Letters From Elder Morton, 12-22-08

December 25, 2008


Happy Christmas!

Any moment...

Every moment is good to conquer the obstacles with optimism, to give our best effort,
To rest and to evaluate the achievements,
To enjoy the time with family,
For help with whomever needs it and to begin again.

Happy Christmas and successes in the year that comes!

Much Love,

Elder Morton


Subject: Christmas!
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:23:57 +0000

Hey Family and friends!

We had another baptism this weekend and confirmation which was a battle but we kicked the devil in the butt and overcame!

I think I will call you at Matts place. That way I am more likely to talk to everyone. We have one phone here and 4 Elders get to share it so my time is 4pm here which is around 1pm where you are at, give or take. I think we get a pre-Christmas call to clarify the details the day before our actual call on Christmas which I have no idea exactly what time that one will be but I will call your house for that one. Yes I have a phone card, and the phone is in our appartment. We have an hour and a half or so to talk. I sent the photos and Christmas card through "Serpost" because thats what they have here.

I will be in my appartment for Christmas dinner, eating whatever our pensionista makes us with my companion. At this point clothes being too tight is no longer a problem, I am no where near as buff. Medium shirts are about right and Larges are HUGE. I have two belts so don't worry. Whats crackin with the business? How is that second leg going, growing like a brushfire? Is Rob A adjusting to "normal life" easily or having a hard time? What about the rest of the family?

Love you all,

Elder Morton


Subject: Keepin it real in Peru!
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:52:04 +000

Yo peeps!

I appreciate the boxes from you and Laura, I'm sure the cookies and candy will be enjoyed by all of us. How are Mike, Sun, and Ryder doing? The new parents adjusting to parenthood well? Dad is getting soft, whats next?! This world is going down in flames I'm sure! Well on that note I am becoming a man surprising as that may be; I am actually looking forward to having a family which includes KIDS! I know its weird but not any more weird than Dad getting soft in his old age! When I call just be yourselves I appreciate all you even in your crazyness!

I am doing well here. Still adjusting to the culture, language, and the people. I am still in Collique which is the projects of a smaller town in Lima called Comas which is pretty much the most ghetto, ignorant place one could be in Lima, but there are a lot of humble, receptive, religious people here so preaching the gospel is pretty rewarding. Other than being skinny and soft all is well with me. I am learning a lot about life and the scriptures and really forming what I want out of this life spiritually, physically, financially, and in all other ways, also what I need to do and how to do it in order to obtain the life that I want. Needless to say every day is a learning experience.

How are my nephews and nieces doing? Are Wally, Jenn and Claire still as crazy as ever or is living in Olivehurst helping them with their nerves? Are they still building their business too, and if so how is that going for them?

Whats the deal with the economy? Is is getting better? I heard gas is down to $1.25 in Utah, whats it like in California? How are Bill, Sue and the Young Guns doing? As far as that goes how are all the family and family friends doing such as the Rocklin 6th and 2nd wards? Tell them that they are in my daily prayers and I appreciate all of them and what they have done are doing and will do for me just being themselves, being great examples.

Love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas, and a prosperous and spiritually uplifting new year!

Elder Morton

Letters From Elder Morton, 12-15-08

Subject: Re: Felize Navidad! Merry Christmas!
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:06:24 +0000

Yo peeps!

We have a Christmas lunch with the Mission President at a nice place which we had Thursday and a Chrismas multi zone on the 27th, but it's not at the mission home. The package waiting for me is I think the one with the ties and a shirt. Don't worry about deoderant I can buy that here.

Have a Merry Chrismas eventhough I am not there it doesn't mean the party can't be started by someone else! Wow snow whats that?! It doesn't even rain here hardly at all but in the jungle it poors! Yes their getting all that suff together now.

Trujillo is another mission and I have no idea how far it is but its far. I dont know when I get to call on the 25th yet but we have all day off which is cool. I will be happy to talk to all you guys and if you cry I won't hold it against you, but there is no reason to cry I am doing great and finally discovering the man God meant me to be, slowly but surely.

I will try to tell you all that I can in the allotted time. Annette is in New Jersey?! Wow she really wants this broker thing, good for her. Thank Jenniffer in advance for me for thinking enough of me to send me a package I apprciate it. Send a thanks to Laura for th letter, alhough I havent received I am pleased to recieve anything from my friends & family. My companion and I are getting along, he is no Elder Saenz but he is a good guy.

Rob A is busy that's good and same for you too? Sweet! Dad and long showers, is like oil and water. I take short, cold showers and don't mind anymore. Is Rob back on his old schedule?(If yes that'd be a bummer). Man that's a bummer with Jimmie and Futaba, but I believe if you show him the business or perhaps me when I get home in a plain aand direct way he will see the value in it and join the team. Speaking of that give a holla to Kelvin he sent me a dearelder and I was pumped and really have a lot of things I want to do with the business and bodybuilding as well when I get home.

Gotta go Love yall,

Elder Morton

Letters From Elder Morton, 12-15-08

Subject: Much thanks to you all!
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:43:19 +0000

Yo Ma!

Yes I received the slacks, beef jerkey, protein stuff, garments and all that got to me and there is one more waiting I think it was that most recent one sent in December.

Not sure about the fit on the slacks from Annette, because I am waiting till Christmas to oficially open that stuff. Cool deal with the photos of me as a bodybuilder, the Elders here were surprised that a litle guy like me onc was buff! I am pretty skinny now, a medium dress shirt is about right and a large is way too big.

I think it is cool for my nephews to look up to me but also I think it is equally important that they know I am flawed, always was always will be in this life and not to be so crittical of themselves.

We all can learn somehting from th life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Still love you all!

