December 24th, 2012

Hey family :)

Wow dad I really can’t believe that you got the day off again!  That’s really awesome you must be living right ha-ha--in that case how about I call home around 2 pm--which will be 1 pm your time. I’m out of Christmas cards but I will see if I can’t print out a few more today I forgot about Pete and Jolene.  I’m glad to hear that Grandpa is still going to church and I hope he had a great birthday.  But yeah I got the Christmas card and a package from you and from Chantel.  Shaleece sent me one too which was nice.  We had Lyssa's baptism yesterday after church it was really good and I got to be the one to baptize her.  I will attach a picture.  Well I’m really excited to talk to everyone tomorrow :) and to open packages in the morning ha-ha.

Love,

Devan  

December 17th, 2012

Hey family :)

It sounds like you all had a really fun week!  I can’t believe that little Ava is already 1 year old.  I bet it was a fun birthday party ha-ha.  It sounds like dad gave another one of his awesome talks!  I will be glad to hear one when I get back.  That’s pretty crazy though about that shooting and especially how it happened in one of dad's areas on his mission.  The whole world just seems to be going crazy.  I’m glad that you liked the Christmas card I made.  I sent one to all my friends and also to Tyson, Natalie, Tyler, and Julie.  Christmas is just coming up so fast its crazy.  We have our mission conference this Thursday so that should be fun.  Thanks for mailing a Christmas package.  I’m sad to hear that dad has to work so long on Christmas.  I don’t remember him having that long of days did something change with his job?  Hopefully it’s a good Christmas though.  I will plan on calling at around 6:30 or so.  If anything changes I will let you know next week or last year they let us send a text message to confirm a time also.  I’m really excited to call home and talk to everyone :) will Chantel be there?  The ward Christmas party was really fun.  Mike's family came and they seemed to enjoy themselves.  We had a lesson with them earlier in the week and invited them to be baptized.  Their oldest daughter Lyssa who is almost 25 accepted right away but Mike and Tawn still want to be baptized and they love the church they just want to wait and make sure.  But anyways Lyssa is progressing really fast and now we are planning on baptizing her this coming Sunday.  It kind of came out of the blue but she is really optimistic about it and really wants to so hopefully all goes well this weekend.  We have a lesson with just her tonight in another members home so it should go great.  The district leader and his companion are riding down to Christmas conference with us so on our way back he will do the interview.  So that has been pretty exciting.  Also Madison is still on track for the 29th of December and she seems to be doing well.  We had a lesson with her before church and one of the young women her age also was there for the lesson which seemed to help out the lesson.  But yes we are all moved out of the Patty's and into our new place.  It’s nice I like it we didn’t really unpack anything since we will be moving out soon.  We went and took care of all the paperwork at the apartments and we are going to be moving in on January 8th.  Transfers are on the 3rd and so I really hope that I stay here.  This is my 3rd transfer here and my companion this is his first area and this is his 4th transfer so I think it’s his time to go but i guess we will see.  I really want to see the rest of Mike's family get baptized.  We think once they see Lyssa get baptized that the rest of them will want to.  It was really cool last week when we were checking out with our groceries a member of our ward saw us and paid for our groceries.  It was really nice of her to do that she is a really nice lady.  Sometimes it’s hard to receive from people but luckily that subject got covered during the 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional that we need to allow people to give to us and not try to give something bigger back.  Well Court I’m glad to hear that you're doing well in your basketball games! Keep up the good work.  It sounds like you both really enjoyed the Christmas Devotional you had i bet it was really cool.  I’m sure your both excited for Christmas and to have a break from school.  Well I hope that you all have a great week!  I love ya and will talk to ya next week!

Love,

Devan

December 10th, 2012

Hey family :)

Hope you all had a great week.  That’s really cool mom and dad that you got dads grandparents sealed I bet that was really neat.  You will have to tell me more about it during our call.  I’m glad the ward Christmas party turned out good it sounded like fun.  Candace looks really good as Cindy Lou I think she played the part perfect ha-ha.  We went to the Stake Christmas devotional last night it was really good.  The ward party should be fun this week we are looking forward to it.  Mike and his family came to church again yesterday and seemed to enjoy it.  They haven’t stayed passed sacrament meeting though their kids don’t want to go to primary ha-ha.  Their older daughter who is 23 stayed for all 3 hours yesterday and then came to the Stake performance also and she has talked a little about baptism so I think things are looking good for them.  The rest of their family is a bit hesitant for a date to be baptized but we have a lesson scheduled for this Thursday and they also signed up on our dinner calendar for Christmas so that should be fun.  Also the 12 year old girl named Madison is doing well.  We had another lesson with her after church and have another one for Wednesday.  Her stepmom really wants to make sure she is ready to be baptized so it might be the weekend after Christmas.  She came from a home where her mom was doing drugs and she just didn’t grow up in a good environment so it’s taking a little more time to get her on the right track.  It finally cooled off here.  It’s been warm and in the 70s and 80s until last night and today.  I think it froze last night or got close so now it’s more bearable to wear our suit jackets.  We have to wear them from Oct. to April even if it’s hot and we were really baking in them so hopefully it stays cool.  As far as the Christmas call home just let me know what your schedule will be like on Christmas like when dad will be home and when the best time to call would be.  Also yes just send the package to the mission office there in San Antonio.  We are having our Christmas conference on the 20th and that’s when they hand out the mail.  So I think to be safe the latest I would mail it would be the 15th.  We are moving out of the Patty's this Friday and we are moving to live with a member of the stake presidency who lives just a few miles away.  They are going to be out of town from the 20th to the 31st.  We are going to stay there and then hopefully get moved into any apartment the first week in January.  It’s going to be crazy getting everything moved over and then moving again ha-ha.  But oh well.  But if someone like Natalie or Tyson wants to send something and it’s too late to send it to be there in time for the 20th I’m sure they can just send it to the Patty's and she will bring it by or let me know.  But anyways I bought my boots last P-day--they are really cool. I will include a picture.  They fit really nice and are comfortable to walk in I really like them.  So, thanks for the Christmas present :)  I also got some cool pictures with a parrot this week that this member has.  It got on our shoulders and everything and could talk it was pretty neat.  This morning there was a scorpion in my shoe and it stung me when I put the shoe on my foot.  Luckily it was pretty small and here they aren’t poisonous or anything.  It didn’t really hurt either it just felt funny for a few minutes.  Today we are going to stop by Walgreens or maybe even at Wal-Mart and I’m going to make a Christmas card to send out so I will probably be mailing some home.  That’s really cool that Rachel Melling is going on a mission.  Well Monkey it sounds like you are still doing really good in your college classes keep up the good work!  You played the part of Cindy Lou really good ha-ha.   I’m glad you were able to make some extra holiday money babysitting I bet it was fun!  Well Court it sounds like you have been playing really good in your games!  Keep up the good work and keep letting me know how your games are!  I bet your both excited for the break when do you get out?  Enjoy the snow and be careful driving!  I’m sure you have the address for the mission office but here it is again:

Elder Morgensen

404 E. Ramsey Rd. Suite 105

San Antonio, TX 78216-4665

Also Sister Patty got us a small tree and gave us stuff to decorate it with so that was pretty fun. Well I think that’s everything.  I love you all so much have a great week! :)

Love Devan

December 3rd, 2012

Hey family :)

I’m glad that the house is all decorated and the lights are up!  I’m sure it looks really good.  Thanks for the money in the account that really helps!  Our mission president talked to us and wants us to move out of the Patty's by Christmas, I guess that was the deal.  The Patty's said we could stay but President Jones just doesn’t want to intrude on the members.  So we have been looking for an apartment to move into in the next week or two.  All the ones we wanted to move into are full or can’t get us in until January so it looks like we will be living up in Austin.  I can already see it will be a problem because all the members live in Buda.  So hopefully we can get things worked out with our housing.  Luckily our next transfer meeting isn’t until January 3rd so I will most likely be here for Christmas. But I can’t think of any CD's that I want from Deseret book.  I’m sure there are some good ones I just don’t know of any or what they are called.  But yeah as it gets closer we will figure out a time to call on Christmas.  We can do it in the evening so we don’t have to worry about 3 way calling.  As far as a gift card McDonalds or Taco Bell are probably my more favorite ones ha-ha.  Well Courtney it sounds like you are going to have a great basketball season!  Keep up the good work and keep me updated on your games and how you do!  Thanks for the message from seminary I really like that thought :)  Wow Monkey it sounds like you are doing great in your college classes!  That would be awesome if you graduated with your associates!  I didn’t know that you were taking that many credits that’s pretty awesome!  You must be pretty dedicated to be taking early morning seminary.  That’s real early in the morning I don’t think I could have done it ha-ha.  Well for this week we had dinner with Mike and his family and they seem to be doing great.  They didn’t make it to church yesterday because two of his kids had the flu, but hopefully we can get back there sometime this week and keep the lessons going.  I think it would be great to have them baptized by Christmas.  It might not work out but it would be cool.  Also yesterday at church we talked to a guy in the ward and he told us he has someone who wants to be baptized.  I guess it’s his 12 year old daughter that was living with his ex wife and is now living with him and his new wife.  The mom wouldn’t ever let her get baptized but now since she lives with them she can be and she said she wants to be baptized by Christmas.  We thought it was really cool how out of nowhere someone comes and wants to be baptized ha-ha.  It was definitely a blessing from the Lord.  So we have an appointment for Tuesday.  Well I hope that you all enjoy the ward party, ours is on the 15th.  We also watched the Christmas devotional last night it was really great.  Also mormon.org/Christmas is a great tool the church has been using this holiday season to help the members share the gospel with their friend.  It’s worth checking out!  That’s all for this week i love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Love,

Devan

November 26th, 2012

Hey family!

It sounds like everyone had a really fun Thanksgiving and a fun black Friday shopping time ha-ha.  Our Thanksgiving was great.  We got some good meals and got really full.  It was fun to just relax for the day and eat some good food.  I think the bishop took a picture of us and sent it to dads email so I don’t know if you got that.  Mike and his family came to church again yesterday so that was really good.  We have got an appointment on Wednesday and they also signed up to feed us on Saturday ha-ha.  They are pretty much already Mormons ha-ha.  That’s good that Chad and Michelle’s family stopped by and said hi.  I’m sure they are all so much older.  I’m glad that grandpa had Doug's family visit him and spend Thanksgiving with him.  How is grandpa doing is he still trying to give up smoking?  As for Christmas I can’t really think of anything that I need at all.  I do want to give the family that we live with something for Christmas.  Do you think that you could get me a CD for them it’s called "The Garden” my Michael McLean--I think.  But I don’t really need anything this year.  I was thinking I could maybe buy some cool cowboy boots for like $120.  I have a 20percent off coupon to a store here that sells boots so maybe I will just want some money put into my account.  But we have our Christmas conference on December 20th and so if you put that CD in my package then I can wrap it and give it to the family.  I don’t think I have even got a picture with them yet so I will have to do that.  They are the Patty family.  I think next p-day I will go to a Walgreens and make some Christmas cards to send out again.  Well Candace and Courtney it sounds like you had quite the time doing your black Friday shopping it makes me tired just thinking about it ha-ha.  I hope you got some good stuff.  Good luck on Tuesday Court let me know how your game goes.  Good luck on your new college classes Monkey!  Don’t get behind in your homework ha-ha.  I talked to James and he said his sister is getting kind of serious with someone so he is hoping he gets back before anything happens ha-ha.  He only has 6 weeks left ‘til he goes home so he is excited.  He told me he might drive down and visit you guys so I told him if he needs to stay the night then he can.  I just looked at my account and maybe you could put a few bucks in before Christmas--if it’s not too much trouble ha-ha.  I had problems with my card last week so I had to pay with groceries with my card.  Well that’s all I’ve got for this week.  I love you have a great week!

