Morgan, Mum and Dad

My dearest and darlingest mumsy and popsicle,
(Name that musical mama ;))

This week I made kandookies three times! The first time was for a missionaries birthday, and I even made it into a cake! (Instead of putting them on a cookie sheet i put it in a cake pan and let it cool) then the zone leaders broke into their flat and ate his cake, so I had to make him some more cookies. Then i made some more yesterday to try and bribe the ZL for transfer news, to no avail.

Speaking of transfers... I find out if I go tomorrow which is annoying because I'd like to tell yous today! Oh well. I dont know how to feel. If I go, I'll miss the members here so much they're like a second family. If I stay... I may go a lil crazy Haha. I'm hoping I'll go, but I know if the Lord needs me here I'll be okay too :) I dont feel it either way yet, so I'll just have to learn tomorrow. Unless I can find another way to bribe the ZL...

This morning we biked around for P day, and it made me think of and miss the family heaps! I cant wait to go on bike rides with everyone when I get back. I hope yous are ready for a lot of time with Sister Keller because I plan to use my first 3 months home solely spent with family ;)

I'd like to ask for a little advice. Remember that boy (Billy) who I went on several dates with before I left? Well about 2 weeks into my mission, I realized I'm not going to marry him Haha. Hes a very good guy, just for someone else. I could write a long boring email on why I feel this way, but it would be long and boring Haha. He thinks we are going to get married, in his last email he talked about the temple with me... should I tell him right now I dont see myself dating him after I get home or hope he gets married in the next year? I mean he is at BYU so it's not unlikely...

Also when we saw the Shark being gutted it made me think of mom and her college biology class! You dissected a shark, right? Anyways it was super cool! (Someone explain why it takes 2 minutes for me to kill a cockroach and even then it freaks me out, but I can hold a dead shark embryo in my hand?)

Anywho I love and miss you both so much!! Hopefully all is well in the life of all my siblings (have not heard from any of them in a few weeks...) also thanks for all the pictures of Percy, I'm happy to know that you haven't secretly put him down without telling me and that hes being hoha (Maori for annoying) as ever;)

Have a good week!
SK


(Pun intended)

After emailing about Billy, I thought I'd update you on all the boy things in my life so you know why I am or am not talking to certain people after my mission :) also I'm just sending it to you bc I doubt dad wants to hear it Haha.

Just to let you know, I do not constantly think about boys and am still very focused on my mission, they're just kind of on my mind as a normal Morgan Keller thing and hope you dont think I'm any crazier than before Haha.

So Elder Ridd... is very dumb and I do not like him at all. On Christmas eve he sent a long emotional email, to which I responded, then he hasn't said anything since so I took him off my email list and am never going to talk to him until he finishes his mission at least if not mine :) So yep.

I dont know if I ever told you about this second one Haha. At BYU, I met this guy named Cayden at the freshman dorms. We became friends  because I really like reading, especially Brandon Sanderson, and I kinda thought he was cute. Then right before Christmas break he kissed and confused me, and then when we came back he told me he was preparing for a mission and didnt want anything serious at all, which I respected so we remained friends and are emailing as such! I mention him because I kinda want to marry him hahahahaha. When we email, it's kinda about our missions (hes serving in Peru and speaks Spanish... HF was laughing at me when he got called there), but mostly we talk about doctrine! We talk about Jesus the Christ, and random questions about the church, and its really nice! I dont feel any pressure to email as more than friends and hes a very good person! I have a lot of respect for him, and even if we stop talking In a month I know that I want strong spiritual attributes in whoever I date in the future.

Anyways just want to reassure you that I am still focused on my mission, it's just hard to not think about marriage when we teach about eternal families and all my friends back home are getting engaged. Even Elder Natress talked about marriage after the mission at Zone Conference! Dont worry, these emails won't be a weekly thing just thought I'd update you a little bit :) mostly because my companion HATES talking about boys hahaha


Also thanks for teaching me how to make omelets  I make them almost every day Haha!


Love you so so much! Sorry I'm crazy but thanks for being my awesome inspirational mama!!
Much love,
SK

I just love you 💗💗💗. Sorry to hear that Hayden is causing you drama!  You really are very nice and other people aren't very kind or thoughtful... I think Hayden probably stooges a bit because he never dated anyone but you.  He is probably scared to have to do that when he gets home.  You were always a safe bet.  And you are super fun and super kind.  I'm sorry you have had to deal with relationship stuff on your mission.  And you know me I think it's fine to not email every week, it might be good for both of you to not email till after you are home.  That will also give him some time to maybe date a little bit. 

Also with Billy, I remembered you went out with him right before you left.  I wondered if you looked him a lot more than you said.  You may want to let him know that you are happy to keep writing, but you really feel like you may need to date other people after your mission.  Or I have a friend and she's told everyone that they have to write hand written letters to her son while he's on his mission.  Could be an idea, it might let the relationship fade.  And who knows maybe you'll feel different after your mission.

I do remember a lot of tears after Christmas for to Cayden 😉. I'm glad you are having a positive wiring experience with him.  Glad you can share spiritual stuff with him. 

Over all I think you must finally be settling in to things.  Your a bit like me where they are easier to talk about after you have kind have worked through them.  Honestly that can also lead to trusting heavenly father and don't plan out your future to much, because He often had a different plan in mind.  It's much easier to adjust to His plan if you aren't too set in your own...  Learn from your mama 😂😂😍😍.

Try to worry a little less and enjoy the moment more.  It's often hard to not read into things, but if you can enjoy the moment for what they are things will slowly fall into place 😊

I love you.  I love that you work hard and are so kind.  It's really funny last week I almost emailed you about a funny theme that I've found through all of Jayne Austin's stories.  These adorable women have crushes or fall in love with different guys, but things don't work out and they move on, but the guys seem to get a little better each time they move on... Until they find the one that they marry.  But they learned from each relationship and it prepared them to have a happier more mature relationship in the end.

So funny I thought I wouldnt share it so as to not distract you with boys, but it sounds like there was lots of boy stuff going on.  It's probably a little blessing that your companion doesn't want to talk about boys 😉

Love you tons and tons, I hope you'll still want to hang out with us for months before you go back to school and date more boys!! 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗
Mom

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Morgan's reply: miss that dumb dog

Dad's reply:  Ethan looked it up and claims the oldest westie alive right now is 17.  Percy turns 15 in 6 months.  Maybe in a year or he’ll be the oldest living Westie!

Ethan swimming at Taylorsville HS

Mom, Dad and Morgan Emails :)

Hello my wonderful wonderful parents!
This week was quite stressful Haha.
I was able to go on exchanges with my wonderful favourite STL of all time and she taught me heaps! As both of you know, things were rough with me and my trainer, Sister Ieremia. Well, more than rough. They were very very trying. Our relationship was quite unhealthy, and I'm learning I'm not the first sister she has stressed to the point of mental problems (getting to that point). She made me feel like I was always the problem, and I was very scared of her our second transfer after a very emotional and slightly scaring night. So I just kind of did whatever she asked. I'm not writing this to complain about her, but to explain why on exchanges I learned I haven't been doing missionary work correctly my whole mission Haha. (I've been out for 1/4 of my mission which is slightly depressing) I have never knocked doors before, because my trainer told me that we just had visits with people and there was no need to, it was a waste of time. One time we even sat in the car for two hours because we had an appointment with "nothing to do" until then. I should have realized that this was not missionary work and that theres always something to do, but I wasn't too desirous to contact either so I let it be. This week I have been doing nothing but contacting and it has been so draining. I'm overly stressed and very done with knocking doors in Opotiki!
Sister Bashaw also had my trainer as a companion and told me that she treated pretty much everyone that way, belittling them and making them feel guilty for everything. I had no resources because we were the only sisters in a 2 hour radius and she was my STL. Also we were not very obedient sometimes. Whenever I'd tell her that I didnt think what we were doing was mission appropriate, she would get angry at me and ask what I wanted to do in a sarcastic tone, seeing as she was training me. So we spent lots of time with the Elders near by, and left our area without permission constantly. I'm not saying  it's her fault, I've read the white hand book and knew quite well what was going on. It's just made this past transfer super stressful with trying to train myself in a way while also doing missionary work. Sister Bashaw is awesome and was so helpful!
Also I'm seeing a mission mental health councilor which will be very good! (Btw his wife is related to me on the Keller side, she laughed when she found out my first name because we have an ancestor named James Morgan Keller. Their names are Elder and Sister Mickel in case you know them)
Anyways sorry this is so long! I thought I'd let yous know what's going on in the head of sister Morgan Keller Haha! I still love the mish and never want to come home, I just need to get past this emotional mess I've created for myself!
I love yous both so much, thanks for all the emails and pictures, I couldnt do it without you!!!

Sk



Regarding your name, Yes!  I knew when we named you that it was my great grandfather’s name and is one of the reasons we liked the name!

I don’t know any Mickels. I will ask my father but my grandfather was rulon Keller so that might help you guys connect the dots.
Dad

Totally. Morgan I’m so sorry to hear this.  Please never feel shy about going to the mission president or to us if things are going that badly again. I know you said things were not great but I had no idea it was that serious. Well anyway as you say you still have lots if mission left. Be strong. You are a powerful woman with lots of faith. You will work miracles I’ve little doubt.

Well I'm so glad that you got a new companion and went on splits to learn some good missionary habits!!  Why would they ever have her training if other sisters had issues with her??  I hope she isn't training anyone else!

Mom and Morgan

Haha thanks mama you're the best :)
Let me know if theres anything I can do to help! I emailed Ethan so hopefully I can continue to encourage him to stay on the right path towards  a mission Haha.

Love you heaps!!
Sk

On Mon, 14 Jan 2019, 3:17 PM carlin keller, wrote:

Oh sorry so with the mucus if you could buy a suedefed, the little round red pills, that should drain your mucus without drying you out more.  Allergy pills will dry you out and you'll stay congested, after the mucus clears up then you can take allergy pills.  I also like the Advil cold and sinus, it has a little bit of suedefed with some Advil in it.  You could take two Advil with the suedefed if you wanted.  It will take 30 min to start to drain and in an hour if it isn't take another (if they are just the little round red pills, not the 24 hours suedefed).

Hope that helps out. 
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

On Sun, Jan 13, 2019 at 6:58 PM, Morgan Keller
wrote:
Also my lips have been very dry for about two weeks, and I've had a caught with lots of mucus. Any connection between the two? I've been drinking heaps of water, but no change so far. I was wondering if it was stress...

Thanks medical mama ;)

Much love!
SK

On Mon, 14 Jan 2019, 2:46 PM Morgan Keller, wrote:
Haha my companion is from the islands which means shes pretty "dodgey" as we say down here... not super bad, she just sleeps in and listens to worldly music.
Cool story about that tho, at the beginning of the transfer she had movies on her phone and showed me and I told her I didnt want to watch but I didnt care she had them. Last week she told me that she deleted them all and for some reason being companions with me made her want to be more obedient Haha.
We are getting work done though! She is very hard working and is always ready to knock the next door, which is good because I'm usually done at the end of the day. I really love her I just have been pretty stressed which has made things a little tense. But it's all goods now!

On Mon, 14 Jan 2019, 2:17 PM carlin keller, wrote:
Those are good questions!  I'll have to ask around, the ancestor questions would be good ones for the grandparents... Then feed me the answers 😉😂

So Thursday Shane proposed to Kate! Kate is the drill team coach for the HS in Rexburg.  So they were performing a routine that late and Maggie had put together so she had invited Shane and his family.  So he talked to the girls and had them put together a 30 second dance routine that he walked down the middle of and then he gave Kate flowers and proposed!!  Maggie filled it all so it's on Facebook, super cute and so so so Kate 😂😂🎉🎉
So she's getting married on April 12th??  I think.  In the Meridian Idaho temple.

Exciting times!!

So if you mission companion good?  Does she follow the rules and go do missionary things?  Or is that just on splits that you get with good missionaries??

💗💗💗

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On Sun, Jan 13, 2019 at 6:06 PM, Morgan Keller
wrote:
Oh yeah also random question, who was the first person to convert on both sides of our family? I was thinking about it the other day and realized I dont know who started the family chain of members!

Also hows the Kate situation?

On Mon, 14 Jan 2019, 2:06 PM Morgan Keller, wrote:
Hahahaha all of my clothes still fight, just the slacks are a little tight because it's right around my belly. But if you send anything please send skirts and dresses!! Its too hot for slacks Haha. I'm going to do more exercises this transfer, I think the lack of has caused me to gain weight. That and the fact my companion can cook...

How are things with my lisence coming along? Any update?

Good to hear about Ana, sorry things are stressful with that one. Yous are always in my prayers!

I've been pretty trunky this week and just missing the whanau heaps. Thanman and banana have no idea how lucky they are to be able to spend so much time with their parents! Probably the thing I miss most on the mission so far.

Thanks for all your support! I miss you like crazy but theres honestly no where else in the world I'd rather be :)

Much love!!!
SK

On Thu, 10 Jan 2019, 4:11 PM carlin keller, wrote:
Hey beautiful
So I have this box ready to send, but then you said your pants don't fit... I was sending dresses I bought for you, but do you think they will be to tight?  Should I wait?  Would you rather have pants?  Sigh. Not sure what to do... I may still send it, but I'll feel bad if stuff doesn't fit.  Know I was trying.  Do you guys have weights you can do exercises with, that helps burn calories or running, but you have to do at least 2 miles a day for running to work.

So I'm still working on what I'm going to say in my talk on Sunday.  I have thoughts and then they are gone.  It was a bit of a dramatic well with Ana so I'm not feeling like I should be speaking on Christ and yet it's what I've needed to be studying.  It does make me a smidge more defiant though, I'm so tired of the same battle over and over I already feel like I've forgiven 7x70 😂😂. I'm still being a bit of a butt, but it is starting to pass.

Ask your mission president of we found a used Viola if your dad could drop it off in Aukland if they could get it to you.  If they would care??  You could leave it when you went home...  I don't know, just a thought

Tomorrow I'm going to Laura Jacobson's wedding!  Timpanogos Temple.  Very excited for her, hope it all goes well!  her dad had taken all of the kids on a cruise over Christmas and they had gotten delayed in Shanghai so she just got back in the States Monday.  So super crazy!


Percy is still trooping along.  Funny dog.  Did I send you the cute picture Becky took off me and Percy with a hat on?  Too funny

I'm struggling with the cold here, definitely missing the green of Texas and the blue skies!!  We are going to have to retire to a sunnier place, Utah may be the death of me... Sigh.  Sorry this hasn't been super up beat, I'm aware of stuff and am pulling out of it 😊🤪
The ups and downs of life 💗

Did read d& c 78: 17-19 this week, helpful and lovely.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and you have not as yet understood how great blessings the father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;
And he cannot bear all things now ; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.  The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.
And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this Earth shall be added unto him, even an hundredfold, yay, more.

I'll send a couple pics tomorrow.  Love you

Mom
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Elder Natriss, exchanges, Waimana, oh my!

Silly sister Keller moment of the week: so the NZHM is also known as the 20 kilo mission because most missionaries go home 20 kilos (or 40 lbs for those of you who dont live in the islands (which is all of you...?)) Larger. Since I've also grown an inch you can't tell that I've gained un poco weight from photos, but I weighed myself the other day and thought "oh man I'm a few lbs heavier, this darn mission!" then remembered that I ate an entire pizza by myself for the first time in my life, and then had dessert... sigh. Everyone learns something from the mission, maybe for me it's better eating habits. Not that I'm saying I'm never going to eat an entire pizza by myself again...

What a week, what a week, what a week! Heres my big three!

Zone Conference ft. Elder Natriss: we had an AMAZING zone conference! Elder Natriss and his wife came down and they both gave awesome talks with heaps of inspiring goals and commitments. We are so blessed to have living prophets speak to us today!!

Exchanges: I got to go on exchanges with my favourite STL of all time, Sister Bashaw!! Shes dying soon (mission dying, not irl dying...) and had heaps of wisdom to pass down!! Also I was companions with Sister Adlard who has been with me on all 3 of my exchanges so far! Shes way cool and we were able to talk about missions and life while we tracted. I MISS TALKING TO OTHER SISTERS
Anyways
Exchanges went beautifully and I'm so grateful for all the awesome examples in the NZHM :')))

Waimana: this is just funny to me. Theres a small town called Waimana about 30 minutes drive away from Opotki, and three of our active members live there. We have frequent dinners with them, and even tract up there once a week. Well we learned thanks to our new shnazzy smart phones that WAIMANA ISNT ACTUALLY IN OUR AREA and is in the Whakatane area so we've been leaving our area once a week on accident?? We are getting it figured out with the APs... rip

Miracle moment: at the beginning of this transfer we lost a progressing investigator, erm person we're working with, named Te Rangi because she moved and we didnt have her address. Well we found her, taught her two lessons this week, arranged for her to come to church yesterday, and at the end of church she casually turned to me and asked "so how do I go about getting baptized?"!!!!???!?! Now all we have to do is break the news that she needs to get married, but otherwise shes golden! Very exciting.

Funny moment: we were contacting our list of past investigators and knocked on a door and asked for someone named Tony. A guy answered and said that he had moved away a long time ago. As we thanked him and walked away, our eyes caught the glimpse of a silver chain with the name Tony spelled out... ah the life of a missionary(,:

No spiritual thought this week because I've already written HEAPS but I hope yous all know that I have a strong testimony of this gospel, and i know that Christ loves each and every one of you no matter where you are in life. All he asks is for you to reach out and he will always support you.

Yous are the best, thanks for everything!!
Much love,

SK


1. When I asked sister Bashaw why she sleeps with her badge on she said "you're only a missionary once". I am inspired
2. Exhanges w my favourite sistaasss
3. I tried to take a picture of all our shoe tan lines (sister Perry's is polka dotted !) But it just looks like an ominous picture of feet...
4. Sister Adlard WORKING IT

Mom and Morgan's first exchange of January 2019

Things are good over here! I definitely have gained weight Haha. Our mission is letting us wear slacks now and I tried on the ones we bought in NYC and they were a little tight... Haha... rip

That's so funny to hear about Kate. I think shes super obsessed with the idea of marriage, but I'm glad shes taking a step back to see if this is what she wants her eternity to be like. How does Betsy feel about it?

I loved all the videos from the Kellers!! Man I miss new years with them. I'm glad everyone is having a good time tho :)

Good luck with banana, I emailed her so hopefully she responds. I'm so proud of Ethan! He is going to do so much good.

You are the best ever!! Thanks so much mama!

Much love,
Sister Keller

On Mon, 7 Jan 2019, 6:18 AM carlin keller, wrote:
Hello Sister Keller

I hope you are doing well.   It seems like we just skyped with you, not that it's been another week.  I guess the Holidays made time go by quicker.  Although it seemed slower day by day.  I'm thinking I must be in a bit of a rut since I'm struggling to recall the past couple weeks to write to you about them.  Bit stressful where Ana wouldn't come out of her room all Christmas Eve, due to the fact we took the phone away again and I told her she was never getting another one.  Little extreme but Dad & I feel like something has to change.  She got her phone back and 3 days later it was up in her room and she had her laptop in her room and had been on it all night.
We give an inch and she takes 3 feet.

Ok, maybe I'll go back and cut that.  Lets remember some happy moments!  hahaha
Ethan took Ana, Grayce and Mason and they went up skiing/snowboarding the day after Christmas, they met Isabelle and Olivia up at Brighton for night skiing.  Sounds like they had a great time.

Ethan had a talk on Sunday and he did a really great job!  He's growing up.  Then we headed up to Idaho for New Years Eve.  As usual Betsy hosted and entertained us all.  We stayed at Grandma and Grandpa Kellers which was nice to get to visit with them too.  We chatted until midnight our first night and for a few hours the next morning.  It was fun to hear about everyone and the paintings Grandma has been working on.  Grant and Kirsten stayed their with us also. 