Elder Morton

Letter From Elder Morton, 12-15-08

Subject: Givin it to the man!
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:28:15 +0000

Hey Family and friends!

First off I recieved two more packages at our Chrismas lunch on Thursday and it had Elder Saenz and my presents thank you Mom, Dad, Annette, Justin, Brandon. Also I have a year supply of protein stuff which is cool! It was really cool to get a card and gifts from those who I love. Also I heard from some Elders in my district that there is a BIG package at the office waiting for me.

Also I recieved a package from the Gibsons with a nice card and goodies, so Please thank them for me, it was very nice of them.

Chris and Vic are old men now 19 and 20! Man Brandon is driving all by himself WATCH OUT! Wow 20 and still doesnt drive what's the deal? Mom and Dad yall are working hard, keep up the good work! Still working THE BUSINESS right? Christmas is a great time of year, full of surprises!

It took a while but I am actually not completely incompetent at making contacts on the street and knocking doors! MY Spanish is coming along and yesterday I gave my first talk in Spanish where I didn't spend half the time in silence! I am really staring to understand these people and as of now its a bit of a culture shock because I am in a super poor area so their way of thinking is a world away from the way it is in our family. Needless to say if Jeff and James spoke Castillano Spanish they would fit right in!

I guess I am ready for change. Despite all that I am working hard because I have a long way to go before I can honestly feel as though I am really good missionary. My God and my Family deserve the best of me, so thats what I am going to give. I am going o try to answer your other two emails real fast.

Love,

Elder Morton

Letter From Elder Morton, 12-08-08

Subject: Elder Morton is ALIVE!.....still
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 14:44:37 +0000

Hey Family,

Once again I am still alive and kicking! As I said in my previous email I got the Christmas card and was very happy to see the family together for Moms birthday. A shout out to Brandon, it's cool that you look up to me but don't try to emmulate me. Strive to be better than me, you can do it. I am fallible, I have made many mistakes in my life and I will make many more. If you try to emmulate anyone emmulate Jesus Christ, he was and is pefect and with that as your goal you will always be striving to be better and thats how success and miracles happen. That goes for everyone, Jesus is our perfect example of how to act, think and be.

My ability to speak Spanish is getting better, a little here and a little there but my understanding is closer to where I want to be which is cool. I sent you guys a cool Christmas card, hope you like it, its from Peru, and in spanish, good luck! There is a CD of photos that hopefully makes it there safe. Whats the gang up to? Still positive and overcoming those trials that life throws at you? Is everything working out well with Rob A? How about you and Dad, still hangin in there? Oh yes if you could send me some pictures of when I was buff sometime that would be cool. The people here dont believe I was a bodybuilder.

How are my homies? I got a dearelder email from Kelvin the other day which was really cool! I really want to stay in contact with him. If you could give him, Jimmie, & Futaba as well as Semaj, Revonda & Joyce my snail mail address in addition to other family friends who would like to write me I would be very appreciative. And last but certainly not least I send a shout out to Rocklin 6th and 2nd wards!

I am realizing how crucial a mission is in order to put life in perspective and also why it is so heavily stressed in the church. Things arent as they seemed before. I really am growing up, and am greatful for every day that I have. The present really IS a gift! I didnt realize that before, and because of that I let little things like fear of the unknown and insecurity get in the way of living life in the now. I am so greatful for this experience and this mission deal is really all it is cracked up to be and then some! Its hard but as always nothing worth obtaining is free or easy! Lets give the devil a run for his money!

As always I love you guys, no matter what, We Are Family! Lets look forward to the future, learn from the past and live in the NOW!

Love,

Elder Morton

Letter from Elder Robert Morton, 12.01.08

Subject: It's December already!
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 15:40:31 +0000

Hola Familia!

I received your Christmas card with the picture of Ryder, that was really cool to see almost everyones comments. Holy cow! Jamie and Jordan got a hold of James?! What's the catch? I guess the devil is working it everywhere because things here have been screwy too.

We went from having a possibility of 10 baptisms to only having two for November, but December is a new month! I got one email from you this week that was sent on the 24th of November so I dont know about that other you said you sent.

Wow Rob A is in the house...literally! How is that going? Good to hear he is busy, hopefully keeping his nose clean too.

How was Thanksgiving? Was it at your house or Matts? Who was there and whats the new family gossip? Hows the grand kids doing? James fall off the deep end or is he cool? How are Dad and you doing with everything?

On a funny note I had another first. So its a custom here to greet someone with a kiss on the cheek kind of like in Italy. For the first time (since I am a gringo) a girl went for the kiss and I freaked out jumped away sayin "No, no Im a missionary!" and put my hand out for a hand shake intead. She had to feel bad because she said " He doesn't want a kiss on the cheek" poor girl, it wasn't personal, I had no idea how to react. Its not that I didn't want a kiss on the cheek, I mean hey its me were talking about! It was hilarious nonetheless!

So pray that I go to the jungle for the next change or at least change wards! I have been in the same ward now for my 3rd change and getting a little stir crazy but it could always be worse. I pray for and love you all and hope that if nothing else comes of this mission at least my family might grow in understanding of what this life is really about, and that not all those Mormons are crazy, just most of them LOL!

Please send a shout out to all my family and friends that want to know if I am still alive and kicking also tell them I am becoming the man God intended me to be. Which is something that I couldnt have done on my own. In two years I will no longer be the"Baby" I once was, without a doubt I know this to be true. Things are really starting to become clear to me as to what is really important in life and that no matter how hard I have to work it is worth it if it means I have a happy family and am helping people obtain their dreams.

I am learning so much I can't even begin to write it all but my thoughts, actions and deeds are becoming that of someone who is a grown, responsible man. I couldnt have done it without my god and my loving and supportive family!

Love you guys,

Elder Morton