Hermana Thetford and the Last Week in the CCM!

It's Morgan's last week in the CCM! I was talking with my Dad, saying how crazy it is that Morgan is flying to Salt Lake on Monday where she will spend the rest of her mission. I can't believe six weeks has already gone by! In some ways, it feels like Morgan has already been gone so long. I miss her like crazy! And I also can't believe that she has already been gone for six weeks!

One thing that surprised me from Morgan's last email is that she sang in front of people! Lots of people! Without her life being threatened or extreme bribery involved. She loves to sing with her Hermana Jordan and harmonize, but then Hermana Jordan told the elders in their district that Morgan can sing. Anyways, one thing led to another, and Morgan agreed to sing for the district devotional! It's awesome to see how Morgan is learning and growing, and becoming more comfortable with sharing her talents.

So, funny story. Morgan and the hermanas in her casa wanted to take their mattresses on the roof and sleep under the stars. But they couldn't figure out how to get up there. They even tried climbing on top of the garbage can and climbing on each others' shoulders. They gave up on the roof, and decided to all sleep in the living room and have a giant slumber party. Really, Morgan? On the roof? This cracks me up.

At the end of her email, Morgan shared a poem with us in her last email that she absolutely loves, and she relates it to putting our trust in the Lord.

Come to the edge,

No we'll fall!

Come to the edge,

No we'll fall!

Come to the edge,

So we went

and He pushed us,

And we FLEW!

Morgan is so excited to go to Salt Lake, but is so sad to leave all of the friends she has made in the CCM. She has become so close with them, that they feel like family. But, Morgan has great faith. And I know that she trusts our Heavenly Father in His decision for her to serve in Salt Lake. I know that she knows that it is where she needs to be, and there are people there that she needs to serve!

Who's looking forward to her first email from the field?! I am!

Hermana Thetford and the Carbon Monoxide Detector

In each room at the CCM, there is a carbon monoxide detector. The one in Morgan and Hermana Jordan's room went off for the seventh time a few days ago at 12:00am. So they called reception, who sent some workers out to check on it. They did the usual, looked at the detector and opened the windows. As they were leaving, they told the girls, "Let us know as soon as you start to smell it." Morgan and Hermana Jordan became a little panicked because as much as they wanted to tell the workers, "But you can't smell carbon monoxide!" they couldn't because they didn't know how to say that in Spanish. Unable to do anything more about it, they just went to bed, a little unsettled.

The next day Morgan and Hermana Jordan went to the second counselor in the CCM Presidency because he speaks English, making it easier for them to voice their concerns. When they explained what was going on, the counselor became concerned and went home to get his brand new carbon monoxide detector. He gave it to Morgan and Hermana Jordan to put in their room that night and also told them to put a towel under the door that leads to the laundry room.

Last night, the alarm went off again. All 19 girls were up and mad. As they were getting out of bed, they heard girls coming out of their rooms and saying, "Oh my gosh, I can smell it!" The four girls in Morgan's room were confused, because you can't smell carbon monoxide. But when they stepped outside they instantly were overwhelmed with the very strong scent of gas. Everyone went outside to wait for help while Morgan and Hermana Jordan went to look at the detector. It had Spanish writing on it, but after a few minutes, they were able to figure out that the detector isn't only for carbon monoxide, it's also for explosive gas! They were relieved to figure out that it was beeping because of carbon monoxide, meaning they all weren't slowly being poisoned. But they were frustrated because if it wasn't carbon monoxide, then they had a gas leak.

Because of the leak, they have to shut off their gas and hot water when they leave in the morning after everyone has showered. Morgan is the earliest one up in the casa, so she has to go turn it on. Meaning that she has to have a cold shower every morning! She's way tougher than I am. She said that every morning, during her shower, she thinks, "I can do hard things! I can do hard things!"

Morgan is loving her time at the CCM. She is especially loving all of the devotionals that she gets to hear. One of the ones that stuck out to her this week was on consecrating yourself to the Lord. In the devotional they explained that consecration means to fully devote yourself. And she has given us a challenge! Hermana Thetford wants us to think of ways in which we can more fully consecrate ourselves to the Lord. What can we give to the Lord today? What are some small and simple things that you can do to put Him first in your life? Even if it's something as simple as giving Him time from your day so that you can sit down and read the scriptures, it is giving something meaningful to the Lord, and you will be blessed for it.

Here's Morgan's ending from her email. I loved it so much that I didn't want to rephrase a single thing:

"I love you all so much, and I love being a missionary! I love having every aspect of my life centered around Christ and His gospel! I know that this church is true! I can't wait to leave for Salt Lake in 13 days! I can't wait to serve the people there and help them come unto Christ! I love this gospel!"

Hermana Thetford and the Day of Love and Friendship

Morgan has now spent three weeks in the CCM, and only has 19 days left before she goes to Salt Lake City! I'm so excited for her to get to Salt Lake, because that is when she will get to truly share her beautiful testimony and change the lives of everyone who meets her. But, she is absolutely loving everything about the CCM. It sounds like she is having the time of her life! She's learning new things and growing to love the Spanish language more and more each day. Morgan is so, so grateful to her wonderful high school Spanish teacher, Senora Williams, who first taught her and helped her love the language! Without the three years of Spanish she took with Senora Williams in high school, Morgan would not be able to speak as well as she can. Being in the CCM has made her even more grateful for Senora!

She's also noticing some interesting things about Mexico City. One thing she has noticed is that the city itself is a bowl, completely surrounded by mountains. She says that because of that, the city floods easily so they set off fireworks when a lot of rain is in the forecast to help break up the clouds. She's not too sure if that's true or not, but when it's cloudy they hear fireworks all day and all night.

Another thing she has noticed about Mexico City is the way people drive. When they ride the bus anywhere, they get to see what it's like to drive on the streets. Morgan said that she would be way too nervous to drive in the city!

Morgan had a wonderful Valentine's Day! In Mexico, the holiday is called the Day of Love and Friendship. In America, we celebrate February 14th as more of a romantic holiday, and in Mexico it's more about your loved ones and dear friends. That morning she found that her bed had been made, and there was a heart shaped box of chocolate on her bed with a note from Hermana Jordan. She sounds like such a sweet and wonderful girl! We are all so glad that Morgan has such a wonderful companion. When they went to class, their teacher, Hermano Borgel, had bought each companionship a mug with candy in it. And then the girls from the room next to Morgan gave them a sucker valentine. She got plenty of candy!

During their afternoon class, the teacher walked in and pointed to the mug on Morgan's desk and said, "Oh, Hermana, who is that from?" (Morgan said he has a "sassy little voice" and sometimes they call him Sassy Sanchez.) Morgan responded, "Oh, it's from Hermano Borgel!" However, everyone else had already put their mugs away, so to Sassy Sanchez it looked as though Hermano Borgel had given a valentine to just Morgan. Everybody had a good laugh about it, and now the elders like to call her "Hermana Borgel" or "Morgan Borgel".

Morgan got to visit the Mexico City temple and said it was absolutely beautiful. She took some pictures, but I guess we'll get those in another email.

I am absolutely loving these emails from Morgan! It seems surreal that she is on her mission. It's something she has been talking about for so long, and looking forward to for SO long, and now it's happening! It sounds like she is enjoying every single second, and I wouldn't have it any other way for her.

Pictures!

Hermana Thetford's first night at the CCM! (From left to right: Hermana Clawson from Hawaii, Hermana Hall from Utah, Hermana Jordan from Utah, and Morgan) 

The end of Morgan's second day. Hermana Clawson brought leis from Hawaii.

First P-Day! They live in casa 13 with 19 other hermanas.

Morgan's district. One of the elders decided to stand right in front of her, so all we can see of Morgan is one of her legs, haha.

Morgan's district!

Morgan and Hermana Jordan call this the pineapple tree.

Hermana Thetford and Hermana Jordan

The beautiful campus. Morgan's view each day as she walks to class.

Hermana Jordan decided to do some planking in their room. Morgan loves how much she and her companera are alike!

Hermana Thetford and the Investigator

Morgan has been in the CCM for two weeks! It seems crazy to me that she's already been gone for that long. We miss her around here!

So, you know how I mentioned in the last post that Hermana Thetford and Hermana Jordan had met with an investigator a few times already? Well, we heard more about their investigator this week in Morgan's email.

Hermana Thetford and Hermana Jordan found out (before they were supposed to) that their investigator was really a teacher there at the CCM. Knowing this, they figured that he (Hermano Sanchez) didn't speak much English, and continued to teach their discussions with intermittent whispering to each other as they decided what to say or do next. But when they had him as a teacher, they found out that Hermano Sanchez served his mission in the United States and spoke English fluently! They were embarrassed because they realized that Hermano Sanchez could understand everything they were whispering, and probably laughed at them afterward! I doubt that he laughed at them and the things that Hermana Jordan and Hermana Thetford were saying to each other. But I have no doubt that he enjoyed understanding what they were saying when they didn't think he could!

Morgan got to play the piano in sacrament meeting this last Sunday, and she really enjoyed being able to use her talents while in Mexico. Her branch president asks each missionary to write a five-minute talk on a topic, and in the meeting each week he calls on random people to get up and share their talk. Morgan didn't get called on last week, but she heard that every person gets called on at least once to speak! It'll be fun to hear how it goes when Morgan gets asked to speak.

Our little hermana only has 26 days left in the CCM! Time has been going by for her in a weird way while she's there. The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. She is still loving every minute!

We love you Hermana Thetford!

Hermana Thetford and the First Few Days in Mexico!

Well, our beautiful little hermana made it to Mexico! When she got to the Salt Lake City airport, she and the three other missionaries that were on her flight from Seattle found their gate and knew instantly that they were where they were supposed to be because they saw a group of about 40 other teenagers all dressed in Sunday best! Apparently, the MTC in Mexico is called the CCM, and she says it is absolutely amazing! Palm trees everywhere, beautiful blue skies, and a spirit so strong that she walks around surrounded by love from everyone she meets. The whole group of around 45 missionaries were all headed to the CCM, so they got to talk and get to know each other really well on the plane. When they landed in Mexico, they were confused as to where they needed to go or what to do until a worker from the MTC led them to a bus that took them where they needed to go.

Her companion, or compañera, is Hermana Jordan, and Morgan loves her! She and Hermana Jordan get along really well and are helping each other to become the best missionaries they can be.

Hermana Jordan and Hermana Thetford

Morgan's first few days at the MTC were full of meeting people and getting to know the place, but starting last Friday they had classes. She and Hermana Jordan got to teach their first investigator in Spanish! They have met with him three times, and Morgan is feeling more and more confident with speaking Spanish each day. She's so grateful for the Spirit and for it's help and guidance in understanding a new language.

Morgan is also filled with immense gratitude to Maribel Brady who gave Morgan Spanish lessons to help her learn the religious lingo that her high school Spanish classes didn't cover. Morgan says that every time she bears her testimony or prays in Spanish, people are amazed at how much she already knows! A big shout out to Maribel!

I still can't believe my little sister is a missionary! How cool is that?! She is loving every single minute of her time in Mexico at the MTC. I am so proud of her and so incredibly excited for all of the wonderful things she will do!

Hermana Thetford and the Departure

Morgan got set apart last night! She invited some family members and close friends to be in attendance. Since two of our older sisters, Abbie and Devin, and their families live in Utah, Courtney and I each had an iPad and had one family each on a facetime call so that they could hear what was said and be there with us in the best way they could.

Everything that was said, from Morgan's testimony to the words of counsel offered by our Stake President, was so wonderful. The spirit was there with us so strong, and everyone in that room has played, and I'm sure will continue to play, such an important role in Morgan's life. We were all filled with so much love for Morgan!

We had a few family pictures taken afterward, and then Morgan took some time to Skype with Abbie and Devin and tell them goodbye. For the rest of the evening, we all just spent time together. We had some dessert, Morgan started working on getting the last little things put together because she left this morning at 3:00am! Her flight leaves at 6:00am, so in order to be there by 4:00am, she had to leave at 3:00am. Me, Derek, Courtney, and Jay got up to have one last family prayer together and say goodbye to her. I'm sure that if I hadn't been in such a zombie-tired state, I would have cried much more than I did.

Derek, Me, Dad, Morgan, Mom, Courtney, Jay

Skyping with Abbie and her husband, Adam.

At the airport

Isn't she so beautiful?

There is nothing that any of us would wish more for Morgan than for her to have the best time of her life while she is out serving the Lord. We love you Morgan!

P.S. We got an email from Hermana Thetford tonight saying that she made it to the MTC and is loving every minute! More details to come.