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!"