¡Gracias a todos ustedes!

Subject: ¡Gracias a todos ustedes!
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:22:10 +0000 Hey yall!

Yeah I feel bad that things didn’t work out as I hoped but sometimes these things happen and its out of our control no matter how good our intentions are. I wish Wally, Jenn, and Claire a Merry Christmas and a new year full of blessings as a result of good decisions, diligence, and an attitude that’s always positive! It was a great experience for me to talk a little bit with Brian, Brandon, Annette, James, and Dad and you, Mike and Sunny. I enjoyed talking to you as well. I wish we had a little more time but this time I have to be a good example as a senior companion and follow the hour rule. I understood all of you no worries. I know you love me and that’s what really matters and I hope you know that I love you all.

It’s disappointing you didn’t hear or see Justin on Christmas, but its good to hear that he is a little happier. I too hope Vic gets a job and grows up. I hope Vic accomplishes what it is that he wants. Don’t worry about the garments, it’s though that counts. As far as needs go I don’t need anything out of the norm just my normal vitamins and protein stuff and that you guys keep going to church, reading your scriptures, praying, and working the business and living the dream! I haven’t received the envelope you sent me yet but I will get it soon.

As far as I know I will be sent to Sacramento but don’t worry we will know when we need to know. That’s crazy! Elder Cook is almost done. That will be a great homecoming and he will be a great addition to the singles ward!

Give a holla at Camie and let her know I understand how things can get crazy at times. I too am experiencing the hectic life with changes left and right. A letter every now and then is cool but really I know she cares because she is one of the few of my friends that have written me. You know when they write they really are your friends even if its once.

Send a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year wish from Elder Morton to Tanya and the whole Mortimer-Zufelt family! ¡Próspero Año Nuevo!

Send a shout out to Rose for me. She rocks and I hope she had a very Merry Christmas and has an even better new year!

Send my love out to Jimmie, Futaba and Masai and Sayaka please because they are the best! I pray that everything works out well with her surgery and that the business stays strong and most of all so that they can enjoy a few chill moments in life as a family and as husband and wife! We have to converse with them when I get back because I really miss them and really all of my family and friends! When did Futaba send the letter because if I am not mistaken I received one a long time ago and it was nice? I hope the Wilson family had a great Christmas and a prosperous new year as well!

I am really enjoying myself here in El Perú. I learn something new every day and I truly feel as though the lord is molding me to be a better man than I could be without him. I truly know that God has a higher purpose for us than the "daily grind". He wants us to progress spiritually as well as temporally and as I told Annette if we are not progressing we are not doing what we have been sent here to do and most of all what we promised God our father we would do here. I pray that this New Year may be full of new and significant life goals with real intention to accomplish them. We can do it!

Love,
Elder Morton

Good Decisions make the difference...

Subject: Good Decisions make the difference...
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:10:29 Hey yall!

So here's the plan. On Thursday I am going to call at 6:00-6:30 your time so we’re good there. On Christmas I will call at about noon if everything goes as I hope. Either way I will call Christmas so be ready!

I don’t know if my friends have received the chocolate balls you sent yet but when they tell me I will let you know. I’m sure I will receive the things you sent but I don’t know when. How cool. It’s small but I like blue lights. It’s good to hear that the boys are helping out this year. Send my love to the Rocklin 2nd and 6th please.

What's going on? I knew that was going to happen eventually. Really we can’t say we didn’t warn him. Now he is going to take it like a man! That’s life and we have to make educated decisions and if we don’t THAT'S what happens. The good news is that although life is crazy you guys are being blessed in many ways. I look forward to talking to the kids on Christmas. It will be nice to share the experiences we have had since May.

Funny story, we baptized a Down syndrome kid Saturday because he is an only child and his mom wanted to see him baptized. I was chosen to the dirty work of dunking him because I am stronger than my comp and the kid is a bit afraid of water. We had to do it three times before it was done correctly and the third time I had to go down with him by putting my chest in his face and forcing him under the water. It was hilarious! He thanked me for saving his life! He probably thought he was going to drown. I will send pictures later.

