Pictures!

 Morgan and Sister Hierche

 My life savers during allergy season....nose spray and chocolate.

 Picnic with Sherry and Melba before I left Kenn Park.

 Playing in the curtains on the stage on P day

Sister McCullough who we lived with in Kenn Park

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

Hello Family and Friends! So I want to start by saying how much I
love Vancouver! I am loving this new ward. It is a big ward land wise
but an average size ward people wise. Our first week here was great.
We had quite a few lessons and we got to meet some really awesome
people. Its amazing what being on the East side of the mission then
coming back to the West side does to someone. I was cautious to talk
to most of the people on the street because in Kennewick we got yelled
at but luckily I have Sis. Hiersche with me and together we had the
courage to go with me, and we were able to talk to some really nice
people. I have to get back into my Vancouver frame of mind, where
people for some reason are generally nicer here. No offense to anyone
from the Tri-Cities. :)

     Sister Hiersche and I have hit it off well together. Like I said
before, she is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is super sweet. She is
the oldest in her family and she has 2 younger sisters. She has had a
few adventures and many trials in her life. She is so strong and she
amazes me. She is a great missionary. I am excited to be working with
her. My only fear is that I will over-power her and she won't be able
to jump in to teach and testify where she wants/needs to. Being quiet
in lessons and other situations has been my problem in the past and it
is something that I continue to work on. She has been out for 6 months
and she is a hard worker. She is crafty, likes to sew, is friendly,
and talkative in one on one settings.  She is deathly allergic to
treenuts and mushrooms, so because of this she has shown me how to use
her epipen in case of emergency. Lets hope she never needs it!  We
often joke about how this transfer is a blessing from Heavenly Father
so that we can both have a calm transfer before the next storm. She
has been doubled in to every area she has ever served in and this is
her 3rd area. Her skill in this has helped me remain calm and kept me
from stressing out too much. She tells me all the time that I am going
to train again because every single one of her companions has trained
after she has been their companion. I wouldn't mind that considering I
only have 2 transfers left after this one and I would like to spend
them here in Salmon Creek.

     The ward here is fantastic. We are living with Sister Morris, a
widow woman in the ward. She is the mother of our bishop (who is being
released on this coming Sunday). We live in a really big house in a
really big room upstairs. Seriously, this house is like a museum. She
has lived in SEVERAL different countries and her deceased husband was
a former mission president in Thailand. She has pictures and shadow
boxes of stuff everywhere! And next to each of them is a note
describing what it is and why it is important. Just like in a real
museum. haha! Its awesome! Our RS Pres is super excited to have us as
well. We were asked to bear our testimonies in church on Sunday and
during mine I mentioned that "I never thought that such a dreary place
would steal my heart" and everyone laughed. :)

     I am really missing Kennewick Park though. I never though I would
love people this fast. It is so annoying! haha! I can't wait to come
up to be able to visit everyone again! I am the 3rd longest serving
sister in the mission. The two that have been out longer than me are
Spanish speaking sisters. It is so crazy! It feels like I don't know
any of the new sisters. I am so excited but so nervous to be the
"oldest sister" in the mission. I don't like it because then everyone
will be looking to me for information and I don't think that I know
enough for that. I love being way over her in the Couve because I feel
like I am not being spied on all the time. I can do the Lord's work in
peace. haha! Anyways, I am running out of time as usual. I love you
all and I miss you. I hope you have a great week! Please write
me...its April in Vancouver. which means RAIN and Darkness (even
though its pretty today).

Love, SISTER MORGAN BROX

Transfers Are In!

Aloha! So I know that everyone is dying to hear about what is
happening for the upcoming transfer...We got the transfer call last
night and to be honest I was a little surprised that we hadn't gotten a
call from President asking one or both of us to train. We have 14 new
sisters and 11 new elders coming in tomorrow. :) Anyway, without the
training call I thought President was just too busy to do it, but we
listened and neither one of us is training a new sister. Sis McMurtrey
will be staying here in Kennewick Park Ward and a sister from her MTC
group will be coming to serve with her. She is so excited, she almost
started to cry. I am excited for her and I think that they will great
here. This is such an awesome ward and fantastic things are happening!
As for me, my new companions name is Sister Heirsche (I think that's
how you spell it). She came out 6 months ago with Sister Mecham and
Sister Ireland both of whom I dearly love. So it should be fun getting
to know her and working together. I have never served around her so I
don't know much at all. She is petite and blonde and she is from Baton
Rouge Louisanna. Now the question is where will I be serving, right? I
am so excited I almost wet myself, haha!  I am going back to
VANCOUVER! I must need to accomplish something there because I keep
going there. Its Spring so it should be nice and wet and dreary. I
will be in the Salmon Creek Ward in the Van West Stake. It has been
covered by Elders previously so we are being "doubled in" or both of
us are brand new to the ward. She has been doubled in before and so
have I, so this shouldn't be too difficult (fingers crossed). I love
being the first sisters to serve in the wards because everyone loves
us so much and is so happy we are there and we get a brand new clean
start at everything because we are new in the area! Love it! I only
have 3 transfers left so we will see what happens after this transfer.
I'd love to train one more time, just to see if I do it right this
time! haha! I am grateful for the break of training though. One time
straight to the next is pretty exhausting.

So lets change the subject now, wasn't General Conference amazing!? I
loved it so much. I love this church and how inspired the leaders are.
They teach me so much and I love it because as my knowledge increases
I become a better teacher myself. I just realized how much I repeat
the same words over and over again. Please forgive me for being
redundant. I just get so excited and use the first words that come to
my finger tips. Anyways, we watched both of the Saturday sessions at
the Kenn East stake center with a whole bunch of other missionaries.
Normally we would have watched it at our stake center (Kenn Stake) but
the building is being recarpeted so we couldn't watch it there. Also
because it was being recarpeted we couldn't have Tammy's baptism there
either. So we were having it at the Kenn East stake center where we
were watching conference. All of this was such a hassle, but well
worth it of course. We watched the Sunday morning session at a
different building and they fed us lunch like we always do back home.
It was nice. Then for the afternoon session we went and watched it at
a member's home (the Madison's) with our amazing investigator Jen! It
was so perfect! I love being a missionary and being able to see others
come to the knowledge of the truth. Its amazing! Jen really liked
conference and is planning on going back to the Madison's a couple
more times to watch the sessions that she missed. So exciting. I am
going to miss Jen so much! but I know that we will be great friends
after the mission. :)

So on to Tammy's baptism! It went so great! She was so happy! There
were a lot more people there than we though there would be which is
nothing to complain about. Sister Greer was there and sat next to us
on the front row which was fun! A lot of Tammy's family was coming
into town for her baptism so we got special permission from, President
Greer, President Meyer (stake pres), and Bishop Matheson. It was so
awesome that we were able to have her confirmed at the same time so
that she didn't have to wait till the 14th to receive the Holy Ghost.
I am running out of time and I want to make sure I get a couple
pictures sent...so I love you all and I hope you are having a great
week! I can't wait to see you all again. August will be here before we
know it. I am so sad and so happy at the same time about that
statement. :/ Anyways, keep up the good work, share the light of
Christ with everyone you meet and then get them to "Ask the
Missionaries, They can help you!" :) Bye!

Happy April Fools Day!

Hello Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. I know that we
did. I love this gospel and my Savior so much! I love that He was
resurrected and that we have the opportunity to remember and celebrate
that blessed event. Yesterday at church we had two investigators
there. One was Tammy who is being baptized this Saturday and we are
all super excited!!!! :)

One was a guy who's wife and in-laws are less active members and his
brother was recently baptized as well. We taught, Bro. A, the first
lesson last week and we are going and teaching the second lesson
tonight. I am super excited to be teaching him. He is really seeking
the gospel. At our first lesson we were talking about the priesthood
and they talked about how his brother the recentish convert was able
to give Sis. A a blessing during her pregnancy. It was a really
spiritual time during the lesson and felt prompted to ask him if he
would like to do that for his wife someday and he said yes, he would
love that. We talked about how that would be possible after he was
baptized and received the priesthood himself. We then talked about how
he had thought about being baptized before but he didn't want to rush
into it. We told him that we would continue to teach him and that as
he acted upon the things that he learned that he would be ready to
make promises with Heavenly Father through baptism. It was such an
awesome lesson and Bro. and Sis. A and baby A were all at church on
Sunday which made Sis. McMurtrey and I a little giddy when they walked
into the chapel and sat a few rows in front of us. :)

After church we did what we always do and went and tried to find
people to teach and we attempted to visit a couple people/families. We
ended up going to try a certain less active couple in the ward. We
knocked and rang the doorbell and no one answered so we decided to
tract their street. A few people answered their doors but they weren't
interested in hearing an Easter message about Jesus because they have
their own religion (makes me wonder sometimes what people even think
about on Easter). Anyway, by the time we got back to our car which was
parked right in front of the less actives house, their garage door was
open but no one was in the car so we knocked on the door again and go
to visit with Bro. B for about 45 min on his doorstep. We had an
awesome time getting to know him and offering to teach him the
missionary lessons as he expressed his desire of "getting back into
church". We will go back again and help him regain/strengthen his
testimony and hopefully as we bring the Spirit into his home, his wife
will feel forgiveness in her heart and have the desire to return to
church as well. It was so cool to know that Heavenly Father inspired
us to go and see them even though they weren't home, and then to knock
on the doors around them for just the right amount of time until they
got home so we could visit. I love being a missionary and seeing all
the small miracles that are produced by an act of faith a simple
obedience.

We went on exchanges this week as well with Sisters Ireland and Funk.
They are so awesome. I went and served with Sis Funk in their wards
and Sis Ireland came here and worked with Sis McMurtrey. I loved being
able to be with Sis Funk. She is a brand new missionary, came out 5
weeks ago, and she is 19! We worked hard and long that day. The area
they have is big a spaced out and they don't have many investigators
(like 2) and they have very few less actives that like them to come
over. It makes me sad! We were talking about their wards and they
don't have wards that are supportive of missionary work. There were
sisters that served there in the past that totally ruined the members
trust. I can't blame the wards for being careful but they are acting
blind to the work that the sisters are trying to do now. They are not
helpful at all, even the bishop ignores them. All I can say is every
member of the church needs to get to know the missionaries serving in
their ward. Pray for their success everyday and do it by name! We need
that! We feel the power that comes from that! Even if you don't like
them after you get to know them, still pray for them! They are
sacrificing a lot to be there and you can't judge them.

It makes me so grateful for the wards that I have served in, in the
past, as well as now in Kennewick Park. I love this ward so much! We
may not have as many investigators as I want and we may not be able to
get into every less active home in the ward. But the ward LOVES us! We
were even asked to teach yesterday in the combine 3rd hour meeting. It
was all the adults and the youth. We talked about the Atonement and
how it affects missionary work. Its amazing! We get referrals often,
they aren't too productive, but we get them. We have a full report
every week. We have a baptism coming up and they see our investigators
at church. Our Bishop is amazing and everyone loves him. He is so
supportive of us and what we are doing. And he is funny! I love our
Relief Society President too! She is always asking us if there is
anything we need or how she can help us. She likes to meet with us to
give us more people to go and contact and tells us how we can help
her. Its great!

Anyway, today is my 14 month mark! Can you believe it??? Its crazy! I
am running out of time! Only 4.5 months left and only 3 transfers!
Transfers are next week! Can you believe that!! I can't! I'll let you
know what is happening next week!

Love you all! Have a great week!
~Sister Brox

Shocking TP Day

So I will explain the reasoning behind the unusual title of the email.
First, I will start with the TP Day. It stands for Temple Preparation
Day (aka today). I am emailing today instead of yesterday because it
was finally time to go to the temple again. It was absolutely amazing
as usual. I love the way I feel when I am in the temple and I am so
excited for the day when I can be sealed for time and eternity to my
future husband in the House of the Lord. But aside from that topic
since it won't happen till 12-13-14; Lets move on for now to the
"shocking" part of the email title.

Yesterday was a fun/interesting day. Let's start at the beginning.
During our study time in the morning one of our appointments for the
day texts and asks us if we could push back our appt time from 12:30pm
to later in the evening. We offered 5:30 and she agreed. We finished
studying then went to District Meeting. It was great! We played a form
of Jeopardy to test our missionary knowledge...I was not so good at
the beginning but ended up in second place (stinking elders) ;) After
that we went to District lunch and then we went home and changed
clothes because another one of our appts for the day texted us during
our meeting and said that she wasn't going to be able to meet because
she was doing yard work but knew that we would want to help because we
would be able to wear pants. We said that we would absolutely come and
help. We got there and ended up helping for 2 hours. I got an ugly
scratch on my ankle to prove to me that I should wear jeans instead of
basketball shorts, haha!

After that we went to a normal member visit where we teach The
Doctrine of Christ, show a short movie (The Robles Family) and then
ask for referrals. Well, when we got there the husband and the wife
were there who we were expecting to be there but the husbands brother
and sister were both there too. As we were doing introductions, the
husband says after everyone is silent that they are all less active.
It kind of threw us off guard because we had met this couple at
church. We ended up being there quite a bit longer than expected as we
tried to help the whole family with the brother and sister not even
being in our ward. It ended well and then we ran to dinner and then
off to the 5:30 appt.

This is where it gets shocking if you are not already shocked enough.
We go into Sherry's house and she has a couch right by her front door
that she it needing to get put into  a bedroom down the hallway. We
offer to do it because she is a very very sick lady and we knew that
if we didn't do it then she would try to do it by herself which would
be even worse. We take the bedroom door off its hinges and then
proceed to push, shove, lift, pull and tug this couch into the room.
We finally get it in and then Sherry says, she is too hot and that she
is going to have a seizure. Unfortunately, this is not and uncommon
feeling for Sherry. Sis. McMurtrey and I have know idea what to do so
we ask her what she needs. She took a pill, drank some water, we sat
outside to cool off with a cold wet cloth on her head and face. She
says that she is going to be okay and foolishly we believed her. We
went back inside and she sat down on the couch we just moved while we
attempted to put the door back on the hinges. Next thing you know I
turn around and look at her and she is in the middle of a seizure! I
tell Sis. McMurtrey and luckily and amazingly Sherry is still alert
enough to tell us what to do to help her. We got her oxygen machine
and I was trying to plug it into a super messed up outlet in the wall.
As I do so I get electrocuted. Well Sherry needs her machine, so I
tried again and I get shocked again. Then she says to try another one
on the other side of the room. Duh, Sister Brox! We get that all going
and get her a shot that gave herself in the stomach and the whole time
I am freaking out in the inside and just praying for her to please
just be okay. Finally, after about 20 minutes she is talking to us
pretty normally and telling us how sorry she is and how glad she was
that is wasn't that bad of a seizure. We told her to stop apologizing
and to just relax. Relaxing is not something that Sherry is good at.
haha! We were able to read an Ensign article with her so that she
would have to stay sitting down for a while. Then we put the door on
its hinges and I once again tried to plug something into the stupid
outlet and I get zapped for the third time and I quit! We got her
house put together enough so that she could rest for the remainder of
the evening and we headed to our next appointment.

I thought the craziness was over but once again I was wrong. We got to
our family home evening appt and we go in thinking that everyone was
home but it turned out to be just the two teenage daughters because
the mom had gone for a run. We were standing in the kitchen getting
ready to make cookies and half waiting for mom to get there already.
When one of the girls decided to sit on the counter. No big deal,
right? Wrong! She is facing away from the edge and has crossed her
legs in front of her and next thing you know she is falling backwards
off of the counter onto the tile kitchen floor. I about had a
heart attack! Thankfully and miraculously she was ok, and we could all
laugh about it. The rest of the night went over well. And then I could
not sleep well last night because my allergies are KILLING ME!!!!! I
guess it got so bad because of all the yard work we did yesterday.
ugh!

Well, I hope you liked all the excitement! I gotta get going so that I
can email President before I run out of time! I love you all, I hope
you have an amazing week! Happy Easter! Happy Birthday Sara!

I can't believe I forgot to tell you....

.....We had Sister's conference this week! It was sooo good, as usual! It was on Friday and I have been looking forward to it since last sister's training in September. I am sure you can all remember me talking about that. Anyway, I was most excited to see Sister Mecham. She has been serving here in the Tri-Cities since this last transfer (Feb 28th) but I haven't been able to see her because she is in West Richland and I am here in the center of Kennewick two totally different zones. Anyway, I had been looking forward to seeing that cute thing all week, and Sister McMurtrey had been looking forward to seeing all of her MTC friends. We got to the stake center and dropped our stuff off in the Relief Society room and gave hugs to the following, Sisters: Greer (in charge of everything), Cockerham (in charge of phones and such), Bodmer (in charge of mail and such), and Stapelton (in charge of ?? but she is the 1st counselors wife). Then we went into the gym where everyone was eating breakfast already. I hugged someone ( I don't remember who) then searched for Sister Mecham. I went and gave her a hug from behind as she sat at the table. She jumped up real fast and said that she was going to cry. haha! Surprise Surprise, but she didn't...Anyways, we all sat down and ate breakfast and talked forever but not long enough. It was so good to see her and to hear about how much she is loving the Tri-Cities. It makes me happy that she is happy and that she is progressing in becoming the missionary she wants to be. She has always been amazing and I am excited to hear about all that success she has. It is so weird that I only have her and Sister McMurtrey as companions in the mission. I don't like it! I miss people so much after they go home. :*( I was talking about all this to Sis. McMurtrey and how much I look forward to hearing about her and how much good she is going to do here in the mission and she doesn't believe me.

I think we all feel that way as new missionaries. We never think we are very good until we get away from our trainers, then we begin to realize that we actually do know what we are doing (for the most part). I know I felt that way when I left Sister Chatwin. She was always talking about how I came "pre-trained" and I never believed her. Now that I have trained twice, I can see it in these two wonderful daughters of God. They did come pre-trained. All I had to do was show them the way and then they are off and doing it and making miracles happen though their faith. It is amazing to see the "Hastening of the Work" that is happening right now. There are more people who are being prepared to hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because we have more people to find we need more workers, aka missionaries! And because of modern revelation, we are getting those much needed workers out in the field faster and sooner than ever before. We need those workers to be pre-trained! The people that they come in contact with need them to be pre-trained! How grateful I am for the programs in the church that get us trained to do this work. We start young and progress through primary, youth programs, seminary, institute, relief society (and priesthood meetings). We have to start young because Satan is tricky and He starts with the young ones. I am so thankful for you Mother and Daddy! Thank you for raising me right and for teaching and showing me THE way. I am thankful that I am prepared and trained to do what I do now. If I wasn't ready then this would be a lot more difficult than it already is, but not impossible. Nothing is impossible with the Lord on our side!

With all that being said, right after sister's conference and picture taking in front of the temple, we had our investigator's Tammy's baptismal interview with President Stapelton. We were running late and I am sure she was flustered about it and it was scheduled pretty last minute. I am thankful for it all coming together though. We watched the kids with Sister Stapelton in the gym while she was being interviewed. I had a scary feeling because I was worried that she might not be ready to be baptized. When they came back in the gym and said that she was all ready to go. I was so relieved. The date has been set (April 6th) the building is reserved and this amazing daughter of God it ready! It is so wonderful to be a missionary and to be able to see our Heavenly Father's children as they prepare to make covenants with Him. I know that she is ready for this next part of her life. To start over with a clean slate and the opportunity to raise her kids the way she wants to. They will be able to serve missions and bring souls, just like their mother, unto Christ. I will keep you posted on her progress as we continue to teach this wonderful family.

We continue to knock on doors and search for more people who are ready. The ward it trying to help and that is wonderful! This week was a great one! I love weeks like this last week! I hope you had a great St. Patrick's day! I know I did! Yesterday was one of the best Sundays I have had in the mission so far. I was spiritually fed all day! It was awesome! I hope you all have a great week! I love you all so much! I can't wait to see you and give you hugs! :)

Testimony

Hello Everybody!

 

I was reading in the March Ensign this morning during my personal study and I read an article that talks about a family that decided to start sharing their testimonies as a part of their family home evening. It had a quote in the article by Elder David A. Bednar which said, “Feeling the power, the edification, and the constancy of testimony from a spouse, a parent, or a child is a rich blessing. Such testimony fortifies faith and provides direction. Such testimony generates light in a world that grows increasingly dark.” I love this quote and for some reason it really stuck out to me that while I am sharing my testimony everyday with those around me I have not taken the opportunity to share my entire testimony to those of you back home.I would like to start my letter this week with my testimony of the restored gospel.

 

I know that the entire gospel is centered on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is my personal exemplar, savior, and advocate with the Father. He came to this earth and taught His gospel and showed us THE way that we can be reunited with our Heavenly Father. Even though He was despised, rejected and crucified. He was also loved, cherished, and resurrected. I will never understand or comprehend all that He was able to endure. I can only be grateful and show my love and gratitude by being obedient. As the scripture says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

I am so grateful that even though the fullness of the gospel was taken from the earth again after the death of Christ's disciples, Heavenly Father reached out yet again in love and understanding and restored His church, His priesthood, and His words through another prophet. I admire Joseph Smith for his obedience. It couldn't have been easy. It would have been so easy to take back what he said; but then again, no it wouldn't have been easy, because he knew it was TRUE! Just as I know it is true. That is why the Holy Spirit is such a wonderful blessing. It is through him that we know all truth, for the Spirit of the Lord can not lie. I wouldn't trade anything for how happy this knowledge makes me.

I am so happy to be a missionary. Even when things get hard all I have to do it fall on my knees at the feet of my Savior and I know that He will help me. He loves me and I love Him. The power of prayer is real. I often time feel like Enos, where I feel like praying all day and all night. I roll out of bed in the morning and I could go on forever just thanking my Father for the bountiful gifts He has given me. I scan through hundreds of faces and places asking for His hand to be present in their lives and I know that it is worth every second.

 

I am forever grateful for the plan of happiness. The knowledge it gives me and the answers to the questions that so many people have. I feel like I know everything but I know that I don't. I have access to realms of eternal knowledge though the scriptures, living prophets and prayer.

To be worthy to enter the Temple will forever be a goal of mine. I never want to lose or take advantage of the opportunity to worthily hold a temple recommend. The peace and joy of that holy place I hope will always fill my heart. I look forward to the day when I will be sealed to my husband for time and all eternity. Knowing that I have my family forever keeps me going on days when I just want to give up.

I am so happy and grateful for all of these things and more. My testimony could fill a book I am sure. I will close it for now and I hope this has helped at least one of you receive more "light" as the quote in the beginning says. I know that I would not make it through a single say without my testimony and I am so grateful, eternally grateful, for the blessings in my life that my faith brings. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I hope I didn't lose too many readers in the midst of that. :) I got excited... This week has been a good one. We taught a few people and met quite a few more. I love being able to work hard. This week seemed to go by really fast. Well they are all picking up speed as we go. Yesterday was ward conference and that was really good. We had ward council before hand and we were able to talk about some of the families in the ward that need help. One family that we were talking about, everyone seemed to know about them and the problems they were facing. They talked about how they have tried to help and no one seemed to have success. I asked if the missionaries had ever tried going over and they all said, "No." So the idea clicked in their heads to send us over there to see what we can do. I am excited to be able to go over and get to know this family and hopefully show the ward that you can never give up. I know that the Lord loves all of His sheep and He will provide a way for this family to come back into the fold. I love this gospel. I love that it has a doctrine of unity. We are a family! And we should treat each other the way God wants His children to be treated. I know that I didn't always understand this principal before and I was often mean and unloving to some. I am grateful for this lesson on charity. And if that lesson is the only thing that I take away from my mission, then so be it, It will benefit me for the remainder of my earth life and beyond.

I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week! (Please write me, it will make everyone's week better!) Thanks for everything! :)