Love,

Devan

November 19th, 2012

Hey family :)

That’s really great that grandpa went to church!  I think about him sometimes so I’m really glad the bishopric reached out and is helping him get to church.  I really hope that he can stop smoking it would really help with his health. Well yesterday we had Mike and his family comes to the first hour of church again and we are going by on Tuesday to go and teach them and hopefully we can start going through the lessons.  Ken and Ashley didn’t come yesterday but I talked to her on the phone and she said she was just having some problems and so we are stopping by today after we email she lives close to the library.  But yeah I’m excited for Thanksgiving!  I’m sure it will be really good at Natalie's house.  I’m glad Chan gets to go down.  So for transfers we got the call last night and we are both staying.  This will be our third transfer together.  So who knows I might end up staying here for 6 months if he leaves next transfer and I stay another one.  But yeah we went to the Salt Lick last week with another set of Elders it was a really fun time and a lot of good food.  It’s really cool that it was on the TV for having really good food.  I think there is more than one but the one we ate at was the original one so that was cool.  So dad, are you going to just stop in St. George on your way back and hang out.  That works out pretty good if you’re doing that.  So speaking of David’s family how is everything going with them?  Yeah it’s pretty crazy how it’s almost December again.  Dad will have to put up the lights and y'all will have to go get a Christmas tree :)  Are you getting a lot of snow there?  That’s really cool Court that you get to be Cindy Lu for the ward Christmas play.  I’m glad you sold all your cookie dough hopefully mom and dad bought some ha-ha. I hope your freshman team does well this year I’m sure it will.  I will be excited to see the new Twilight when I get home :)  Keep working hard on your personal progress.  I sent a Birthday card for Chan to our PO Box cuz I don’t know her address there in Nephi so I’m not sure if it will get there before Thanksgiving, I sent it today.  We went to the ward campout and ate dinner on Friday night it was really fun.  Mike and his family came to that too and so that was good.  We left before they did cuz we had to be in for curfew but they didn’t camp a lot of people left around 9.  It got pretty cold that night its funny a lot of the people here don’t know how to camp and froze in the night ha-ha. Well anyways I hope you all have a great week and have a fun Thanksgiving!  Tell everyone I say hi. 

Love,

Devan 

November 12th, 2012

Hey family.

Yes I heard about the elections it was a real disappointment.  I thought for sure Romney was going to take it but I knew it would be close.  I think it’s just because I’ve been around a lot of people here in Texas that really liked Romney.  And yeah it was good light for the church a lot of people really liked and respect him.  But oh well hopefully Obama doesn’t do too much these next for years.  But yeah so many lazy and wicked people voted for Obama I think it’s a sign that the nations is just growing more wicked like in Book of Mormon times.  Well we had a good day at church yesterday.  Mike and his wife and two of his kids came to sacrament meeting.  It was really good to have them there I think that they enjoyed it.  We will have to see if we can’t keep teaching them.  This week we also met a dad and his daughter who is 23 and she's in a wheelchair since a few years ago because of a car accident.  And she has a 2 or 3 year old son.  Anyways we really only talked to them for like 10 minutes in their driveway and the dad said he really wants his daughter in a church and he said he's heard good things about the Mormons and so we gave them the time and address and they said they would come on Sunday.  So the 3 of them ended up coming also.  The girls name is Ashley and she really liked it and wants to come back she said.  In relief society they talked about a campout and the ward is having this weekend that’s close to the church and she said she would be interested in going to it and having the dinner but not camping overnight.  So hopefully that will go well.  The dad named Ken seemed to like it but I think it just took him time to get comfortable being in a place and around people he didn’t know.  He said he wanted to come to support his daughter and so we're not sure if he will keep coming.  But yeah anyways it was good at church yesterday.  This week was cool we were just knocking on doors and it was late and a nice Mexican family invited us in for a bowl of what’s called Menudo.  It was probably the most interesting thing I’ve eaten in my life.  It was basically pig stomach! Ha-ha.  We were both able to eat our bowls but it was tuff to make it seemed like we liked it ha-ha.  Then when it was all gone they wanted to get us more but we insisted we were full ha-ha.  But it was really cool we just shared a scripture from the book of Mormon and then left, they weren’t too interested in the church but enjoyed the thought.  Waxing the car last Monday was fun it did bring back good memories.  But I think I took a lot more time and did a better job on my car than I did on the mission car ha-ha.  But it turned out nice and shiny.   We haven’t talked to the Leatham's since then one night at dinner; he is the one who has the cancer.  We really need to get back over there.  But I’m glad that Beaver and it sounds like all of Utah got some snow.  Hopefully it will make up for last year.  I’m glad that Candace is a good driver and that her truck does well.  But yeah that will be a big project for us building that fence ha-ha.  Have you thought about the kind that you want?  It will be nice when it’s all done.  President Jones announced that transfers will be the day after Thanksgiving so that will be good.  Hopefully I get to stay I’m really thinking I will.  But yeah we are at least having Thanksgiving at the bishop’s house and I’m sure we will be to other people’s houses too.  It will be a fun day and it almost just a week away it’s crazy.  We will start seeing Christmas lights go up and listening to Christmas music.  That will be fun having Thanksgiving down in St. George.  What is Tyson’s family going to do?  What about Chan?  Bryce told me he's excited for a Thanksgiving meal since he hasn’t had one for the past 2 year’s ha-ha.  Well Court that’s awesome that you’re on the freshman team!  I’m sure you will have a great team and you'll have a lot of experience for next year.  Yeah they probably didn’t want to cut just one girl so this probably worked out best.  I’m excited to see how your season goes for you.  I’m glad your eye is feeling better too I was worried ha-ha and sorry to hear about your phone (LOL).  Hopefully you got my birthday card I sent I thought it was quite funny:) ha-ha. That’s cool that you have a new job I’m glad you like it.  The weather here has been hot lately but today it’s gotten cooler so hopefully it stays that way.  Well that’s all I’ve got for this week.  We are going on exchanges today so another Elder who is being trained is coming here and my companion is going with the District Leader.  We are thinking of going to the Salt Lick when they get here cuz it’s in our area.  I went their last year at this time when I was in Kyle.   So if we go it should be some good food :)  Ok family I love you and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Devan