So we made it up on Sunday for Sunday dinner with the Keller's and hung out for a bit with everyone.  Then I went with Betsy and her girls to do some shopping on Monday.  Then just prepped food and visited with Betsy and Kate.  Kate's fiance, almost fiance, talked about them living on a farm to raise their kids and Kate was freaking out a bit and rethinking the whole thing!  So they are keeping the temple date for now, but are going to date a bit when she gets back to Rexburg to get to know one another a bit better.

So I'm sure you've heard that there have been changes to the temple film.  Interesting.  As I've heard mentioned so I guess I can say the wording is much more female friendly.  I went on Thursday and there was a bit of a wait at the temple to get into a session!  What would it be like if that were always the case, there would be so many more temples!  Crazy to think it could be like that.  But to change the wording they cut one of the old films and made it like a narrated slide show.  Felt like I was back in seminary as a kid.  Hahaha 

Yesterday we finished taking all of Christmas down, so now I want to find paintings to fill up some wall space and figure out what kind of space I need or want in the house.  I really just need to get some cabinet or shelves in the laundry room to see how much craft/sewing stuff can go in there.  Every time I go upstairs I think instead of a craft/sewing space that room should be a game/toy room...  But then I'm back to what kind of space I want/need.  I'd like somewhere I could keep papers out and work on Family History stuff, but that can't be on the main floor without a door.  I'll find my place...  or i need to go get a job!  Just don't know what I want to do there either...  volunteer somewhere maybe??

Well, love you tons and so glad you are busy and serving!  Love it.  Love all the pictures you sent :)
Love
mom

Fun fact of the week: sister Perry's favourite food is mayonnaise. I know this because she has a jar she brings to all the members house who feed us for dinner in case they don't have any :)

This week has been pretty solid! Here are some good things that have happened this weeeeek!

Fortunate Event 1. On Tuesday, we went to visit Tanya. Since it happened to be on New Years, we knew there was a possibility she would be drunk, and drunk she was. But despite her intoxication, she was really excited to see us and invited us in. When we sat down she asked "you dont care that I'm drinking?" We responded with of course we didnt, we were there for her, and we loved her. When we said that, she started sobbing. Through her tears she told us that she just wanted to quit smoking and drinking and was so done with all of it. Then she turned to me and said "you are different from other palangi (white people). you have a light, something different. I want what you have" I was so touched by her words and explained that I was there to share what I have with her. This was definitely not how we has hoped our first meeting with Tanya would go, but I can tell she has a lot of love for Christ in her and I'm excited to keep working with her.

Fortunate Event 2. We had an amazing lesson with Pearl and Naney again this week! Naney is starting to understand more, and Pearl came to church this Sunday which was awesome! (Funny side note: for our object lesson with Naney we took two pieces of tape and started them at the same point on the floor but then stretched them across the room like a triangle. The object was to try to walk down both lines at the same time, but you can't because they stretch too far. So we teach you can only choose one path, either the path to God or not. Before we could even being the lesson, Naney sat in the middle and said "I'm the eye to the illuminati sign, sister Keller come sit down and be the mouth!" I love her SO MUCH)

Fortunate Event 3. We had the first fast and testimony meeting of the year, and I ended up sitting next to a convert of 6 years from South Auckland. She told me in all those six years she had never born her testimony in front of everyone before. Then about half way through she turned to me and said "I'll do it if you do it!" Man if you want to make a missionary feel special do that :,) so we both bore our testimonies and it was spiritually beautiful!

I hope each of yous had a week full of good events!

For my spiritual thought this week I was going through some of my notes this week on my gospel library app (yay technology!) And came across Matthew 7:

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This reminded me of a general conference talk by David A Bednar called "If Ye Had Known Me".  In his talk he asks "Do we only know about the Savior, or are we increasingly coming to know Him?" We are blessed with the opportunity to continuously learn about Christ, and not only that but also to strive to be more like him. How often do we knowingly act against his will, yet turn around and call ourselves disciples? Yous are each examples to me, and I have so much admiration for everything all of yous go through. I hope each of you can find one way to draw closer to Christ this week.

Thanks for your examples, miss all of yous!

Much love,
Sister Keller

Fortunate Event 4. I found pomegranates and nutella!!!!!!!
Also look at my favourite illuminati loving future missionary(,,: