Morgan with Elder and Sister Holm, the mission presidents.  I am so excited to get her first letter and to hear all the wonderful things that have happened her first week!

Brazil by way of South Carolina!

Morgan has been temporarily reassigned to Columbia, South Carolina while she awaits her
visa from Brazil. She is super excited and will be flying out 7 am Monday morning.  We are expecting to get a phone call from her sometime early that morning!!

Week Five!

Oi everybody! 

I get my reassignment this Friday! I am so excited. Almost as excited as I was for my first mission call :) They let us email our family and tell them so expect an email on Friday from me! We also get to talk to our family before boarding the plane, but I will give you more details when we get our travel plans! Oh and technically I did send one picture last week. I sent a picture to Ginger of me and my package so maybe she could send it to you? Anyway I plan on taking quite a bit more pictures in the field, but right now I spend about 99.99% of the time in a classroom. Which is important, but not exactly "picture-worthy" :) I absolutely loved the pictures you send me though. It means a lot. I was able to print them off, so I can look at them anytime I get homesick! It made me realize how important pictures are so I will be sure to take more in the future! I hope you are having fun with Little Lou! I bet you two are having a blast with all that girl time! 

We had TRC again! I love it so much. We were able to talk to a returned missionary who went to Brazil and who is currently attending BYU. His name is Blake. Just found that a little interesting :) We also taught an older woman named Sister Rice who was actually called to be a TRC missionary and help other missionaries prepare for their mission. She had to learn to speak Portuguese and everything! She was born in Mexico and speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and English! What was so amazing is that although we had planned the same topic for volunteers, the lessons turned out completely different! Hopefully that means the Spirit was prompting us! With Blake, I felt prompted to share an experience-about how the Book of Mormon had given me confidence because I could feel the love that Christ and that God had for me. I invited him to share any experiences he had during his life and he shared some really touching ones about his mission. I really felt like we connected and at the end of the lesson his comment card said that he felt the Spirit really strong when we both shared our experiences! YES! I am improving each day when it comes to recognizing and acting on the Spirit! When we taught Sister Rice, I felt the prompting to just share a simple testimony. She was so sweet that I just never wanted to stop talking to her! At the end of our message, our teacher said that Sister Rice was very touched by our message and that she wanted to be more like us! She also said that she had really felt the Holy Ghost as we testified of the Book of Mormon. I just love teaching real people! I am getting more excited and more nervous to go out into the field every day!

This week one of our teachers, Irmão Buttars, taught us a lesson that has really stuck with me this week. He said that 60% of returned missionaries go inactive within six years after coming home! I couldn't believe it. I have already had such faith promoting experiences here and I haven't even gotten into the field yet! Irmão Buttars said it was because those missionaries have never been truly converted. They may have had strong testimonies and amazing experiences, but it was not enough. Having a testimony is not enough. As I was evaluating my own life to see if I had been truly converted, I read in the Bible Dictionary that conversion is "a conscious acceptance of the will of God." It is a conscious decision! This last week I made the conscious decision to change. I want to be someone who has diligence and charity. This last week I prayed morning and night and all during the day for these Christ-like qualities. I am really striving to develop them. Some days are better than others and I make a lot of mistakes, but I have faith and I have hope that Christ will help me develop these qualities as I earnestly seek for them. It helps to repent daily and evaluate my efforts daily. I know that it is going to be a long process. I want so much to be a different person than the one I was when I came here. I want to change and become more Christ-like. I want to be truly converted. I think if I work as hard as I did this week for these goals, then God will bless me. I can become the missionary and the person I want to be! It says in the Bible Dictionary that "To labor for the conversion of one's self and others is a noble task." Wish me luck on this noble task! I'm going to need it! 

AHHH! I'm so glad that Rachel got such an amazing job! I am sure it was an answer to prayers! We went to the temple today and I put Dean's and Shane's names in the prayer box. Those are some powerful prayers so hopefully it helps! 

