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!