Really I feel, for the first time in a while just plain chill, working hard and helping this ward progress in every way I can. I have had a few companions who really challenged my patience and my humility and for that I am grateful because we are not put through trials we can’t overcome. We are here to progress and I feel as though my family and I are progressing although not everyone as I would like but little by little.

I am grateful for all the great decisions and faith you are showing in the lord. I know it’s because of that you are being blessed in a time that’s difficult in the states with the economy and all. I look forward to hearing from you all.

I love you all,

Elder Morton

Buon Natale y Feliz Navidad!

Subject: Buon Natale y Feliz Navidad!
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:21

Hey yall!

Thanks for the garments and razors I appreciate it. Don’t worry these things happen every now and then. Thanks for the CD of church music because that’s all we can listen to. I appreciate the thought from Chris but I don’t know what CD he got me because it’ not Christmas yet! Thanks for the hair conditioner stuff once again! That’s cool about the commercials. Is the image getting better for Amway and Nutralite?

Yes I will be calling the 24th as my "Pre call" to tell you when I will be calling you on Christmas. I will call at night because I think were 1 or 2 hours ahead of you guys. I don’t know what time exactly yet.

The chocolate balls are for a couple in my ward who the husband served a mission in the Northern part of Perú and had a companion from the states. He tried this chocolate ball for Christmas as LOVES it! He asked me if I could have you send him and his wife one and I said I would ask. They are really cool people and I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask. Christmas is next week how crazy is that?

Speaking of Alberto how are the Minguzzi’s? Have you heard anything from them lately? Well the answer is yes and that’s cool! I read the letter from Vito and it sounds like everyone is doing their thing and overall pretty happy. I am happy to hear that they are doing well. Send them my best wishes please. Its good to hear that the grandma is still sticking in there, but when is Giorgio going to give Nadia and Vito grand kids and when is Alberto going to get hitched?! It seems as though June 2010 will be a big month worldwide!

Really I am enjoying this change more than ever. We are doing really good things in our area and the members are progressively happier with the missionaries. Almost 6 months to go and I am home, how fast the time is flying by. I still see a difference in the man I was compared to just 6 months ago and at this rate I will be a lot different in 6 more months when I get home. I have a different work ethic and desire to share the gospel with my family, not force my religion on them but share what I have learned in these two years with them, and let them make the decision on their own.

I am really pumped to talk to the family this Christmas. It will be a great experience for all of us I am sure. I love you all and hope that all my friends and family know that. From Rocklin and Auburn, CA, to South San Francisco, all the way to Italy and back I send my love to all and want to hear how everyone is doing for the holidays.

Love,
Elder Morton

Feliz Navidad!

Subject: Feliz Navidad!
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:47

Hey yall!

A quick notice I received the Christmas box from you guys and the CD that Chris bought and they were AWESOME! I haven’t opened any of the gifts yet but thank you for the generosity because you sent A LOT! I hope it was in the budget! In response to one of your letters yes, I need 5 more pairs of garment tops and bottoms and more socks because there was a huge problem with the company that washes our clothes here in Lima and everyone lost a ton of clothes. If you could send some more razors that would be cool too.

So, Vic is trying to get into Sac Junior college that’s great!

Good for Annette. She finally passed her test and accomplished her goals and is happy.
Justin goes to boot camp. How crazy is that?! It sounds like something from a crazy dream that you can’t wake up from. I sure hope he has a good experience in the military and doesn’t pick up any bad habits.

That’s good to hear that Jackie is recovering well from her surgery and is happily married. Good to hear that James is overcoming his trials and is doing well. I am really glad that you and Dad are hanging in there and looking at the positive side of things. I didn’t know there were plans on going to Italy in 2012, but I LOVE the idea and I think that Dad will be beyond happy visiting Italy, because its THE BOMB!

In regards to me, I am really happy with how things are going here in Lima. We are finding really great, new people to teach the gospel to and I feel truly blessed because my comp is a really great kid that was raised in the church. I truly believe we will make a big difference in the ward and branch that we have. I feel truly blessed to be where I am at this point in my mission. God loves us and wants to bless us, we just have to be obedient and act in faith according to the whisperings of the spirit and choose the right! If we do that we will receive the blessings after the trial of our faith.

The holiday season for me is a reminder of how much God really loves us, so much so that he sent his only begotten son to sacrifice his life for us and make it possible to make it back to his presence. May we always remember how very blessed we are to have been born when and where we have and always thank God for what he has given us because there are people who have a lot less than we do.

I plan on doing things a whole lot differently when I get home. I really want to make anything possible for my children. I want them to have the opportunity to know diverse countries and people and most of all PERÚ! So, I will have to work hard and keep the focus but I am prepared to do whatever it takes so that my kids can be even better prepared for the mission life and the real life than I was, because its worth it. The family is so important and I have learned that in the mission. I knew before that the family was important but my vision was drastically limited compared to now and because of that I am grateful every day that I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as a missionary for these 2 years.

I look forward to talking to you all in a few weeks and I know it will be a great experience for all of us.

I Love you all,

Elder Morton

The holidays are here!

Subject: The holidays are here!
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:50

Hey yall!

The holidays have many surprises to offer and usually they are good ones. I am happy to hear that Annette and you are getting along like a mother and daughter should. How crazy, Brandon is a junior! That’s what two years away from home does, we all grow 2 years older and yet we don’t see it happen!

Girls, we can’t live with them and we live without them. What is a man to do?! I doubt things with Justin will pan out as he hopes because what he feels isn’t love and that’s something I know from experience. The best thing he can do is enjoy her presence while it lasts because things will change a whole lot when he goes into the military. His life really won’t be his and he will grow up and want different things out of life. Honestly I think they should part ways while they still can be friends and really if through the course of his life he finds his way back to her that’s cool.
It sounds like June 2010 will be a memorable one for all of us just about! I am happy that Annette got her condo and that it’s a nice one. I am thrilled to hear that Brandon is chilling out, maybe he is growing up.

I haven’t received the envelope or my package but there probably saving it for Christmas if they have arrived. I too look forward to the Christmas call, to be able to talk to the family once again. I really hope that before I get home we can get the family going to church. It would be a huge blessing for them and it would help a lot in the thing we lack as a family and that is UNITY.

We need to stop holding grudges, being prideful, hard hearted and really breaks the false traditions of our family apart, and start anew. Life is short and the things of the world will pass but the family CAN be eternal! When I get home I will be able to talk more intelligently about the gospel and what living it really can do for us. I will not lecture or force my religion on anyone but I will share with them what I have learned during these two years because I have learned so much and yet there is so much more to learn. I have learned that were here not on vacation but to be tried so that we can progress. It’s not easy to admit that we are the problem when in reality usually we are. These past 2 changes have been really tough for me and the next one seems to be equal because I will be staying here in Lima until January. Sadly it doesn’t look like I will be going back to the jungle but it is what it is, God knows why I am here even if I don’t. If you could do me a favor and send one of those chocolate oranges that they have for the holidays. The ones when you tap it on the table it breaks into slices like an orange I would really appreciate it. Please send it to: Consuelo del Rosario Garcia Quiroz, Jr. Piedraluna, 2515 3ero PisoUrb. San Carlos San Juan de Lurigancho Lima, Perú.

Thanks mom you’re the bomb! I hope you are all well, sticking in there as I am persevering till the end. I hope you remember that your heavenly father loves you and wants the best for you. If you pray, go to church, read your scriptures daily, work hard, build the business and keep the Sabbath day holy you will be blessed in every way you are in need. My testimony of the church has grown immensely and with that I have more joy and security in life and I want that for my family as well. Keep on keepin on! Love you all!

Love,

Elder Morton