Caden! Congrats on your awesome STARR scores! Who knew little "pokey-puppy" would be the one to come in first for the ACT?? :) How was your first day of 7th grade? And good luck with basketball tryouts1

Blake! How was your first day of 7th grade? You sounded a little nervous in your letter. I don't know why! You are going to do so good, especially in reading :) "You is smart. You is kind. You is important." You should also read "The Help" :) Your career class sounds like fun. I wish I had taken it since I have almost 20 and STILL have no idea what I want to be when I "grow up." Congrats on the new fish! Hopefully she lasts a little longer than your first one ;) 

Lexi! Sorry I didn't get to send you a separate email this week. I don't know where the time went! But I think you definitely should open up an ETSY shop. Feel free to treat me as a walking advertisement. I live with a lot of girls who I am sure would love some personalized art work! That and I wouldn't mind to have some personalized art from my dear irmã! Mom sent me some pictures of you and Taylor and you guys are of course adorable. As always! Also sent some pictures of that thing with Christian.How was that? It looked like fun hanging out with the old ward! Oh, and what classes are you taking for fall? You know I'm dying to know. Some things never change :)   

Pops! It sounds like you are having fun with the boys! Sorry it took so long for you to get that "boy time!" I love how you talk about Mom. So sweet! I also loved your advice--as always :) I think I have been truly blessed with the language and I think it is coming along pretty well. Our teacher challenged us to speak only Portuguese for the remainder of our stay here. Today was our first day and it was hard. Most of our vocabulary deals with teaching the gospel. I am afraid that our every day language is severely limited, so I have to walk around with my dictionary and am forced to look up words like "to print" and other words that are not included in Preach my Gospel or the scriptures! It makes for some very choppy conversations, but it is definitely giving me the opportunity to work on verb conjugations! 

Mom! I really appreciate all the letters. I look forward to them every day. I love that we have a family motto. I think that is a great scripture to chose! I want you to know that I think of you every day. We had someone suggest that we be "the missionary you're mom thinks you are." So I am really trying to be the missionary you deserve for your daughter to be! 

I love you guys so much! I love every letter and I'm sorry if I can't respond as well and as detailed as I want to, but I hope you know that I would if I could!

Love Sister Daniels

Ginger sent Morgan a package "full of sunshine" that she adored and was so grateful for!  

Week Four!

Oi!! 

I have been in the MTC for almost a month! Isn't that absolutely crazy? I'm disappointed that I only have 17 months left! It's going to go by so quickly! 

The cabinets look incredible! I think they really brightened up the kitchen! I am so proud of you and Dad for going with the missionaries to visit Tracy! Way to charge forward :) I love all of your letters but the one you sent on Sundayreally touched my heart! For one, you called me one of your "prized possessions" and who wouldn't want that? :) Serious tear jerker right there... I thought the stories were really inspiring and makes my sacrifice seem rather diminiative! I am really excited to meet people and to fill their empty cups with the love God and Christ have for them! I took that knowledge for granted most of my life, but NOT ANYMORE! 

I received a letter from my mission president's wife...IN PORTUGUESE. I have a sneaking suspicion that she doesn't speak a word of English, which is going to make things interesting if I ever get to Brazil! I have been reading the Book of Mormon in Portuguese every day and let me tell you it is sloooowww going, but I do get a little faster and reference the dictionary a little less each day. I'm learning a lot! It is actually suprising how much of the language I learn just from reading the scriptures every day! Someone will ask "What does ________ mean?" and I can tell them because I learned it from the Book of Mormon! Elder Cobb said that a general authority had promised that we will be fluent by the time we finish it! My goal is to finish by Christmas! I'm counting on the fact that I will get faster at some point :) I also read a talk in Portuguese from Richard G. Scott and I understood almost every word. MUCH easier to understand than the Book of Mormon. I, actually, have an easier time speaking Portuguese and reading it than understanding someone else speak it. Being a visual learner, I actually have to write out the words in my head when I hear them and then just read them back to myself. The problem comes when the way a word sounds does not match the way it looks. Like when a "d" goes to a "g" sound or an "r" to an "h". Then I write it wrong in my head and then of course don't recognize it because it isn't spelled the right way! Also, we had a guest teacher from Brazil talk to us about....phonics and pronunciation. 

O_o

My two favorite things, no? Needless to say I am going to have the strongest American accent out of my district! I just hope Brazilians find my accent endearing. "Poor girl. At least she is trying!" is a phrase I think I will hear quite often :) 

We started today (and last P-day) going to the temple. Can't think of a better way to start my day! I loved the new film! I thought they portrayed the relationship between Adam and Eve far more realistically. They were the only people on earth--of course they are going to be fond of each other! And I like that this film showed it! Anyway last Tuesday was probably the best day I have had at the MTC. The temple trip was truly inspiring and brought the Spirit into my day and it just kept growing throughout the day! I felt it during personal study and during choir practice, but it was during the devotional that my heart felt as if it was burning with the Spirit. Elder Richard G. Scott came and spoke to us!!!!! ELDER RICHARD G. SCOTT (my second favorite apostle, I might add) WAS IN THE SAME ROOM AS US AND SPOKE TO US!! The love he had for us was so palpable. After he finished his talk and as he was walking out, he kept turning around and yelling out phrases like "Be good!" and "We love you!" It was as if he didn't want to leave. I didn't want to leave either! His talk--unlike others we have received at the MTC--was not energetic, invigorating, or particularly forceful. His talk did not leave me with the overwhelming desire to grab my weapon (ie. Book of Mormon) and march in a "one-two--three- four" formation across the world singing "We are All Enlisted", but it was powerful nonetheless. He was quiet and bore his testimony of prayer. It was so sincere that the Spirit was able to piercce the hearts of every person in that room. He did it without flair. He did it without clever analogies or multimedia presentations. He didn't need them for he had the Holy Ghost and every single person in that room knew it. He gave us an apostolic blessing that we will receive the gift of tongues and the guidance of the Lord according to our faith and diligence. How cool is that?! Our MTC president said he had only heard a few apostolic blessings in his life and that we should write it down and never forget it! This talk was something special. It truly felt that the words were coming from God. As he finished his prepared talk, he paused. I'm sure the translators and prompters threw their hands up in frustration at this point, because for the last ten minutes he did not go by a script. He said he felt his wife in the room although she had been dead for almost 20 years! I think every person-Elder and Sister- teared up at this point! He talked about prayer and our missions. He said every good thing that occurred in his life happened because he served a mission! He said that prayer was not something trivial and that we should share our deepest feelings with the Lord through prayer. He said that God answers us in three ways and that one of those ways is by not answering us. This form often leaves us frustrated or feeling alone, but he said that it means He trusts us to make the right decision on our own. I'll have to remember that next time I t feel like I haven't received an answer! I really tried to take this talk to heart. I went home and prayed for a long time. Longer than I have probably ever prayed before. I tried to talk to God differently than before and really tried to listen to Him as I prayed. And I can definitely say that God answers prayers! I felt as if a blanket of love and comfort completely surrounded me. It felt so real and tangible, but when I opened my eyes no one was there! I think my relationship with my Father in Heaven is growing so much and I am really excited about it! 

Can you tell Grandma that I got her letter and loved it? It was my first hand-written letter! I hope her and Grandpa are doing well and that the storehouse isn't wearing them out too much! 

How is the job hunt for Dean and Shane?

Blake! 

I loved your letter! Except that part about Jack loving you more than me... :) It sounds like you went to the pool more this week than I will in more than two years! Congratulations on the the new "knot-tying" skills! Not as good at numchuck skills, but definitely a step in the right direction ;) I heard you are going to be getting braces soon. I bet you are just loving that, huh? Take consolation in the fact that I might have to get braces when I get back and I will be in college! Good luck saving up all that money for a gun! It better be the gun of the century for all this work! Love you Blake! 

Anyway, I love you guys so much! I love receiving your letters and hearing about your lives! 

Sister Daniels 

Lexi's Letter

Lou! 

