The last stretch of the year

After a hot and humid summer, it was nice to have the weather cool down a bit.  We took advantage of the cooler days to do some getting out.

Spent a fun afternoon at the great falls of the Potomac.

September brought an anniversary.  49 years!!!

Kat is one of our YSAs.  We gave her the cat ears  for Christmas so she would always remember us.

This is our YSA Bob who has adopted us as his grandparents.  He has had all the lessons but still hasn't committed to baptism.  

Abhi is another YSA investigator who knows the bible very well.  We pick him up every Friday night for game night and enjoy his company.

Our good friends, Lund and Karen Johnson, came for a visit so we took them to Mt. Vernon.

Said goodbye to sweet sister Montgomery.  See you back in Utah.  Mission accomplished!

September through December of 2017 brought the beautiful fall colors which seemed even brighter and more vibrant than last year.  This picture was taken along the Potomac.

Christmas brought the visitors center and the temple festival of lights.  It was beautiful !

We went to a concert at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  It is at the Catholic University in DC and is an amazing building.

Christmas also brought a visit to the National Botanical gardens which was so beautifully decorated for Christmas.  LOVED all the poinsettias!

And last but not least, we said goodbye to our dear friends the Thunnells.  We will miss them!

A busy but fun filled goodbye to 2017.  It has been a successful year and we are glad to have been a part of the growth and success that is the culture of the Washington DC North Mission.

Here are the words to our mission song

We have been called to serve in this the chosen land
We'll be obedient and follow His command
We'll strive for excellence in all we say and do
We'll live the words of Christ and preach the gospel true

Go ye therefore and teach all nations
Testify of Me
And lo I'm with you always
To the end of the world

While some are called to serve in far off foreign lands
We're in the capital established by God's hands
We'll stand with open arms all nations flow to us
Their faith and humble hearts cry out "In God we trust"

Go ye therefore and teach all nations
Testify of Me
And lo I'm with you always
To the end of the world

We are grateful to be here and to be a part of this mission of miracles.  As our Elders and Sisters work hard to find and teach, we are seeing miracles come to pass.  The gospel is true and we are so blessed to be a part of it.

Love,

Elder and Sister Morgan

Busy spring and summer

we were able go go to California for Kathy's dad's 100th birthday party 

Said goodbye to some awesome missionaries, Elder and Sister Oakeson

Organized a May "Why I Believe" with Eric Whettle and his wife as the main speakers

had a visit from Heather and Kendall

Hard to believe that the last time I wrote the spring flowers had not even come.  Now they are but a memory but these past few months have surely been memorable for us.  Did I say that spring was absolutely gorgeous?  I thought I'd been transported to the garden of eden...everything was blooming!!!!

Spencer and Hillary and their family came from Albuquerque for a visit

Our dear stake president came to see us!

Our dear friends, the Sowbys, came to see us

cherry blossoms over the Potomac

Our good friends, the Davises, came with the chorale.

The Sally Bytheway chorale performed at the visitors center.  That was such a treat as Kathy has sung with them for over 13 years.

In all, the past few months has been memorable.   We also had our son Dave, his wife Kristyn and their family visit.  And some friends from England came to see us. We have seen the work here explode as many are accepting the gospel and are entering into the covenant of baptism.  We feel so blessed to be a part of this great work.  We are loving our mission and testify that the gospel is true.  Until we see you again...much love

Elder and Sister Morgan

Gorgeous sunset at the Washington monument

February bites the dust!

Since February is such a short month, it seemed to fly by!  At the beginning of the month, we hosted our first game night with one of the YSA branches.  We have had three since and it has become a huge success.  Last Friday we had 27 people there which included 3 non members and many less actives.  We provide a meal which is a nice draw for starving YSA's.  

Toured Ford's Theatre with the senior missionaries

LOOKS LIKE SPRING IS ON ITS WAY!!!

We had to say goodbye (transfers) to two wonderful sisters who were great with the YSA branch

We've had some incredible sunsets!

Toured the Kennedy Center

We also had a baptism of Mary Clare on February 12 in the DC 2nd YSA ward.  She is a darling girl and has overcome many obstacles to join the church.

This is us, Mary Clare and the Burtons who are senior service missionaries who have recently been called to Moscow to help out with the legal affairs of the church.

So another month of wonderful missionary opportunities and many miracles here in the Washington DC north mission.  The work is going great!  The baptisms are over and above what they were one year ago.  The work is progressing.  Heavenly Father is preparing many for the gospel.  We are so grateful to be a part of it!

We send all our love,

Elder and Sister Morgan

Can't believe it's been 4 months!

Spent a few hours in the library of congress

We survived the inauguration!

Nice kitchen!

Nice view!

Our new apartment

Life in the fast lane here in DC is never dull.  Since I last posted, we've had Christmas, made another move, had an inauguration and survived ALL of it!  I've figured out why my posts are so random in frequency.  We really have no P-day so I try to fit it in whenever I can which hasn't been happening on a regular basis.  Hopefully,

things will improve but don't count on it!

We've been able to be a part of 5 baptisms since we got here and three more are scheduled for the next few weeks!

Baptism of Erica

In December we were talking to one of our grandkids and she asked if we had our tree up.  I told here we weren't going to have a tree because we had no room.  So she brilliantly suggested that I get a piece of green paper and cut out a tree and tape it to the wall.  So that's what we did and all the grandkids decorated it with their homemade ornaments.  Such a great idea...it might be our tree from now on out!

Our Christmas tree

The temple lights were so beautiful

We are getting into a good routine here and really enjoying the work.  Most nights we fall into bed totally exhausted but know that this, the Lord's work, is going forth nobly, independently and is sweeping over this area.  We love being missionaries and getting to meet so many wonderful people that the Lord has prepared for His gospel.

We send our love to all of you, our friends and family.

Love, Elder and sister Morgan

Life in the district...

Life in the district has its challenges. Here are some pictures of our little apartment.  I tried to make it a little more "homey" by adding the 3 "p"'s...pillows, pictures, and plants.  But our best efforts may fall a bit short of the mark.  It is the first time since 1971 when our living quarters have had only one bathroom.

   

Of course, the pictures from the grandkids help to make it feel like home.

Spending time in DC is always fun.  We attend 2 institute classes there each week, attend FHE and a game night.  We take the metro into DC as driving and parking is almost impossible.  Here is Elder Morgan at the capitol and Sister Morgan in front of the library of congress. 

   

You never know what "squirrelly " things are going on in

Washington :)

And we got up close and personal with Brigham Young!

If you want to take a bus, this is a nice stop!  Chairs and all!

Walmart has become a favorite spot!

As mentioned above, we metro alot.  This was probably the longest metro escalator we've seen!  

Baking bread for the neighbors,  elders, sisters and anyone else who needs some cheering up has been fun!

One last shot of our entry and kitchen.  I had to move the bookshelf over to this wall to cover the electrical panel which was the first thing you'd see when entering our apartment.  Bought the display items at goodwill.  

All in all, we have been busy.  Last weekend we were in attendance at a very historical event  The Washington DC YSA stake was created.  We were able to hear Elder Calderwood and Elder Perkins on Saturday night and Sunday as they formed the new stake.  Very exciting times for the YSA's in this area. 

Zion is growing1  Our favorite story these past few weeks is about Greg.  We met him at FHE.  The sisters had found him.  He is from Florida but is living here as a less active member going to George Washington University.  As Elder Morgan was talking to him, he asked where he was going for Thanksgiving.  He said he didn't have a place to which Elder Morgan replied,  "yes you do". So he invited Greg to the gathering at another senior's apartment where there were going to be students there.  The dinner was a success.  Greg met Kimberly who is the director of the LDSSA at George Washington and she took him under her wing.  The next Sunday Greg was in church.  He texted us to thank us for inviting him, for now, he has friends! 

  

Such goes the mission.  Lots of opportunities to help others .  The gospel is true and we testify that if you will live it, it will bless your life.  We promise that as you remember the Savior, especially this Christmas season, you will feel of His love in your life. 

Love,

Elder and Sister Morgan