November 5th, 2012

Hey Everyone :)

It looks like you all had fun at Tyson and Stephanie's house and also enjoyed Courtney's birthday there.  Sorry Courtney I was going to wish you a happy birthday in the email last week but then I thought I would send you a card but then I forgot to get the card during shopping so I’m going to get one today and send it ha-ha.  But Candace and Courtney look really cute in their Halloween costumes. I hope everyone had fun.  In the picture Courtney's left eye is squinting.  Is her eye okay I remember she had that bacteria in her eye did that get all fixed?  Maybe she just blinked for the camera.  Anyhow the pictures at the pool look really fun those hot springs sound nice.  Yeah Mike really liked the trunk or treat.  Unfortunately he didn’t come to church yesterday.  We will just keep trying to get him there and also teach him.  Saturday morning we did service at a part member families home we helped them build a fence.  She is a member but hasn’t come for a long time and he isn’t a member and they have an older daughter living with them also.  So it was good to work with them and get to know them.  She ended up coming to church yesterday so that was good.  We are going back on Thursday to finish it.  Halloween was good.  We just got home by 6 and then just kind of hung out.  It was also really nice to get an extra hour of sleep on daylight savings ha-ha.  But I’m not sure about the guy with cancer. We haven’t checked by since but we will probably do that soon.  Transfers right now are scheduled for Thanksgiving but hopefully he moves it forward or backward a day.  He will probably leave and then I will get a new companion. Well tomorrow is the big day for elections everybody here seems to be on edge about it ha-ha.  I can’t wait to see what happens.  For P-day today we are going to wash and then wax our car and one of the member’s cars we live with.  It won’t be quite as enjoyable as waxing the mustang but at least it’s something ha-ha.  Well Courtney I hope that tryouts go good for you!  I know that you'll do great.  It will be fun to watch you play next year.  Well that’s about all I’ve got for this week.  I love you all and take care :)

Love Devan    

October 29th, 2012

Hey family!

Good job Monkey's I’m glad that you did well at state!  That’s really awesome :)  I’m glad that BYU finally won a game they had a bad streak going for a bit.  Well dad I’m glad that your talk went well.  It’s amazing how the spirit prompts people what to do and say.  That’s one thing that I’ve really noticed since I’ve been out here.  Especially the other night we were eating with a part- member family.  The husband isn’t a member but he has terminal cancer in his lungs.  And they recently found 2 small spots on his brain so he was going in the next day to have them removed using lasers and things and he was pretty uneasy about the whole thing.  He asked us for a priesthood blessing and so I gave it to him.  It was cool how I was just really relaxed and just knew what to say.  He and his wife seemed really happy afterwards it was a neat experience. Oh I forgot to say thanks for the package!  It gave me some good Halloween candy to munch on.  Candace and Courtney looked really cute in their volleyball picture together.  Yeah it’s crazy that it’s almost November.  We have had some really cool weather this week so it’s been nice.  But I really can’t think of much that I want for Christmas.   But yeah I’m not sure either what will happen with the elections.  I got my card thing in the mail that has my voter ID on it so I’m going to try to vote today if I can.  It will be interesting to see what happens. I can’t believe that Court is already turning 15!  It’s pretty crazy how fast the time flies by.  Today in Presidents letter he said in the next few months we will have 190 Elders and 60 sisters which is due to the recent announcement.  Right now we have 160 Elders and 30 sisters.  It will be cool to see the huge influx of missionaries.  It was fun last P day we got to burn a big pile of old wood and sticks in the member’s backyard.  It was a big fire and burned really hot cuz the wind was blowing.  The zone conference was really great on Wednesday Elder Perkins had some great ideas, it was really neat to hear him talk.  Friday was our ward Trunk-or-Treat.  It was really fun we got to be the judges for the chili cook off, we had to try 15 different chilis and give them a score.  It was cool too because Mike and his 3 kids came to it, his wife had to work.  We weren’t expecting him to be there but I think he really liked it; everyone was really nice to him.  He said he was going to try to get to church yesterday but they didn’t show up.  Anyways it was a pretty good week.  But yeah I remember when we went to the Snyder’s haunted house it was pretty sweet.  That’s cool Courtney that you got to help out with it I bet it was fun.  Brad sure is a funny guy ha-ha.  Well Monkey I’m glad that you played well at state.  I’m sure you’re glad it’s over for the year and can now just relax through the winter.  Hopefully you did well on the ACT, but I know what you mean by the end of the test it’s hard to care ha-ha.  well I hope that you all have a fun Halloween:)  we will be in by 6 that night and we'll see what there is to do past that!  Have a great week I love you all!

Elder Morgensen 

P.S. the picture at the trunk or treat is of us and then Mike and his kids.  He also goes by Miguel too I think I have been calling him both ha-ha.

October 22nd, 2012

Hey everyone! :)

Thanks for the pictures everyone looks great!  The mountains look really nice too.  The girl’s sure look a lot older from what I remember.  This whole time I’ve kind of just thought not too much has changed but I guess that a year is a long time.  It doesn’t feel like I’ve been gone for that long though.  Our zone meeting went well.  Our interviews with President Jones got postponed cuz he had something come up so they will be in a few weeks.  We have got zone conference this Wednesday though which will be good.  Elder Perkins of the seventy will be there training so it should be a good conference.  We had dinner last night with the two boys that are from Utah and are inactive that had served missions.  It went pretty well, both their girlfriends were there too, and they all had a glass of wine with their dinner.  We just got to know them and tried to be their friends, we didn’t give them a rebuking or anything like that.  We hope to be able to get back over there sometime in the next few weeks and just kind of ask them what happened after their missions and see if we can help them.  Anyways yeah we had another lesson with Pam and it went ok.  She is just kind of ditsy and it’s hard for her to understand things.  We aren’t sure if she is just taking the lessons cuz she lives with her brother who is a member or if she really wants to learn, so we will see how that goes.  Well Candace good luck on the ACT!  You will probably get higher than I did ha-ha.  Just make sure you don’t spend too much time on one question.  Let me know when you get your scores back.  Its crazy how big Ava is getting she is just so cute.  Chan sent me some pictures and she is just growing right up.  Well we got the ward Trunk or Treat on Friday so that should be fun.  Well that’s about all I’ve got for this week.  Things out here are going great and the time seems to be flying by!  I love you all have a great week! :)

Love, Devan   

October 15th, 2012

Hey family :)  Sounds like you are all doing well...except for Monkey :(   ha-ha just kidding.  Wow that’s a crazy story about Candace having that reaction and getting the hives.  Hopefully it was the pistachios and she doesn’t have any more outbreaks.  That’s scary though.  She has really been accumulating some doctor visits hasn’t she.  We saw a dead corral snake this week which was kind of cool but also made me scared to walk through longer grass now.  Sounds like mom and dad had a nice drive up the canyon.  For some reason I can’t view some of the pictures you sent me.  I can view the three last ones you sent me but the group of ten that you sent won’t come up.  It will be Thanksgiving in no time.  But yeah Elder Holland’s talk really is amazing I really like it too.  Well this week I decided I would vote and so I registered so I should be getting something in the mail soon.  I’m going to vote for Romney.  I’m not too sure how the elections are going right now but I have a feeling it will be close.  Yesterday our ward had a "break the fast" activity at a ward member’s house.  It was like a big potluck to break everyone’s fast it was really fun like half the ward showed up.  As far me not a whole lot going on here.  We haven’t talked to Mike for a little while I was thinking about calling him sometime though; he hasn’t come to church yet.  This week we have zone meeting and presidents interviews on Wednesday.  Then next Wednesday we have zone conference where a general authority is coming, I can’t remember who but it’s a member of the Seventy.  So that should be pretty good.  The past 2 Sundays we have taught a members sister who is living with them but who is catholic.  We also have a lesson for Friday her name is Pam.  Not sure how fast she will progress but over time I think she will.  We also had a mormon.org referral to go by a member of the church.  It said he moved from Utah a little while ago and isn’t interested in the lessons but is willing to feed the missionaries.  We got that a while ago but finally got in contact with him this week.  It is two brothers living together who moved from Utah.  They are probably around 30 or so and both served missions, but they are inactive now.  They made it sound like they wanted to get away from Utah.  They had liquor bottles on their counter and also girls living with them so it was kind of sad to see.  One of the girls was also a member from Utah. They were both really nice though and we just got them talking about their missions.  We got his number and said we would call sometime to come over to dinner.  I don’t know about one of the brothers but I think the other one may have some potential of coming back.  But I’m not too sure right now we will just have to wait and see.  But we made the ward council aware of them and told them the situation.  That’s about all that happened this week.  Well I love you all and hope you have a great week! :)

Love Devan

October 8th, 2012

Hey family :)

Well dad it looks like you all had a fun successful hunt!  Conference was so great and it was awesome how they lowered the age for missionaries to head out.  Like you said it will really increase the number of those that serve, especially for sisters.  But yeah I really liked Jeffery R. Holland’s talk it was really good and then I also really like President Uchtdorf talk.  The whole conference was really good though we watched it down in the stake center.  And since it is down in Kyle in-between a session we went out tracting with the Kyle missionaries.  So it was fun to tract in the same area that I was at this time last year.  I didn’t see that TV special between the conference sessions about the missionary that served here.  I only know of two converts that went home this summer and that was Elder Brook and Elder Walter so I don’t know if either of them ring a bell but that’s really cool.  They were both actually AP's in the mission.  That’s cool that Bonnie and Tevan both got their calls.  Well we got transfer calls last night and we are both staying here for at least another 6 weeks.  We had Mike planning on coming to priesthood session with us because we had a barbeque before it but he didn’t show so that was a disappointment.  But no we aren’t really working with anyone new.  We have just been trying to contact less actives and also part member families which have had good results.  It sounds like the Monkey's are doing good in volleyball this year.  When is state?   It has been cold here too the past few days it has been nice.  Well that’s all I can think of.  I’m emailing off the members computer because the library is closed for Columbus Day.  Well thanks for the pictures dad!  Everyone looks great and so does the Bronco!  It looked like a fun camp.  Well I love you all have a great week! :)

Love, Devan

October 1st, 2012

Hey family!

Well I hope you all had a good week!  This week I went on exchanges with the district leader into his area called Bastrop.  It’s a huge country area their ward boundaries are like the size of Austin and it’s pretty much a bunch of nothing.  But anyways if I what I heard was true it was the same area that the Texas Chainsaw Massacre happened and also where those two missionaries got killed back in the 70s that aunt Natalie was telling me about, I think the area is called Dale Valley but I’m not sure.  So it was kind of scary knocking on houses late at night out in the woods.  But I made it out!  I guess a lot of people have pulled guns on the missionaries in the past but luckily not while I was there.  Also on Tuesday we went up into Austin for a Leadership training meeting it was pretty good.  On Saturday at the church was an emergency preparedness fair open for the community.  It was really cool there were a lot of booths on food storage and just being prepared for emergencies in general.  There was a pretty good turnout of people.  We were in the “Mormon Helping Hands” booth for an hour or so before we had to go.  But it was pretty fun.  Thanks mom for speaking about me in sacrament meeting I’m sure it was really good.  Hopefully you had enough experiences to work with.  But yeah send me the talk if you remember to I would like to read it.  Hopefully you are all ready for general conference this weekend.  It should be really good.  But yeah I told Josh sorry about his grandma.  Tell the girls to keep up the good work and make sure to watch conference :)  Well Monkey that’s cool you got asked to Prom already :)  That might even be earlier than when I asked.  He probably wanted to make sure to get you.  Well I love you all so much I hope you all have a great week!:)

Love, Devan

September 24th, 2012

Hey everyone.  Sounds like you all had a fun weekend.  The fireside that we did went really well.  We gave a 15 minute presentation along with a video to 4 different groups of youth.  The youth would just go to the next station when they were done with us so it turned out good.  We gave everyone donuts so that turned out good.  We also had stake conference which was really good our mission president came and spoke and did a really great job.  That’s funny that President Robinson still is going to keep that axe that is stuck in the wood for me to pull out ha-ha, but yeah I talk to josh every week and just see how he's doing.  They are a really great family.  I’m glad that the temple dedication went well.  Bryce was telling me that he went to it also.  I bet it’s a pretty temple.  Well dad, enjoy the hunt!  Have fun and try not to get your bronco stuck or anything ha-ha.  Hopefully it’s a good hunt this year and you see some nice bucks.  Say hi to Doug and grandpa and Justin for me.  But thanks for starting my car and stuff like that to keep it in good condition :)  But no Miguel has been hard to get an appointment with but right now we are scheduled to give him a church tour this Saturday and he said they are going to make it on Sunday so hopefully it works out.  We didn’t meet anyone new this week unfortunately.  But yeah I love to hear the prophet and apostles speak to us.  I’m so excited for General Conference coming up.  Also for family home evening or for a Sunday activity or something you should check out mormonmessages.org it’s a really great sight with great videos on it.  Well that’s all I’ve got for this week!  Have a great week i love you all so much! :)

Love, Devan

September 17th, 2012

Hey ya'll!

Sounds like everyone is going to have a pretty busy week!  That’s good that Beaver won their football game.  It sounds like they are doing well this year. The area we are in is really good I enjoy living with the members and yeah we still get fed almost every night.  We are having a youth fireside this Wednesday night and me and Elder McMurray get to do a 20 minute presentation of missionary work.  It should be pretty good.  The theme is centered on a short movie that I think is on lds.org on the youth part.  It’s called "inviting all to come unto Christ".  Anyway so we have been preparing that.  This week we also did a 20 minute lesson at zone meeting on the atonement which was really good.  Right now we are just trying to build up a teaching pool.  I have been trying to identify and contact the part member families in the ward and also less actives.  The ward seems pretty good on coming up with referrals.  We didn’t have a chance to meet with Miguel this week he has been busy.  But we are going to try to set up a dinner lesson for sometime this week at the members house so hopefully that goes well.  But yeah let me know when Tevan or Bonnie gets their mission calls.  I've been talking to Josh its crazy that he only has like 9 months left.  Also Bryson should be coming home I think sometime in January and then James not too long after that.  Have you been driving my car very much?  Do you still keep it in the garage?  I will be happy to drive it again when I get home ha-ha.  We are thinking about going to Cabella's after we are done here emailing.  It should be pretty fun looking at all the hunting stuff.  It’s crazy how fast the year has rolled around its already time for another hunt.  Hopefully grandpa feels good this year to get out and do a few things.  Well Monkey's have a fun time with homecoming!  Hopefully it’s a good game and Beaver wins.  I’m glad that you are both liking school so far and enjoying seminary :)  I hope volleyball keeps going good!  Well that’s all I have for this week!  I love you all so much and have a fun week! :)

Love, Devan

September 10th, 2012

Hey everyone.  Well this was a pretty good week.  I've just been getting more familiar with the area and also trying to get to know the members.  This ward is really great there are a lot of nice people in it too.  The work is going well they were only working with pretty much 1 kind of solid person when I got here but has kind of dropped us.  But we did meet this guy knocking the other day and talked awhile and set up a return appointment.  We went by with a member and had a pretty good discussion.  It was pretty much just getting to know him.  His family is nice.  We didn’t know but when we got there they were cooking burgers and other food for us so that was a nice surprise.  And we also had a dinner appointment right after the lesson so we got extra full.  The guys name is Miguel but he goes by Mike.  So we are excited to hopefully get back over there and teach him and his family.  But so far the area is great.  The members are really nice that we live with they usually give us leftover food and last P day they cooked breakfast for us.  They have a big tree in their backyard and there's a big branch you can climb on and they have a rope swing on a tall branch and basically you hold on and jump off and before you hit the ground the rope catches you and then you swing back and forth.  It was really fun but pretty scary the first time it took me awhile before I would do it.  Dang dad it seems like you get bronchitis every year so that’s good you know what is causing it.  Hopefully it helps you to feel better and not get sick anymore.  I’m glad that the dinner you did went well.  That sounds like a heck of a good football game you went and watched.  Beaver must be pretty good this year if they beat Kanab.  I really hope BYU has a good season.  But yeah my comp is pretty cool we get along well.  There is a shortage of active priests in the ward so yesterday I got to bless the sacrament.  It was the first time in awhile it brought back old memories.  I hear that Elder Holland gave a really good fireside last night for the 18-30 years old.  I really wanted to go and watch it.  I’m glad that the monkeys are loving volleyball.  There must be some really good teams this year to be beating beaver.  It’s been nice this week--we have had cooler temperatures so hopefully they stay this way ha-ha. I bet the fall back in Utah feels really nice.  Hopefully it gets a little more snow this year in the mountains.  But yeah on my year mark I had a gift card for 25 dollars to Chili’s that Tyson and Stephanie had given me so I took me and my comp out for lunch.  It was really good food it was fun to go out.  Now I am able to go back on my journal and see what I was doing a year ago so that has been fun.  It’s crazy to think in another year I will be home.  Well it’s good to hear that the monkeys like school.  It seems like as time goes on the classes are getting harder with more requirements so hopefully they can stick with it.  How is mom enjoying the new school?  That’s cool that Candace is on the stake youth committee and gets to plan all that stuff the Halloween dance sounds really fun.   Well that’s all I’ve got for this week.  I love you all and have a great week! :)

Love, Devan

September 3rd, 2012

Hey everyone!

Well I am in my new area.  I didn’t go very far, I just jumped 1 ward over.  It is called Buda.  But the u makes a "you" sound.  So it’s not the like big guy that started his own religion.  So this area borders with Sunset Valley, which is where I just was, and Kyle, which is where I started my mission.  We actually meet at the same building that I did in Kyle so at church yesterday I saw a few people that I recognize.  I only live like 5 miles from where I just lived.  We live with members here which are pretty cool.  They are the Patty's.  They have a really nice home on a nice piece of country property.  We have a room on the back side of the house and a bathroom so it works out nice.  They are really nice people to live with.  She is the relief society president and he is on the high council.  I think they have 4 kids but they are all grown and moved out so it’s just us and them here.  I’m actually emailing off their computer since all the libraries are closed today for Labor Day.  By the way I hope you enjoy your day off school!  But we are in a full car area so I won’t have to bike at least for a little while :)   My companions name is Elder McMurray which is cool because I already served with an Elder McMurray.  But he is from Logandale Nevada.  He seems pretty cool and as a brand new missionary is eager to get out and work which is good.  But yeah the area seems great and there are a few people we are working with.  It’s weird not having 5 other missionaries around you when you are home.  It’s back to just me and my comp but it will be fun.  But the trainer meeting in San Antonio was good. President Jones gave us a one-hour long training on how to be a good trainer. It was fun and I got to go and see the San Antonio temple for the first time it looks pretty from the outside.  But anyhow I’m glad that Dad and Doug were able to get a good hunting spot.  Hopefully it doesn’t snow or anything since you are going to be in a tent.   But yeah my mission birthday is coming up this week I can’t believe how it’s already been a year!  Hopefully the dinner you are in charge of turns out good.  It sounds like there is going to be a lot of people coming.  That’s awesome BYU won their game I hope they have a good season this year.  Candace's truck looks really nice!  It looks like you have done some nice work to it.  I’m sure monkey will enjoy the stereo when it gets installed.  So how is monkey getting the stick shift down?  It sounds like you and Monkey are tearing it up in volleyball!  Keep up the good work!  Well here is a picture of Michael and his family except for their 10 year old sister. Michael is the one in the black shirt.  Hopefully he will get baptized soon and I’m close enough that I will probably just drive up to it when it happens.  The other is a picture of me and Elder Ward when we just saw this van parked in someone’s driveway so we had to get a picture of that.  Well that’s all I’ve got for this week.  Love you all and enjoy your week!

Love, Devan

August 27th, 2012

Hey family!

Well it looks like I’m going to be out of here.  I’m getting transferred and my comp is staying.  I am going to be going somewhere and finish training a missionary so that will be really exciting I’m glad that I get to do that.  I will go to a new trainer meeting down in San Antonio on Wednesday and be going to the transfer meeting Thursday morning.  So unfortunately I didn’t get to baptize Michael while I was here but I’m sure he is going to get baptized soon.  I’m really glad that I and Elder Black were able to get the teaching and things started in that family they are really great.  So next week when I email you I will be in my new area and can then give you the address.  It’s crazy how the hunt is only a month away now.  You will be up there before you know it.  I got a package from Tyson and Stephanie last Monday after email.  It was really nice of them it had some snacks and some money and I also got a card and some money from Natalie and Blaine.  This time last year I went bow hunting with Tyson that was really fun so hopefully I will get to do some fun hunting next year when I get home.  But I’m glad that mom had a good birthday and got to watch the Dark Knight Rises I bet it was sweet!  That’s cool that Monkey's truck is getting fixed up you will have to send me some more pictures.  Well I’ve got to be running that’s all I’ve got for this week.  I love you all so much and have a great week!

Love, Elder Morgensen

August 20th, 2012

Hey ya’ll :)

Well I guess school and everything is back in full swing now.  It’s always tuff to start school back up but you get back into the groove in no time.  Well mom I hope that you have a Happy Birthday! :)  Hopefully they do something fun for you and take you out or something.  Everyone is always just getting a little older (ha ha).  But yeah Bryce sent me a pictures of his new truck it is really nice.  I’m sure he will have a blast over at college. Well the work here is going good.  We had President Interviews this week and told me I was probably getting transferred.  We get transfer calls this Sunday and then transfers next Thursday and then I will be somewhere else.  It’s crazy how the time flies I feel like I haven’t been here that long.  But we didn’t end up having the lesson with Michael last week but it’s scheduled for this week so hopefully it all goes well.  Well I will talk to you all next week and let you know if I end up getting transferred.  I love you all so much have a great week :)

Love, Elder Morgensen

August 13th, 2012

Hey family!

Thanks so much for the pictures!  You all look awesome.  Little Ava is just growing right up!  Grandpa looks like he is doing well too I’m sure he loved the visit.  That is a pretty picture of the mountains.  The Monkey's sure are looking older but I guess it’s been about a year so yeah. Everyone looks good and happy :)  But yeah some members took us out for Chinese food and so since I hadn’t tried duck I figured I would try it.  It was pretty it was just really fatty, but it still had a good taste.  But yeah we had fun.  She was telling us that her son was in the Las Vegas mission and it just got split and they made a Reno mission and that her son is in Elko.  I was telling them that I have Uncle Chad and his family that lives there.  But yeah it’s crazy where the time goes I can’t believe I’m almost half way done.  We still don’t quite have Michael with a date yet we are still working with him.  His mom who is the member was the one that said she still wants to wait a little while for his baptism.  He is definitely ready though he is a pretty smart kid.  I think we can get him soon though we are having a lesson about baptism on Tuesday.  We were also tracting this week in this apartment complex at around 8pm and saw this big u-haul pull up.    So we offered the people some help moving their things in.  They were really happy that we were there because they had friends and neighbors help pack it up but nobody to help them unload it.  And it was a single mom and her old mom and dad to help who really couldn’t lift much.  So there was no way they would have been able to get the things out of the truck without someone to help them.  We were there until about 10 pm because we didn’t want to leave anything left in the truck.  It was a really fun experience they were really grateful.  And since they were new to the area we invited them to church on a Sunday so maybe they will show up sometime.  But that’s about all we did this week.  Thanks for the emails every week I always look forward to Mondays! :) love you all so much and have a great week back to school!

Love, Devan

August 6th, 2012

Hey family :)

Well we had a pretty great week.  Zone conference was pretty fun I always love going to those.  We were able to teach a couple of new people this week so that was fun.  None of them came to church but oh well.  We were able to teach Michael though so that was good and hopefully we can get him baptized soon.  I’m sure the Monkey's got more school clothes this year than ever before.  It just keeps compounding (ha ha).   But yeah I love the fall back in Utah and especially the hunting.  What is Doug going to do since he sold his trailer?  It’s crazy that it’s only 2 months away it didn’t seem like too long ago that you went.  I hope you all have fun visiting grandpa and Toni and Wanda.  That will be good to see them.  I forgot that Courtney will be starting seminary that will be really fun she will really enjoy it.  That’s really cool that Courtney is the Mia Maids president.  Those are always really important positions where you can be an example to the other girls in the class so I’m sure she will do a good job of that. I hope the Monkey's weren’t too much for mom to handle up shopping I know how it can get crazy.  Well I love you all so much and have a great week! :)

Love, Elder Morgensen

July 30th, 2012

Hey everyone!

Well had another great week of working.  I guess August and September are usually the hottest months so hopefully I can get past those (ha ha).  But we are meeting with Michael O’Leary on Tuesday night we are eating dinner at their house and he was at church yesterday so things are looking good for him.  Right now he is set for the 18th of August but it may need to get pushed back a little bit we are going to try to figure it out on Tuesday.  We really aren’t working with anyone else that’s progressing we are still just out knocking.  We talked with a Muslim for about an hour in his house he was really nice.  He basically told us all about Islam and gave us each a copy of the Qur’an.  This month is their Ramadan so their family fasts everyday from sun up to sun down.  They are pretty devoted to their beliefs--that’s for sure.  How was the 24th of July?  Did everyone come to Beaver to visit?  I’m glad that dad got to have to week off to relax and get some things done.    I’m sure the Monkey's are excited to get all their new school clothes (ha ha).  Is Chan going to go with you at all?  How is her new job going for her?  Well I guess mom’s summer ends earlier than everyone else's but it’s always nice to get back into the groove of things.  I bet the new classroom is nice though.  That’s good that you all get to go see grandpa I’m sure he will love the visit.  I haven’t seen Tony and Wanda since I think that reunion we had in Idaho.  Hopefully everything goes well with his cancer.  But oh yeah at the capitol building there was some sort of a conference going on there and since we were dressed up I think some people just thought we were a group from a school and so they let us into some pretty cool rooms that others can’t go into.  It was pretty fun :)  But yeah we have got zone conference on Wednesday so that should be pretty fun.  The best way to do missionary work is just to see an opportunity and take it and not to try and make one out of nothing.  Well that’s all I’ve got for this week I love you all so much and have a great week and a fun time getting school clothes! 

Love, Elder Morgensen