Farewell Waterloo

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

How has everybody been? I have found out that I am getting transferred tomorrow. I am driving down to Des Moines with my companion Elder Stock. I'll find out who my new companion is and where my area is when I get to Des Moines so I'll let ya know next week.
I just found out that an investigator that I taught while I was in Iowa City just got baptized last weekend! I'm so happy for her because when I was there she was working every sunday at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, so I'm grateful she has been able to work it out and be baptized!
We were able to teach Arielle and her sister last wednesday. Her sister had not been taught the restoration so we taught that and showed The Restoration DVD with them. The spirit was so strong and we were able to have the lesson in our ward mission leaders home. I really hope that Arielle will be able to continue to progress towards baptism.
I am going to really miss all these amazing people I have been able to serve these past 4 and a half months in Waterloo. I have grown so much here and will never forget the examples these people have set for me. I am so grateful for the tender mercy of being able to be here in Waterloo for 4 and a half months. I look forward to my next area, which could possibly be the last area I serve in on my mission. Thank you all so much for the support you have given me on my mission.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain

From Jeff's Mission

Elder Wickman Mission Tour
October 14, 2009
Back:Elder Hughes–Elder Spendlove-Elder Bennett–Elder McConnel-Elder Thomas
Elder Stock-Elder Morain–Elder Knapp-Elder Wayland-Elder Matthews–Elder Cooper
Elder Whiting–Elder Paulson-Elder Gordet–Elder Monsen–Elder Alexander-Elder Hall
Elder Jergensen–Elder Marshall
Middle:Sister Myers–Sister Hofheins–Hermana Reese–Hermana Beesley-President Hartley
Elder Wickman–President & Sister Talbot-Sister & Elder Harvey – Elder & Sister Church
Elder Medina–Elder Jackson–Elder Dudley–Elder Ware–Elder DeVries–Elder Miller
Elder Palomeque–Elder D. Nelson–Elder Morris–Elder Ferrin–Elder Perazzo

Happy early Veterans Day America!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

Hows everybody been eh? Boy, have I had quite the week. I gave you a lil sneak peak on what was goin down this week in my last email. I had a blast on my exchanges in Cedar Falls. I got to stay in Cedar falls on Tuesday night and then on Wednesday night we stayed in a members home in Waverly(the elders in Cedar Falls are covering the waverly branch as well this transfer) So that was a cool experience. On Wednesday night we taught an investigator who is getting baptized this Saturday on November 14th! He has been dating a recent convert in the Cedar Falls Ward and we got to teach him the Law of Chastity haha. It was pretty easy because he had been taught it by his girlfriend lol.
Anyways, on Saturday night I had the opportunity to attend the Adult Session of the Cedar Rapids Stake Conference. We got to hear from a member of the Temple Presidency over the Nauvoo temple. It was a powerfull meeting and I learned a lot. Then on Sunday we got to go to the General Session of Stake Conference. Our Stake Presidency here in Cedar Rapids are amazing. I was touched by their talks. My mission president spoke as well, and he talked about the same thing he trained us in our last zone conference. It was from an article in the Mormon times by Orson Scott Card and it is about the members perspective on missionary work.
Well, its that time again, and I am most likely getting transferred soon. The next time I email on wednesday november 18th I'll let ya know what I know. I am just going to enjoy the time I have left here in Waterloo while I can. I absolutley love it here in Waterloo and I will be emotional when I have to leave. Thank you to all who support me on my mission.
Keep it Real
LO
VE Elder Morain

"The Early November"

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

Hey everybody how ya been? I hope all of you had a fun Halloween. I sure had an extraordinary Halloween! My companion Elder Stock was asked to baptize an investigator he taught in Ames 1st ward, so yet again our mission president approved us to go back to Ames! It was so amazing because I got to see a lot of members that didn't come to the last baptism but did come this one. Some members couldn't believe I had been transferred from Ames for almost a year, while some members thought that I should be home by now haha. It was a sweet experience to see those friends I served side by side with for the 4 and half months I got to be in Ames. What better way to spend Halloween than where I spent it last year?
Well, I have a lot to look forward to this week, with teaching Arielle tonight to going on exchanges in Cedar Falls and then Stake Conference in Cedar Rapids this weekend. I'll be sure to let ya know how it goes. I am so grateful I have been able to be a missionary here in Iowa, I know I came here for a reason.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain

Happy Haloween America!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

How has everybody been eh? I hope all is well with everyone. I had an incredible week. On Tuesday my mission president came to my apartment to have an interview(we didn't have interviews at zone conference because Elder Wickman was there) so it was great to talk with him. He told me that I will be getting transferred next transfer, which is 1 week before thanksgiving. I am sad that I have to leave Waterloo and all the memories I've made here the past 3 transfers serving here. I love the members of our ward so much, they have helped out so much and I will forever be grateful to them. I just want to make the most of these last couple weeks here and enjoy the people here while I can serve them.
On thursday I got to go to Cedar Rapids on exchanges with my Zone Leader! I stayed the night in Cedar Rapids with the the Bishop of their ward. It was really fun to see the big city again(its the 2nd biggest city in our mission) Its kinda sad to my perspective of a big city now being in Iowa for 19 months haha.
Yesterday we had the most amazing day at church. A member here just got home from his mission in the Nevada, Las Vegas West Mission. He gave his homecoming talk in Sacrament meeting and it was so powerful. As he was speaking it hit me that I will be giving my homecoming talk sooner than I have been thinking. He gave me inspiration to reallly enjoy these last months of my mission, because I could see that he truly missed being a missionary. He shared a story of when Elder L. Tom Perry came to his mission and he got to talk with him one on one. He told Elder Perry that he was from Waterloo Iowa, and to his suprise Elder Perry told him that he had served as a full time missionary in Waterloo! This truly is a special place and I know that I came here for a reason. I love you all and I hope to hear from you soon and hear how life has been for you.
Keep it Real
LO
VE Elder Morain

Elder Lance B. Wickman comes to Iowa City!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

How has everybody been? Boy, have I got a lot to tell you! As I mentioned last week, On Wednesday we had our Mission Tour Zone Conference in Iowa City! It was the chance of a lifetime for me. We were honored to be taught by Elder Lance B. Wickman of the Quorumn of the 70. He is an amazing man with a powerful spirit. He spoke to us about being on a mission and how much the experiences we are having will help us throughout eternity. I felt that his message was specifically tailored to me and my needs at that very time in my mission and life. He truly was inspired on what he spoke about with us and I felt the spirit so strong.
Since our zone conference was held in Iowa City I had the opportunity to see one of my favorite families that I've met on my mission. Some of you may remember me talking about them almost every week I was in Iowa City. I got to see Beverly and Katie Kovenock! It was so good to see them again. Katie is having her 11th surgery on her foot this christmas break. The doctors forgot to take out the staples so it will require her to go through another surgery. I told her that she had been a hero to me, as I've seen her deal with so much pain, and yet maintained an optimistic perspective on life. I found out that the Father Dan is friendly with the missionaries and wants to know more as well. I challenged the family to be baptized and I know they will be someday. I am so grateful for the opportunity I've had to meet these amazing people on my mission. As I hit my 19 month mark today, it hits me that this time is so short. I want to make the most of the time I have with the people around me while I still am around them, because you never know when you will see them again.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain

Happy Columbus Day America!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,

How has everybody been? I hope you've been doin good. I have been better than ever these past couple days. On Thursday I got my new companion, Elder Stock and he is awesome! He is from Bountiful Utah. He is 23 years old and a stud. We are best friends already haha. He actually just came from serving in the Ames 1st ward(which is where I served remember?) Well, Elder Stock and I had the opportunity to go to Ames on Saturday for a Baptism!!!!!!! Our mission president approved it because Elder Stock taught the lady getting baptized. It was my first time going back to an area that I have served in on my mission! It was like a dream come true for me. Brother Excell a member from Ames and our Bishop from Ames came to Waterloo and picked us up for the Baptism. I got to see so many amazing members that I hadn't seen for 11 months since I left Ames in December! I loved it so much. Being back in Ames was like going to Disneyland haha. We got to eat lunch at Hickory Park which is a well known restraunt, with some of the members I was good friends with. Then Curtis and Talia Jackson, members from Ames that I love, drove us back to Waterloo. It was definetley one of the best days of my mission.
This Wednesday I am going to Iowa City for our Mission Tour with Elder Lance B. Wickman of the 1st quorumn of the 70! I am so excited for this opportunity to be taught by him in my mission. I will make sure to let ya know all about it next monday.
Keep it Real
LO
VE Elder Morain

Round 3 in Waterloo!

Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,


Hows everybody been? I am happy as can be! This morning I got the call informing me I will be staying in Waterloo for 6 more weeks! I am so grateful I get to stay here. I will be picking up my new companion tomorrow since my companion now is going home on friday. I am excited for next transfer and all the adventures it will bring.
I hope you all enjoyed General Conference as much as I did. It hit home to me in a way that General Conference has never done before. I loved it so much. I have never seen a talk like Elder Hollands talk...absolutley amazing. O ya, on wednesday october 14th Elder Lance B. Wickman is coming to do our mission tour! So I get to go down to Iowa City and I am so excited! I love the General Authorities of the church so much. I learned so much from them and felt the spirit so strong as I listened to them in General Conference. I love this church so much. I am so excited to be a missionary here and I am so grateful I get to continue to labor with the amazing people here in Waterloo. Thank you to all who pray for me and my investigators. Your love and support to me in my mission helps me so much.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain

From Jeff's Mission

CEDAR RAPIDS ZONE – September 8, 2009 Back: Elder McConnel-Elder Kimball-Elder Wray-Elder Wayland-Elder B. Jackson Elder Whiting-Elder Saunders–Elder Matthews–Elder Morain–Elder Spendlove Middle: Elder Thomas- Elder Bennett-Elder & Sister Harvey Sister & President Talbot-Sister Hofheins-Sister Jardine Elder Fellows-Elder Alexander Front: Elder DeVries-Elder Dudley-Elder Van Wagoner-Elder Furgason

From Jeff's Mission