It's a fresh new transfer!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

This past week has been one of the most craziest weeks on my mission. On thursday we had our transfers. I said goodbye to my companion who went home on friday. I met my new companion Elder Thomas and we are getting a long really well already! He is from Mesa Arizona and came out on his mission only 3 months before me. We also got 4 other new missionaries in my district. Elder Firmage is in the YSA branch. Elder Johnson in the 2nd ward. They replaced the sister missionaries who were in story city with elders now. Elder Burr and Elder Gillespie(who was my District leader in Sioux city for 6 weeks) is now my district leader here! I'm so excited he is in my district again, I love the guy and we are good friends.

Well, on Saturday we had our Zone Conference and Elder Dennis B. Neaunschwander of the 1st quorumn of the 70 came and taught us! He has been a 70 since 1991 and gave us some amazing ways we can improve to be better missionaries. We also got to attend the Adult Session of the Ames stake conference that night and that was a very spiritual meeting. Yesterday we got to go to the Recent Convert meeting where Elder Neaunschwander spoke and then after we had the general session of stake conference! It was in the Ames Middle School Auditorium, that was the 1st time for me having church outside of a church building it was a cool experience. President and Sister Oaks who are the Temple President and Matron of the Winter Quarters temple spoke to us as well. President Oaks is Elder Dallin H. Oaks brother! I learned so much and felt the spirit so stong as we were taught by a General Authority.
Well, I hope everyone has a fun veterans day tomorrow! My Dad just told me that 81 people are getting these emails, thats crazy! I hope to hear how everyones been.
Keep it real!
LO
VE Elder Morain

I'm staying in Ames for another 6 weeks!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

I AM STAYING IN AMES! This morning I recieved a phone call informing me that I will be staying in Ames for at least 6 more weeks! Since my companion Elder Sage is going home on friday I am getting a new companion. His name is Elder M. Thomas. I have never heard of him before so I'm so excited to meet him tomorrow. I am so happy I have the opportunity to stay in Ames! I love it here so much and the people here are awesome.
I am also extremely happy about Proposition 8 in California!!!! My dad emailed me saying that it is winning 52% to 48%!! I had the opportunity to vote Yes on Prop. 8 with my absentee ballot and I'm so happy I can help make a difference.
So things are just going crazy right now with the election results and transfers at the same time haha. I hope all of you had a fun Halloween, cuz I sure did haha. On Halloween we had dinner with a family in my ward and we had a good time. Then we and the missionaries in Ames went to Walmart and bought pumkins.We got to carve them so that was fun. Since I live right by Iowa State University you can imagine how crazy it was on Halloween night with all the college students roaming the streets.
On Sunday we had the opportunity to go to the CES Fireside with H. David Burton speaking. I thought he gave a very inspiring talk. I hope some of you got to see it. Oh, so last time I emailed you on monday october 27th, I got to go on exchanges that night and the next day with my MTC companion Elder Daniels! We had a good time and got to teach a lot of students because we were in the YSA branch's area on camus. It was a great experience as we walked through campus "OYMing" all the students. I really love sharing and teaching the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, I always have a good feeling inside as we teach them and bear our testimonies.
Well, we have got to go and get my companion ready to go home! Tomorrow is transfer day and I'm saying goodbye to my district leader Elder Blunt, Elder Nelson, and both of the sisters in our district who are all getting transfered. I'm excited for this weekend because we are having our Stake Conference and our Zone Conference/ Mission Tour with Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander so I'm excited for that!
Keep it real!
LO
VE Elder Morain

Iowa State Homecoming Football game!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

I've had a pretty crazy week! On Saturday night I had the opportunity to go to the Iowa State Homecoming Football Game! A member of my ward had extra tickets and gave us them so we could go! They played texas A&M and ISU lost by like 2 touchdowns. But it was so much fun! We sat in the student section and were standing the whole game. I was lovin it cuz college football is my favorite sport as you may know and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go!
Also on Saturday in Sioux City ashley, andrew and alex ford were all baptized and I'm so happy for them. Now Carol Betts, her daughter Sherry and her 3 kids are all baptized! I never would have thought that would happen 7 months ago as I met Carol and her kids for the first time. It really means a lot to me to see the joy of the gospel come into their lives.
Well, I hope all of you have a fun Halloween! I got to go meet up with our whole Zone cuz were having a Zone Activity! My next P-day isn't till november 5th next next wednesday cuz transfers is nov. 6th! I'm staying in Ames though cuz my companion is going home. Until then,
Keep it real!
LO
VE Elder Morain

Holler from Ames Iowa!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

I am happy today because were going to celebrate my 7 month click day which was yesterday. Isn't crazy that I reported to the MTC 7 months ago?! But I also look back and realize that so much has happened to me on my mission these past 7 months.
Last monday as you know I was in Des Moines for the day. I had a lot of fun seeing some missionaries I served with before. I went golfing in the rain which was pretty fun haha. I love Des Moines, its a great place.
On wednesday I had my interview with my mission president. He told me I would be staying in Ames for sure 1 more transfer and maybe even 2 transfers. I'm happy about that because I also love Ames! I love the college atmosphere here and I've made so many good friends here in Ames.
On thursday we had our zone conference and our zone and the fort dodge Zone combined for it. We had 6 missionaries(including my companion) give their returning home testimonies and the spirit was so strong.
On Saturday we had the opportunity to attend the baptism of an investigator of the Ames 2nd ward elders. It was a great experience seeing him make that huge step in his life. I'm so happy that the 3 grandkids of Carol who I taught in Sioux City are getting baptized this saturday! I'm so grateful I have this opportunity to be a missionary.

I hope all of you are doing good and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Keep it real!
LO
VE Elder Morain

I'm in Des Moines!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

Right now I am in Des Moines! This is my first time I've been back in Des Moines since I was in the mission home in april! My companion Elder Sage has a doctors appointment here in Des Moines so we came down for that. I'm excited to be here in Des Moines, its a big city compared to where I've been on my mission.
We've had a crazy week! Our cell phone won't charge anymore so it died and we have to get a new one today at the mission office. My companion recieved some bad news yesterday, his very good friend from home, got killed in a car accident, and he was just about to leave on his mission. It's really sad. I've come to realize how short this life really is. It really helps put things in perspective on whats important in this life.
I got to go to the doctors appointment now,
I hope you all have a good week
LO
VE Elder Morain

I got hit by a car last night!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

Last night I was walking through a cross walk and out of no where an old lady was making a left turn going about 30 mph and ran right into me and kept going, with her foot on the gas! As I was walking through the cross walk I looked to my right and saw her car coming right at me so I ran as fast as I could to get out of the way but she hit me on my right leg. My companion was ahead of me and barely got out of the way in time. It was a Miracle because I ended up walking away from it without a scratch. I just remember the front of the car hitting my leg and my ankle bending a little bit but I luckily got out of the way before the car took me under it and ran me over. My companion saw it happen and thought that I was going to die. He was more shakin up about it than I was haha. The lady ended up driving around the block to see if I was ok, and I was so she drove off. It was pretty scary, I thought I was going to die as I saw the car not stopping at all as I was running from it. So right after we called my mission president and his wife. She told my companion Elder Sage to give me a blessing. So we went home and he gave me a blessing and it comforted me a lot. He said that angels will go before me and watch over me. I feel very blessed to have been watched over last night and it truly was a miracle that I am not hurt.

Well, I had the opportunity of watching all 5 sessions of General Conference at the Stake center and I loved it so much. It was such a blessing to hear from our Prophet, Apostles, and General Authorities. On Saturday I especially liked Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk about Angels. After my experience last night, It has even more meaning for me. I also liked President Monson's talk in the sunday morning session. I felt the topic of change in our lives was exactly what I needed to hear. It was cool to see my choir director from when I was in the MTC choir, direct the MTC choir in the priesthood session! I loved the talk about missionary work by the sister in the saturday morning session.
I'm so grateful to be a missionary! I got permission to call my last companion Elder Butterfield who is still in Sioux City. He told me about how he taught Andrew, Ashley and Alex Ford, the grandchildren of Carol the lady I baptized. He told me there baptismal date is set for October 25th and I'm so happy that they are making this step to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to them.
I hope all of you had a spiritual experience with General Conference this last weekend. I will never forget this eventful General Conference weekend I've had thats for sure haha. I look forward to hearing your experiences,
until then
Keep it Real
LO
VE Elder Morain

"Wake me up when September Ends"

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

My heart is full with joy this morning! I recieved an email from my mission president this morning. In it were the list of baptismal dates all across the mission. I saw that Ashley, Andrew, and Alex Ford all had baptismal dates! They are Carol Betts grand children, the lady I baptized in Sioux City. I remember teaching Carol's grand children when they were home and I grew to love those kids. I am so happy they have decided to make this step in their lives to be baptized.
Well, on transfer day we drove Elder Budge to the transfer point and said goodbye. Then we got Elder Zufelt ready to leave when the next transfer bus came. That bus brought 3 new missionaries in our district. Sister Ranson, who flew out to Iowa with me is in Story City. Elder Blunt, my new district leader is from Antelope California and he's a convert of 3 years. Elder Carlson replaced Elder Zufelt and is from Oroville California and he's a way cool guy. Were going to have a good district this transfer so i'm excited.
Well yesterday we had our fast sunday because next sunday is general conference! We had a great elders quorumn lesson yesterday. Brother Johnson, who is deaf, taught our lesson. He had a member speak for him while he used ASL, it was a neat experience. I attended a class he is teaching at the church on ASL. I learned how to sign "my name is Elder Morain" We had a dinner appointment last night at a members home. Our investigator Heather Burg came and we shared a spiritual thought with her. She has been dating a member for over 3 years and has been coming to church that whole time. She said she will keep us posted on when she will set a baptismal date.
Well, I am very excited for General Conference this weekend! I heard that the MTC choir is singing in the priesthood session. A guy from my ward here gets to be in the choir so I'll be looking for him. I am excited to hear from our Prophet and all the General Authorities. It's my first time watching conference in the mission field, I remember last conference I watched it from the MTC. I hope all of you have a good experience with conference this weekend and I'll email ya next monday!
Keep it real!
LO
VE Elder Morain