Hangin' in Layton

 Hello everyone!

Well first week of the mission is complete! Let's see, I finished my MTC on Monday and got to the airport around 5am Tuesday morning. I said goodbyes to the family and flew to salt lake city. Two senior missionaries were there to greet me and take me back to the mission office. There were 38 missionaries that came in with me on Tuesday so everything  was kinda crazy. We were welcomed to the mission home by president call and his wife and the other staff members so that was cool.

 The zone leaders picked me and one other missionary up and took us to where our companions lived. I am serving in Roy right now so I'm excited for my first area! My companion's name is Elder Kline. He has been out for a while now and only has 4 transfers left. He is a cool dude that is teaching me lots. 

I live with 5 other missionaries! There are 6 of us total in the house that we are living in so it's always a party. Most of us have been reassigned from other missions, the only two that were originally assigned to Layton were Elder Kline and Elder Smith. 

I thought the restrictions would be lighter out here in Utah for the missionaries but it is even stricter than California, as far as us missionaries. We are only allowed to have zoom/phone call messages. We can't do anything in person, no lessons , no meals. We can go on inspired walks, but can't talk to anybody unless they approach us. So our days consist of calling members and scheduling member lessons on zoom. We will also try and find new people through Facebook, or through referrals

We try to have 10 lessons a day. Most are with members, we have one nonmember that we are teaching though. So it has been something to get used to! President call has been trying to get the point across that missionary work is not how it used to be. We don't have the same means of finding new people as we used to. He says that we need to rely on the members. Help them realize that it's not only missionaries who can do missionary work. 

I would say this past week has been great though! I have learned so much and am continuing to learn tons. Oh ya! One thing I forgot, it's also crazy because here in utah we walk around a lot and everybody here knows the missionaries. Cars will honk, and wave. Members will say hi on the streets. Definitely not how it is in California, so I had to get used to that haha.

Wednesday we get a free meal at Burger Bar. So all the missionaries in our zone go on Wednesdays to get a burger and fries every Wednesday.

I miss you all but the mission has been good so far. I'll leave y'all with the biggest thing I learned in the MTC and this past week in the field and the thing I learn all over again every day I wake up: 

God is there. He's a whole lot closer than we think He is. Though He may feel far away at times or we may think we are far from Him at other times, He is always there reaching out for us. I've felt it in my life and you can feel it in yours! He's extending his hand to lift you up, so take it! 

Hope you all are doing well! If you have any questions or just want to talk, please please please shoot me an email! I love reading em and I'd be glad to talk with y'all! 

Love Elder Morgan