Going back to where I came from...

Subject: Going back to where I came from...
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:56

Hey yall!

As the title entails I'm going back to the same zone that I started out in, so that will be cool. I'm not going to see the jungle again, as a missionary, but it is what it is. I knew I was going to be leaving but I was hoping I`d get one more chance at the jungle before I finish, but that`s pretty much guaranteed to not happen for whatever reason.

I hope everything is well with the family. I don`t know what to think about my change but all I can do is take it like a man and work hard. I am dissapointed but I am needed there for some reason, so I will do my very best.

Being in the mission is from another planet and as of yet do not understand really what they want from me at times. I pray that the mission will be easier for my children than it has been for me because they will be a lot more prepared for it than I was. It`s hard to believe but I have only 4 months left and I`m done.

I have changed so much and yet it seems like I have been away for only a short time. The mission truly is the hardest thing that I have ever done but it's the most significant thing I have done. I have a testimony that if we are obedient, have faith in the lord and ourselves and act upon that faith, we can do anything.

The lord has big plans for us as a family and all we have to do is live the gospel, knowing what the gospel isn`t enough. I challenge you all to do 5 things: Pray, Read the scriptures, Go to church, Dream big, and Plan for success, and you`ll have it!

Write me soon!

Love,

Elder Morton

!Todo va bien en siòn¡

Subject: All is well in zion!
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:50

!Todo va bien en siòn¡/ All is well in zion!

Hey yall!

I haven’t received the box you sent in January but one of these days I will get it, when they feel like it. I know Dad stresses when he works and if he doesn’t work its even worse but when he retires maybe he will have more time to work "the business".

Justin sounds a bit immature but he will grow up eventually. Maybe it will take a good hard hit from life upside his head as it did me but it’s inevitable. We all have to grow up sooner or later and be men.

Wow! Gregg at Max Muscle got his pro card? Good for him! That’s a great accomplishment that he has worked very hard for and I am happy for him. Don’t worry about the protein powder too much, I am patient. Tell them ALL I’m coming back with a vengeance June 30th! Glad to hear they need me at Fitness 19! I will be working at Fitness 19 and I am planning on working a second job as well as well as working the business a little bit every day because I have a dream and I know that with hard work and obedience to the lord I can accomplish anything. It also helps that I can speak Spanish fluently and I’m going to study Italian again, so the demand for my services will be much greater than before. I am happy that they still remember me and want me to come back. I guess I did SOMETHING right!

James has another girl. I pray the best for him and that he can find happiness that lasts. She is a truck driver? That seems perfect to me! I pray that he keeps reading and listening to the bible its good for the soul.

I don’t really know what I will do with all my stuff yet but I was thinking about that the other day and I think I will leave a lot of stuff here. I think I will leave my shirts and a few dress pants, one of my suits and a pair of dress shoes. I don’t know what else but I’m sure a lot more stuff as well. My suits are holding up well although the grey one is a bit big it’s in great condition and I will be coming home with it. I left my black suit with the stripes at home and it will be nice and new for me to use on my first Sunday back. My gym shoes are doing great! I will be coming home with those as well because I don’t use them very often!

I really don’t like to hear the number of how little you and Dad can get by with. I think that both of you deserve and are capable of a lot more. It’s like the story of the fleas in a can with a top. They jump and jump without success until eventually they no longer jump high enough to reach the top. You can take the top off and they will never escape because they have in their mind that the top is there. They have lowered the bar and in their mind the limit is set. We can do more I know that to be true. We can help people and more than anything we can accomplish our dreams. Dream big!

I see clearer every day that the lord wants to bless us and we are the only ones stopping us from receiving huge blessings. We limit ourselves and it’s really unnecessary. The mission really has been an eye opener for me in many ways, not only spiritually but I have learned how to get along with people that don’t like me and do it well. I have learned so many life lessons its ridiculous. The best part is that I have much more time left to learn how to become the man God intends me to be. I truly believe that I have the chance to create a new legacy for the Morton name and you all will be apart of it. Send my love and praises to all the family and friends. The San Francisco crew, Rocklin 2nd and 6th crews and all that have made it possible to get to this point in my life.

Love,

Elder Morton

Miracles can happen!

Subject: Miracles can happen!
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 14:59

Hey yall!

That’s cool about the box I’m sure I’ll get it soon. Wow! James is reading the bible....I think the world is coming to an end! LOL! I’m happy to hear that he is taking an interest in things a little bit more profound than the norm and it is good to hear things are better between you & your children, I know they mean a lot to you.

I don’t think you’ll want to be close to my children. I think they will be like I was but the good news is that they have a chance of turning out alright because at least they will have the gospel in their lives from the beginning. So I am the favorite....don’t tell the others! If my life is going to be easier it's because when you follow the commandments you receive blessings if not then there is nothing guaranteed. I too hope I get a great woman because I will need one to keep me in check! I have a lot of goals I want to accomplish so that I can leave a admirable legacy but it will require busting my butt spiritually and temporally. With that considered I will need a strong woman with high priorities and a strong testimony so that I don’t veer off on the wrong course. If Wally and Jennifer move to Utah maybe they will become Mormons like us one day! That would be funny if we all moved to Utah, who knows?! I hope you guys retire like Wade and Terri Simmons and not like Jeff.

Tell Chris to keep on studying and working hard, it will pay off in the long run. That’s a shame that Matt let James go but well he’s Italian and we know what he’s all about. I hope things work out better for you all financially but as we all know that requires working smart and having a lot of faith. You can do it because I know God had big plans for you, the trick is believing you can be more as Wade Simmons says. Vic and his girlfriend.....wow all I can say is I pray the best for them! It won’t be easy or pretty but as children of God were capable of anything. Vic and Chris are getting old, and fat! LOL! Who would have known?!

That would be cool if Alberto could be there for Justin’s pot luck. Justin may be immature but it's better to mature on your own than be forced into it like you were. It goes without saying I look forward to going home as well but I too have a lot of growing to do. I know that God has big plans for me here and I am so grateful for this opportunity to be a missionary. It has changed my life forever. I have been blessed to start a new trend in the Morton family and its a good one.

Thank you Mom for your support and the same goes for the whole family.

Love,

Elder Morton

¡Todo va bien en zión! All goes well in zión!

Subject: ¡Todo va bien en zión!
Subject: All goes well in zión!
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:31

Hey yall!

In regards to my drivers license, please keep it at home because I don’t need it here. I don’t want to lose it here.

Oh the word "Trunky" is a missionary saying when a missionary doesn’t have much time left in the mission and starts to think about home and gets lazy, and doesn’t work as hard as he should or not at all. Cool I’m sure I will get the package soon.

I’m glad that you got to spend some time with Claire. There are benefits to being old huh? LOL! I would like to see the day when money isn’t a problem. One day that dream will come true. I have heard of "Avatar" It's popular here but I haven’t watched it...of course!

Regarding Robbie Cook. I’m sure it was great for everyone to see him and hear from him in person and it sounds like he gave an awesome talk, he is a great public speaker and I've always admired him, he has always seem to know where he was going and what he wanted to do from when he was very young, that is a tribute to his parents, family, and our church. Sounds like his speech was geared to the youth to serve a mission as they tell us to do, it's up to our youth to carry on. I hope to speak to Robbie Cook when I get back if he's still there. So you think he came back a bit slimmer, he isn’t the only slim one! I’m looking like I’m a freshman in high school again!

I am really happy to hear that Annette and you had a nice talk and she is looking forward to seeing The Minguzzi’s again they are wonderful people! Annette will have a pot luck for Justin, that’s cool. However Justin's car accident isn’t so cool but we learn from these things. Regarding his going into the Army, the infantry isn’t the best but if he uses this opportunity to pay for his studies and provide a more stable future for himself and his family it’s all good. Yes the grandkids are getting older and I’m in the same boat! I graduated from High School 8 years ago....wow I am old!

I sure pray that things work out more idealistically for you guys but remember that we are blessed. It could be a lot worse! I have all plans on staying in California for some time. If not, I’m thinking Utah might be inevitable! I am flattered that you want to be wherever I am with my family. I guess I am the favorite! lol! I know you'll want to be close to your new grandchildren when they arrive. That's why I want you to take care of yourself! I really think the Morton’s and Roe’s would like Utah. You can go camping, hiking, fishing and hunting and who knows what else!

I too look forward to coming home and applying what I have learned here in Perú in my own life and that of my family. I am really excited to get back in the gym like you don’t even know! It will require 2 years solid of lifting weights before I can compete again but that doesn’t matter. It’s true that I have a lot of funny stories to tell but really I feel protected by the lord so the mission has been chill for me. I really have been blessed. Don’t worry I’m coming home soon! The time is flying by like nobody’s business. Next thing you know I’ll be in the airport with my bags.

I am really learning how to face my problems and solve them. I am learning how to love people even if they don’t love me so that I can help them. The things we learn in the mission are priceless. Our savior Jesus Christ lives and if we truly have faith in him we are capable of ANYTHING. There are no limits in the joy we can experience if we are more like him every day. Don’t be afraid to dream big, follow the commandments and you can accomplish anything.

I love you all and I pray that you are reaping the rewards of my service and prayers and most of all I hope you are showing the lord how truly grateful you are for his atonement.

Con mucho amor, With a lot of love,

Elder Morton