and asked her what had stopped her from being baptized before. Her response was smoking. Hopefully this time around we will be able to help her quit smoking and rekindle that testimony that she had a couple years ago! I'm excited to see her progress!

We also got a progressing investigator from New Hope. B is the last person I thought would want to hear about the gospel. He is this old man that hits on every lady in the building. When we help people find seats each week for the activities he always tells us that he's got a special seat just for us and he winks and pats his lap. We get a kick out of him! He also told us that we should read books out loud to him, and we asked him what book and he said 50 Shades of Grey. Needless to say B has a bit of a dirty mind. Well, as we have got to know him he has asked us about our religion. We answer the questions and a few weeks ago I gave him a restoration pamphlet. Well, last week he asked if he could have a Book of Mormon. Since then he has read almost a 100 pages in a week! He said it is very fascinating and that it better not convert him because last time he was fascinated he changed churches. Who knows what will come of it, but it was cool to see someone you wouldn't expect to what to know more to be really interested in it!

We also had a hilarious and interesting lesson with one of our less actives. It lasted for about n hour and a half because her PA ramble was on overdrive! I think we got a total of five minutes of a lesson the whole time we were there. She basically told us her entire life story. Some of the highlights include how she justified beating her kids with a straightener, how she needed a 50" flat screen TV because she loves technology even though she can barely stay afloat with her bills, how when she heard her boyfriend cheating on her she tried to chop off her boyfriend's fingers with a butcher knife but the blade was loose so it turned and cut her hand instead, how to successfully get out of a Full Nelson if we are ever put into one (I still don't really know what that is though), how her baby's daddy was her best sex partner but she doesn't want to get back with him, and how she did some little jig when she explained how catholic girls get loose once they get out of church school. She sounds pretty dangerous and a little off her rocker, but we love her and she is not as sketchy as she sounds, I promise!

I was able to finish reading the Book of Mormon from when I first started when I got to Pennsylvania on Saturday. It was cool, like a mini birthday present to myself :) On Saturday I finished reading the Book of Mormon since I first started it in the MTC. As I took Moroni's challenge and sincerely prayed to know that the Book of Mormon was true I hoped to get and overwhelming and resounding YES! That was not the case. Instead, I got a gentle warm feeling in my heart that left me with complete peace. That was my answer, and although it was different than the answer I expected, it was the answer that I needed. As I reflected back to other times that I have prayed about the Book of Mormon or other things, I was able to remember that I felt the same way then as I do now. Heavenly Father was answering my prayers all along, I just didn't realize it because I was expecting the answer to be different than what it was. 

My birthday was much better than I expected it to be. Thankfully there were blue skies and no rain! Thank you to all who emailed me and sent some great birthday wishes! I sure was spoiled and appreciate all the love I feel. Here's to a sober year being 21 as a missionary 🍻! 

Sister Morrison 

Happy Birthday Brooke!

Blue skies, crazy hair, and Asian eyes make for a great day!