I loved your email. Obrigada! Good luck on your finals! You'll do great. Here is a little secret: college finals are way easier than high school finals. You wouldn't think so, but it is true so don't stress too much about it! And I spent my finals week discovering and then proceeding to watch the entire first few seasons of Parks and Recreation, so you seem a little more dedicated than I was. I love that you get to paint your apartment! I'm guessing the mint was your suggestion, right? :) Mom said you had a little trouble with the roommates. I'm so sorry about that! I don't know how any person could act less than" fall on the floor in gratitude" to have you as a roomy. They crazy! But tell me about all your life!  Dad says you have been to a few concerts and other cryptic things called "adventures." Details please! We all know that I would be vicariously living through you even if I wasn't on a mission ;) And I am a little offended that you thought I didn't know what a NCMO was and even thought it necessary to write a pronunciation guide! Honestly, I did go to college and I did leave the library at least once ;) While I don't kiss and tell.... Haha just kidding! I did not participate in any crazy NCMOs. Oh and I have decided that Hamilton is not your future husband, but some guy in my district most certainly is. More details next week! 

Sister Daniels 

Week Three MTC (no letter) very sad face! Got One!!!

Modeling the outfit we sent her for an early bday present. i like that we can see her room a little bit!

Holding some of the letter she has received.  She loves all the letters and support!

Sis Jackson and Morgan always manage to match she said.

Sis Russell and Morgan, Quite the height difference!

I received pictures today but no letter!  Sad, i wonder is she just ran out of time!  Anyway cute pictures of our missionary girl!  She looks happy!

Oi family! 

I am so glad you had a great birthday, Mom! You definitely deserve it. I just wish I could have celebrated it with you! The cabinets look AMAZING, which is not surprising with Pops on the job :) I love, love getting your daily letters. Please keep it up. Dear Elder has been having a hard time getting every letter to me, and I know I am missing a few you have sent since you reference  something from a previous letter-one I never received! So if I don't answer a question or comment on something that is why!

I can't believe my time at the MTC is half-way done! The time here is so funny. Each day seems like a year but each week seems to pass in a second. This week was a pretty tough one, but there was a lot of really good experiences too!

We had our first TRC experience, which is where we talk to actual people. Most are members.  TRC supposed to help us learn to share mini experiences when we go to members' homes. I loved it so much! I love meeting new people and learning about their lives. It is almost as if I am reading a story, which makes the "no books" thing a little easier to bear :) I love sharing a spiritual message and bearing my testimony to them. I know I am going to love the people in my mission so much because...I ALREADY DO!

I love that you are studying about the Atonement. We had an incredible lesson on the Plan of Salvation from our teacher. He really went into depth--way more than we will go with out investigators--but it made the Atonement and the divinity of Christ all the more real to me. He talked about Christ and even Lucifer in the premortal life. When I think of the premortal life, I usually think only of the war in heaven, but my teacher put an emphasis on something else. He said that Christ and Lucifer were intelligences, like us. My professor said that we progressed in the pre-mortal world, but Christ and Lucifer progressed the fastest. Isn't that interesting? Before, I felt like I couldn't understand Christ because He was something altogether different from me, something far more great than I could comprehend. And He is, but He also went through the same things we did! So we are similar! He just did it much better and much faster than I ever could. It is interesting to think about. We knew Him before. We must have trusted Him so much, knowing that if He didn't complete the Atonement that we would be lost. Can you imagine how we acted or what we felt as we watched Him struggle through the Atonement? To see the Brother we loved hurting so much for us? And to know that if He let the cup pass then we would truly be lost forever? I bet if people could feel even a glimmer of what they felt then, we would cease to be tempted by Lucifer ever again!  I feel like my understanding of the Savior and His love for me has really grown this week. My love and understanding of Him and what He did has also grown exponentially. 

Many girls on our floor are leaving on their missions and almost all of them are getting reassignments to somewhere in the states! People have been called to Arizona, Utah, Montana, Wisconsin, TEXAS, California, and so many more! At first, I was worried about being reassigned, but I am not anymore. I'm actually looking forward to it! It will be as if I got to serve TWO missions. How lucky is that? My teacher actually was reassigned for 8 months! Yikes that is almost half of my mission. He was called to Lubbock, Texas, and had to learn Spanish and French in addition to his Portuguese. I can't even imagine that, but he had the most amazing experiences in both missions. If the Lord sends me to Utah or Montana, then it is where I need to be so I'm not stressing about it! 

I have had a hard time this week with my companion. It is so hard to have someone with you ALL THE TIME. I'm kind of a loner, if you didn't know :) She is someone who gets frustrated and stressed very easily, and I try to give her pep talks, but it isn't exactly my "special talent" as Dr. Barron would put it. I feel as if the Lord is really trying to teach me patience. Unfortunately, I can't say that I progressing at a particularly fast pace! If you have any advice, I would love to hear it! 

Many people have told me that God blesses the families of His missionaries and I believe that He will. I prayed long and hard for Uncle Dean and Uncle Shane that they would be able to get the right job. When I prayed, I "cashed in" all the promised blessings of my mission that they would get jobs. I don't know if God works this way. We can't bargain with God, but I thought I would give it a try and I felt the Spirit as I prayed so I think that means that Uncle Dean and Uncle Shane will get a job and that it will be everything that they need it to be. 

Pops! 

Thank you so much for sharing your missionary wisdom! It is always perfectly timed to what I most need to hear. Talk about inspiration! I loved and really needed to hear the saw mill analogy. I fear that sometimes I do focus too much on the sawdust like my own testimony and knowledge and not so much on loving my investigators and even my companion. I am actually going to change up my study habits in order to focus more on the lumber and less on the sawdust! 

Aunt Ellie! 

Thank you so much for your letter. I am sorry I can't write you individually, but I appreciated it so much. I think your missionary efforts are amazing. Keep it up! I think I really needed to hear that story about Uncle Scott's brother. It helped put me in the right mindset. I am not serving a mission just to go to Brazil. If God has other plans for me than that is what matters. Not the country. So thank you so much for sharing his story! 

I love you guys so much! I think of you every day and am often overwhelmed with gratitude for being a part of the "Daniels Six Pack!" 

Sister Daniels  

Letters to Lexi

Oi, my favorite sister!

Thank you so much for your letter. It was the best thing in the world to get to my dorm after the long day and read it. I think you were truly inspired to write what you did. It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I particularly liked the scripture you shared. I shared the experience in the letter to mom, so you can ask her to forward it to you if you want! The MTC is a truly humbling experience, but I have learned so much and felt the Spirit so strongly that I know I am where I am supposed to be. I love my district (group of people in the same class who do everything together including eating together at lunch and going to choir together). They are each so strong and I love hearing their stories and getting to know them. It is so remarkable to me just how different we are and yet we were all called to the same place. Prove that God needs all kinds of people! Please send pictures of you at college! I have some pictures to send you guys if only I can figure the computers out! I love you and miss you so much. Hopefully I can write you a longer more detailed letter next week.

Love you!

Sister Daniels

Lexi!

 

Why you so cute?? Those pictures were adorable. Seriously.

 

Congrats on "nailing" your sociology test! I'm not suprised. You are brilliant after all and I love your idea , "His Holy Hands." I think it sounds truly inspiring! Maybe you can do His little hands clumbsily carving something? Or healing someone? Or clasped tightly like during the Garden of Gethsemene? I'm just tossing out ideas, but definitely send a picture of the finished product! And I love hearing about the drama in the real world. Especially when it invovles espionage and covert operations :) The biggest drama around here is when a girl wears open toe shoes. *Gasp* "Oh, no she didn't!" It is all thoroughly exciting but I like hearing about yours a little bit more :) How is school going? Finals? Glenwood? Boys? Spill woman! Again I send Mom an email with some of the more spiritual experiences, so hopefully she can forward it!

 

I think you are something special, Lou! And I think you have so many talents and abilities that you haven't even begun to discover! I admire you so much and think the Lord has something BIG in store for you. I hope you know how much I love you and more importantly how much your Pai Celestial (Heavenly Father) and Jesus Cristo love you!

 

Love Sister Daniels