Happy 4th of July!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

Heyo! Hows everybody been? I have been better than ever. I know all of you are wanting to hear about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Performance so all I'll get right into it. It was incredible! It was a miracle in itself that we found a ride, got tickets, and Beverly our neighbor was able to go. So we get to the Wells Fargo Arena and they upgrade our tickets to seats way down low! So we had an amazing view pretty close up. I got to see members from all of my areas there! It was unlike anything I have experienced on my mission. Everywhere I went I would run into some member from Sioux City or Ames or Lenox. It was so good to see my friends that I grew to love as I served in their wards and branch. The concert was amazing! They sang so many different genres of music. Alex Boye sang 2 solos from songs off Motab's new album Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing(they sang that song it was my favorite!). He is so awesome, he is one of the 2 black guys in the choir. He has his own solo project cds that I got from missionaries out here. They sang Come Come Ye Saints and Battle Hymn of the Republic and then had an encore with This land is my land and ended it with God Be With You Till We Meet Again. The spirit was so strong in that arena I will never forget those feelings I felt. Beverly our investigator loved it! She was so grateful that we brought her. Hayden Mayfields mom and boyfriend Rueben also got to go and they loved it. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to go, it was truly unforgettable.
I got to go on exchanges on wednesday with Elder Biehann who is a greenie straight from the MTC! He was kept in the MTC for 2 extra weeks due to the swine flu. We had a fun exchange. On Tuesdsay night we went to Haydens and found him sick with Foot Mouth disease. We gave him a blessing. He got sick the day after he was confirmed! But he did say that he felt better after we gave him the blessing. I can testify that priesthood blessings can truly work miracles. This church is true. I love being a full time missionary. Thank you so much to all of you who support me on my mission.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain

From Jeff's Mission

IOWA CITY ZONE – JUNE 18, 2009
Back Row: Elder Larsen – Elder Webster – Elder Clark 
Elder Trotter – Elder J. Jackson – Elder Whiting
Elder A. Jennings – Elder Tapp – Elder Lanier
Elder Morris – Elder Jergensen – Elder Morain
Elder McDonell – Elder Biehahn
Middle Row: Elder Folkman – Elder Riley
Brother & Sister Nielsen – Sister & President Talbot
Brother Brown – Elder Alexander – Elder C. Bird
Front Row: Elder Ferrin - Elder Roberts – Elder O’Driscoll
Elder Finn

From Jeff's Mission

I'm going to see MoTab in Concert tonight!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

How has everybody been? I have been amazing. I have witnessed an answer to all of your prayers this week. I had the opportunity of performing the baptism of Hayden Mayfield on Saturday. Thank you so much for the prayers you offered I can testify that I felt the hand of the Lord help make this miracle happen. Hayden brought a lot of his family to the baptism and they all said they are so proud of him. I hope that this will motivate the family to come back to full activity in the church. Hayden was confirmed yesterday and it was a great sight to see. Moments like this make all the sacrifices of mission life worth it for me. Hayden is 13 and has his whole life ahead of him to be a strong active member of the church. You can count how many seeds are in an apple, but you can't count how many apples are in a seed.
We had zone conference on thursday and I had a great interview with my mission president. He told me that I am getting transferred at the end of this transfer. I am really bummed about that because I love Iowa City so much. But I will go where the Lord wants me to go.
Tonight I have the opportunity of going to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra Concert in Des Moines! It will be held in the Wells Fargo Arena. We are bringing Beverly our neighbor and we are all very excited for it! It will be a very special experience to be there and see them in real life. I will make sure to tell you all about it next monday.
Thank you so much for your prayers and the support you give me on my mission. I love you all so much. I am so grateful to be a missionary here in the Iowa Des Moines Mission.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain

Happy early Fathers day!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

How has everybody been? I hope you have all been spectacular. I have a lot of very exciting things coming up this next week. I might have the opportunity of going to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Performance on June 22nd in Des Moines! I find out tomorrow if our investigator Beverly(our neighbor) can come with us or not. She is taking her daughter Katie to see the doctor to schedule the surgery on her foot. So next time I email ya, I could be going to see MoTab that night! So we'll see what happens...
This saturday we are hopefully having the baptism for Hayden Mayfield. We have a lot of things that need to come together for that to happen. It will be an absolute miracle to see him enter into the waters of baptism and make that covenant that will change the rest of his for life for eternity. Please pray that he will be ready for this commitment on Saturday.
This friday I hit my 15 month mark. My mission is going way to fast! I hope that I can enjoy these last 9 months I have left to be a full time missionary. I am so thankful for these once in a lifetime experiences that I am having by serving the Lord.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain

Do you Believe in Miracles?

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

Hows everybody been? I've been spectacular. Transfers were pretty crazy cuz we drove everyone around to get where they need to be. We now are driving a Mini Van! It is a 2009 Dodge Ram! I feel like a soccer mom every time we drive in it haha.
On Saturday we got to go to the Stake Handcart Celebration! It was the 173rd anniversary of when the pioneers  started the handcart trek from Iowa City to Salt Lake City! 3 years ago President Hinckley came to it as I told ya before. So it was cool to be here for it.
We had a great day at church yesterday. Our investigator Hayden Mayfield and his Mom came to all 3 hours of church!  Its exciting to see Sister Mayfield come back to church and support her son in his decision to be baptized.
Beverly and Katie our neighbors invited us over on Thursday and the mom just found out that her Breast cancer is not cancerous and she is going to be ok! I am so thankful because the size of the tumor would have been fatal if it was cancerous. Do you believe in Miracles? I sure do. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a full time missionary here in Iowa City. I just can't say it enough...
Thanks for all the support you show me and I hope to hear how life is treatin all ya'll.
keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain

I get to stay in Iowa City for 6 more weeks!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

This morning I received the best news ever...I get to stay in Iowa City for 6 more weeks! I am staying with my companion Elder Larsen as well. I am so excited to stay here and continue to serve these people I love so much!
So, I had an amazing past 8 days. We had the opportunity to teach our investigator Marie and we set a baptismal date with her for June 27th! Remember we also have a baptismal date with our investigator Kim for June 20th. When I was thinking it couldn't get any better than this, we set a baptismal date with our investigator Hayden Mayfield for June 20th! Hayden is the 13 year old who's mom is working towards reactivation. I am so excited for all 3 of these amazing people make the commitment to be baptized. They are truly miracles. I hope that they can stay strong and continue to strive towards being ready for their baptismal dates.
Last night I visited a less active family from the University ward. I've been working with them since I got here and they have came back to church many times and are on the path back to full activity in the church. They thanked me for coming to their home and helping them come back to church, after not coming for over a year. It felt so good to hear them say that and I am so happy to have been a part of their lives. I am so thankful for this opportunity I have to stay here in Iowa City for another 6 weeks. The more I spend time serving here, the more I realize why I was sent to the Iowa Des Moines Mission. It truly was inspired by God. Thank you for supporting me on my mission. I look forward to hearing from you and how life is treatin ya.
Until next monday, (June 8th)
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain