Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,
Hows everybody been? I had a very happy 21st birthday on Saturday, thanks to those who remembered me and making my birthday a happy one. I had a happy week as well! On Tuesday we had our Zone Conference. It was so good to be taught by our mission leaders, I felt the spirit really strong. On Wednesday I had my interview with my mission president. This one was special because I got my new temple recommend. Mine is expiring and since I am going to Nauvoo on February 2nd(ground hog day!) with the missionaries I was in the MTC with I got a new one. That will be a great experience I am looking forward to.
I received some tragic news on Thursday morning. Sister Harvey, who is a senior missionary in my district, has Cancer throughout her whole body. She just started some radiation treatments so we'll see how that goes. She is a sweet lady and I respect her so much. We worked on her house that got flooded out and its coming along but probably will not be done in time for us to move in. So we most likely will be moving in with another member, I don't know any details yet but I'll keep ya posted.
On Sunday we had a returning missionary give his homecoming talk. It hit me hard on how soon I will be giving mine. This Tuesday I hit 22 months out, I can't believe how time has flown.
Last night we visited our investigators Morgan and her mom Kris. They seemed really interested in what we said about The Restoration of our church. Morgan texted us when we got home,and she said, "I want to be baptized into the Mormon religion." I've never got a text like that before! I hope we can continue to prepare her for baptism, I am so excited for her. I love being a missionary and be a part of the miracles the Lord performs.
Keep it Real
LO
VE Elder Morain
Monday, January 18, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
My 21st Birthday has arrived America!
Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,
Hows everybody been? I have been livin the dream here in Cedar Rapids! I am approaching a milestone in my life this Saturday January 16th, my 21st BIRTHDAY! What better place to be on my 21st Birthday than in Cedar Rapids serving the sweet people here. I can't believe I'll be 21 years old already because being 20 went by like nobodys business.
Well, yesterday I found out some crazy news. The member family that I am living with told us that we need to be moved out by the end of January! It was pretty unexpected, but there son is moving back in with them so he needs the room were staying in. So we don't know where we will be living but we have a few options. There is a senior missionary couple here in Cedar Rapids who are serving from their home. They have like 4 houses here in Cedar Rapids and some were damaged by the Flood of 2008. The missionaries here have been helping them fix up one of their houses and the senior couple will allow 4 missionaries to live in it when its finished. I went over there on tuesday and helped out on the house and it is really close to being done. So one of the options is we might get to live there, but its up to our mission president. The other options are we find an apartment to live in, or another member who is able to have us live in their home. So I'll let ya know more when I find out.
Wednesday was a day I thought would never come for me. I got a phone call who some missionaries call their, "Trunky Call" It is when the mission secretary calls and asks if you will be flying home or being picked up by your parents. So I told her I will be flying into the San Jose International Airport. I have served with many missionaries at the time they recieved their "Trunky Call" and I always told myself that day is far off in my future. Man how time flies on the mission.
Well, I hope all of you have a specatular week and I would love to hear from ya sometime. I'll let ya know how my Birthday goes next time. Thanks for everything you do for me out here in my mission.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
[From Jeff's Dad: Jeff is looking for a (male) roommate to join him at BYU-Idaho for Spring semester 2010. Reply to gmorain@gmail.com if you are interested.]
Hows everybody been? I have been livin the dream here in Cedar Rapids! I am approaching a milestone in my life this Saturday January 16th, my 21st BIRTHDAY! What better place to be on my 21st Birthday than in Cedar Rapids serving the sweet people here. I can't believe I'll be 21 years old already because being 20 went by like nobodys business.
Well, yesterday I found out some crazy news. The member family that I am living with told us that we need to be moved out by the end of January! It was pretty unexpected, but there son is moving back in with them so he needs the room were staying in. So we don't know where we will be living but we have a few options. There is a senior missionary couple here in Cedar Rapids who are serving from their home. They have like 4 houses here in Cedar Rapids and some were damaged by the Flood of 2008. The missionaries here have been helping them fix up one of their houses and the senior couple will allow 4 missionaries to live in it when its finished. I went over there on tuesday and helped out on the house and it is really close to being done. So one of the options is we might get to live there, but its up to our mission president. The other options are we find an apartment to live in, or another member who is able to have us live in their home. So I'll let ya know more when I find out.
Wednesday was a day I thought would never come for me. I got a phone call who some missionaries call their, "Trunky Call" It is when the mission secretary calls and asks if you will be flying home or being picked up by your parents. So I told her I will be flying into the San Jose International Airport. I have served with many missionaries at the time they recieved their "Trunky Call" and I always told myself that day is far off in my future. Man how time flies on the mission.
Well, I hope all of you have a specatular week and I would love to hear from ya sometime. I'll let ya know how my Birthday goes next time. Thanks for everything you do for me out here in my mission.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
[From Jeff's Dad: Jeff is looking for a (male) roommate to join him at BYU-Idaho for Spring semester 2010. Reply to gmorain@gmail.com if you are interested.]
Monday, January 4, 2010
Holler from Cedar Rapids Iowa!
Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, I am pleased to announce that my wildest dreams have come true. I am now serving in the Cedar Rapids 1st Ward! My entire mission I have heard good things about Cedar Rapids 1st ward and now I am livin the dream! Cedar Rapids is the 2nd biggest city in the state of Iowa(2nd to Des Moines). Its population is about 130,000 people! Some of you may remember from the news that Cedar Rapids got the worst of the Flood in the summer of 2008. I heard it was the 2nd worst natural disaster in the nation,(2nd to Katrina) You can still see flood damage around downtown.
Anyways, my companion is Elder Paulson!!! He is such a stud. He is from Saratoga Springs Utah! He just got done being trained so some call me his "greenie buster' haha. I am so excited to serve with him here in Cedar Rapids!
We live in a members home, and this is the first time I have lived in a members home on my mission. The family is the Gillmores and we live in a pretty small bedroom. I got the top bunk of our bunk bed haha. It will be a good experience for me. I will be driving a 2007 chevy Malibu, the same car I drove when I was being trained. We only get it every other week though so we walk every other week. But I am just so excited to be here in Cedar Rapids!
On New Years Day we did service at St. Lukes Hospital! We get to help out there every week. On my mission I have developed a love for hospitals haha. I just love being in them lol.
Well, I got here at the perfect time because on Saturday we had a baptism! Another 9 year old girl got baptized! Her name is Becky Davis, and her brother is serving a mission in the California, Sacramento Mission. So look for an Elder Davis out there k? Her whole family was recently re-activated. Her brother on a mission, decided to change his life around and started coming back to church. Then his dad started coming back and got to baptize his daughter. His wife is not yet a member but we are teaching her.
I have been so blessed on my mission to witness some amazing miracles in peoples lives.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, I am pleased to announce that my wildest dreams have come true. I am now serving in the Cedar Rapids 1st Ward! My entire mission I have heard good things about Cedar Rapids 1st ward and now I am livin the dream! Cedar Rapids is the 2nd biggest city in the state of Iowa(2nd to Des Moines). Its population is about 130,000 people! Some of you may remember from the news that Cedar Rapids got the worst of the Flood in the summer of 2008. I heard it was the 2nd worst natural disaster in the nation,(2nd to Katrina) You can still see flood damage around downtown.
Anyways, my companion is Elder Paulson!!! He is such a stud. He is from Saratoga Springs Utah! He just got done being trained so some call me his "greenie buster' haha. I am so excited to serve with him here in Cedar Rapids!
We live in a members home, and this is the first time I have lived in a members home on my mission. The family is the Gillmores and we live in a pretty small bedroom. I got the top bunk of our bunk bed haha. It will be a good experience for me. I will be driving a 2007 chevy Malibu, the same car I drove when I was being trained. We only get it every other week though so we walk every other week. But I am just so excited to be here in Cedar Rapids!
On New Years Day we did service at St. Lukes Hospital! We get to help out there every week. On my mission I have developed a love for hospitals haha. I just love being in them lol.
Well, I got here at the perfect time because on Saturday we had a baptism! Another 9 year old girl got baptized! Her name is Becky Davis, and her brother is serving a mission in the California, Sacramento Mission. So look for an Elder Davis out there k? Her whole family was recently re-activated. Her brother on a mission, decided to change his life around and started coming back to church. Then his dad started coming back and got to baptize his daughter. His wife is not yet a member but we are teaching her.
I have been so blessed on my mission to witness some amazing miracles in peoples lives.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Farewell Sioux City
Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,
Wow! I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! I have been so blessed this past week and a half. But first off I need to tell you that I am being transferred tomorrow morning. I am really sad I have to leave Sioux City, where I have spent 6 months of my mission here.
I had an amazing Christmas! I got to talk to my family and it was great to hear from them.
Last night I was able to be a part of a miracle. I had the opportunity of Baptizing Joylynn Davidson, a 9 year old native american girl who we have been teaching. Her sister Lydia also was baptized. It was truly a tender mercy of the Lord. I am so happy for them and the beautiful spirit they have about them. Being a part of their Baptism has made everything worth to me. I am sad I have to leave my friends of Sioux City, but I know that I came back here for a reason. I'll go where the Lord wants me to go as the hymn declares. I am grateful to be a missionary and I will make the most of these last 3 months I have to hold this sacred calling.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
Wow! I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! I have been so blessed this past week and a half. But first off I need to tell you that I am being transferred tomorrow morning. I am really sad I have to leave Sioux City, where I have spent 6 months of my mission here.
I had an amazing Christmas! I got to talk to my family and it was great to hear from them.
Last night I was able to be a part of a miracle. I had the opportunity of Baptizing Joylynn Davidson, a 9 year old native american girl who we have been teaching. Her sister Lydia also was baptized. It was truly a tender mercy of the Lord. I am so happy for them and the beautiful spirit they have about them. Being a part of their Baptism has made everything worth to me. I am sad I have to leave my friends of Sioux City, but I know that I came back here for a reason. I'll go where the Lord wants me to go as the hymn declares. I am grateful to be a missionary and I will make the most of these last 3 months I have to hold this sacred calling.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
 |
| From Jeff's Mission Photos, Part 2 |
SIOUX CITY ZONE – December 3, 2009 Back: Elder Mackay – Elder Morain – Elder Bringham – Elder Jennings Elder Truman – Elder Richards – Elder Perazzo – Elder McConnel – Elder Gates Elder Diamond – Elder Gibson – Elder Wray – Elder Vidrine Front: Elder Thomas – Elder C. Jones – Sister Shields – Sister Evans Hermana Murphy – Hermana Madsen – President & Sister Talbot Sister & Elder Phillips – Elder Blanchard – Elder Phillips |
HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS |
Monday, December 21, 2009
Merry Christmas America!
Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope all of you are having a jolly Christmas. I had quite the week! For the first time in my life, I had the opportunity to Confirm the Holy Ghost. This family lives in our ward boundaries but was taught by the spanish speaking sisters. On Tuesday they had a wedding for the parents and immediatley following their wedding they got baptized, along with their daughter Breanna. So on Sunday in Sacrament meeting I was asked to confirm Breanna. I was pretty nervous when I was asked to perform this ordinance. But I said a prayer asking my Heavenly Father to help me communicate what he would say to Breanna. As I was confirming her, a miracle happened, and I said words I never would have said to her, and I knew it was the spirit speaking through me. I am so thankful for this opportunity of being a full time missionary. I have grown so much because I am doing things I never would have had the opportunity of doing, if hadn't been for me being on a mission.
I am so happy at this Christmas time. I feel the Christmas spirit as I give of my time to my Savior, who is the reason we celebrate Christmas. I testify that He Lives and is there for each and everyone of us. I know this because he has been there for me when I pray to him, when no one else has been there for me, he has always been there. He has gotten me through the hardest times of my life and I have come to know him better as I've reached out to him during my trials.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope all of you are having a jolly Christmas. I had quite the week! For the first time in my life, I had the opportunity to Confirm the Holy Ghost. This family lives in our ward boundaries but was taught by the spanish speaking sisters. On Tuesday they had a wedding for the parents and immediatley following their wedding they got baptized, along with their daughter Breanna. So on Sunday in Sacrament meeting I was asked to confirm Breanna. I was pretty nervous when I was asked to perform this ordinance. But I said a prayer asking my Heavenly Father to help me communicate what he would say to Breanna. As I was confirming her, a miracle happened, and I said words I never would have said to her, and I knew it was the spirit speaking through me. I am so thankful for this opportunity of being a full time missionary. I have grown so much because I am doing things I never would have had the opportunity of doing, if hadn't been for me being on a mission.
I am so happy at this Christmas time. I feel the Christmas spirit as I give of my time to my Savior, who is the reason we celebrate Christmas. I testify that He Lives and is there for each and everyone of us. I know this because he has been there for me when I pray to him, when no one else has been there for me, he has always been there. He has gotten me through the hardest times of my life and I have come to know him better as I've reached out to him during my trials.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
Monday, December 14, 2009
Winter Quarters Temple Trip!
Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,
How has everybody been? I hope everyone is having a special Christmas Season. This last week has been amazing for me. I was able to have the opportunity of a lifetime on Friday. I got to go to the Winter Quarters Temple with Ignacio Bustamante as he got his Endowments out. He was my ward mission leader when I was trained in the Sioux City 2nd ward, he was baptized about 2 years ago. So I was able to go to the Endowment session with him and it was a very spiritual experience. It was my 2nd time going to the Winter Quarters Temple and we got to see the Mormon Trail Center, which is the visitor center with all the church history from Winter Quarters. There is such a strong spirit in Winter Quarters. I feel a deep gratitude for the Pioneers that stayed in Winter Quarters and I was able to see some of the sacrifices they made there.
As I was in the Temple with Ignacio, I remembered an experience I had when I was at BYU Idaho. For my interview to submit my papers for my mission with my Stake President, he brang all the prospective missionaries into his office. My Stake president asked all of us why were we going on a mission. A couple of us answered with some good responses, but not what he was looking for. He then told all of us to stand up and walk over to the big window. As he drew back the curtains, we saw the lights shining brightly from the Rexburg Temple. He then pointed to the temple and said "That is why we are going on a mission. To bring people to the temple." So as I was in the Temple with Ignacio, I felt the spirit so strong, as I remembered what my Stake President had told me. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to be a full time missionary here in Iowa. I have seen miracles come to pass before my eyes. I know this church is true.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
How has everybody been? I hope everyone is having a special Christmas Season. This last week has been amazing for me. I was able to have the opportunity of a lifetime on Friday. I got to go to the Winter Quarters Temple with Ignacio Bustamante as he got his Endowments out. He was my ward mission leader when I was trained in the Sioux City 2nd ward, he was baptized about 2 years ago. So I was able to go to the Endowment session with him and it was a very spiritual experience. It was my 2nd time going to the Winter Quarters Temple and we got to see the Mormon Trail Center, which is the visitor center with all the church history from Winter Quarters. There is such a strong spirit in Winter Quarters. I feel a deep gratitude for the Pioneers that stayed in Winter Quarters and I was able to see some of the sacrifices they made there.
As I was in the Temple with Ignacio, I remembered an experience I had when I was at BYU Idaho. For my interview to submit my papers for my mission with my Stake President, he brang all the prospective missionaries into his office. My Stake president asked all of us why were we going on a mission. A couple of us answered with some good responses, but not what he was looking for. He then told all of us to stand up and walk over to the big window. As he drew back the curtains, we saw the lights shining brightly from the Rexburg Temple. He then pointed to the temple and said "That is why we are going on a mission. To bring people to the temple." So as I was in the Temple with Ignacio, I felt the spirit so strong, as I remembered what my Stake President had told me. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to be a full time missionary here in Iowa. I have seen miracles come to pass before my eyes. I know this church is true.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
Monday, December 7, 2009
Happy Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day America!
Dear Elder Morain Fan Club,
Hows everybody been? I have been better than ever here in Sioux City! We had our investigators with a baptismal date come to church on sunday! A Native American family has 2 kids that are getting baptized hopefully on December 29th, which is the mom's birthday. It was so good to see them come to church and feel the spirit there.
On Thursday we had our Christmas Zone Conference! We got to drive down to Des Moines for it and got together with 5 zones in the mission! It was probably the biggest gathering of missionaries I've been a part of so far. We had a talent show which was hilarious haha. I was in a couple skits and it was a lot of fun. There are so many talented missionaries in our mission. It was so good to see missionaries that I hadn't seen in forever...and it might be the last time for some I see on the mission. We had slideshow which was pretty funny as well. I am going to miss alot of these missionaries that I've gotten to know out here. Their examples and friendship mean so much to me and I will never forget them.
Last night we got to watch The First Presidency Christmas Devotional. I am hoping all of you got to see it because it was amazing. I escpecialy enjoyed President Monson's story of the drama at the Atlanta Georgia Airport. I recommend everyone to check that out if you didn't get to see it. I love Christmas time and the special spirit I feel with it.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
Hows everybody been? I have been better than ever here in Sioux City! We had our investigators with a baptismal date come to church on sunday! A Native American family has 2 kids that are getting baptized hopefully on December 29th, which is the mom's birthday. It was so good to see them come to church and feel the spirit there.
On Thursday we had our Christmas Zone Conference! We got to drive down to Des Moines for it and got together with 5 zones in the mission! It was probably the biggest gathering of missionaries I've been a part of so far. We had a talent show which was hilarious haha. I was in a couple skits and it was a lot of fun. There are so many talented missionaries in our mission. It was so good to see missionaries that I hadn't seen in forever...and it might be the last time for some I see on the mission. We had slideshow which was pretty funny as well. I am going to miss alot of these missionaries that I've gotten to know out here. Their examples and friendship mean so much to me and I will never forget them.
Last night we got to watch The First Presidency Christmas Devotional. I am hoping all of you got to see it because it was amazing. I escpecialy enjoyed President Monson's story of the drama at the Atlanta Georgia Airport. I recommend everyone to check that out if you didn't get to see it. I love Christmas time and the special spirit I feel with it.
Keep it real
LO
VE Elder Morain
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