Week #6

Hey Mis!

I'm glad you had a good week! That's a fun trip too. I'm glad you got to go to the temple and visit some places where Dad and Mom had been. Wish I could've gone! How's school going? I read your other email about your old convert. That's really cool! I've heard you really don't see the effects of your mission until afterwards. As for the CD, those all sound good! We actually heard some Mat Kearney on the Christian radio. I can't remember what one it was, but if you think any of his songs are Christian-themed, send those haha. Maybe some Lindsey Sterling too. Anything else that you can think of, put on there. Thank you so much! My week has been good. Tough, but good. Most of our investigators have been flaky, but we had a great opportunity to do lots of service with members. Recently we worked at the Scout expo, but this week we also helped people move and helped a younger couple put together a crib. It seems like missionaries in the past didn't really connect well with the ward, but now it seems that the ward is warming up to Elder Wightman and I. Which is big, because members play a big part in missionary work as you know. We had dinner with the Fischer family last night, where we had spaghetti-on-the-table. No plates, no utensils, no napkins. I attached some pictures and videos at the bottom. Their tradition is to do that with all the missionaries, and
then after dinner, we're supposed to rip open our poncho-garbage bags like Hulk Hogan and yell. It was fun. We got to meet with Adrian and his kids. Adrian is a really cool guy, and he's been seeking truth for a long time. He and his daughter committed to be baptized! His son still has questions, so we're holding off on a date until his son commits. We're excited though. Our first couple weeks were rough, but I can see how the Lord is blessing us as we continue His work through faith. Those Christ-like qualities that you suggested I study have helped a bunch. It's been awesome. I hope you're
doing well with school and work!

Love you Mis!
Trev

Trevor and Elder Wightman eating spaghetti on the table at the Fischer family (sent 10/26/15)

Trevor ripping open the garbage bag (sent 10/26/15)

Week #5

Hey Mis!

My week has been pretty good. We had 10 scheduled appointments for the week, and NINE cancelled. That was tough, but the Lord definitely blessed us, because within this week we met a 16 year old kid named Richard, and we taught him two lessons, and he committed to baptism on November 21! I'm really excited for him. We still have to get parental permission (he committed yesterday), but things are looking great for him. We also were able to have eight new investigators that we met on the street this week, so we definitely have been blessed.

Crazy small world moment coming up. Ready?

Elder Wightman and I worked at the Scout expo this weekend serving lunch. There we met a guy named George Warner. He's our bishop's dad. When he found out I was from NY, he asked me a bunch of questions. Do you remember Joe Liberati? He's a less active in the Binghamton Ward. When I went teaching with the missionaries, he was one of the people we visited frequently. Joe used to live in Milwaukee, where he met the missionaries and another guy. That other guy ended up being the one baptizing him. That was George Warner. 45 years later, I meet him. Weird, right? I sent dad his contact info in an effort for him to reconnect with Joe.

 

To answer your questions:

1. Did you have any success with talking to everyone on the streets this week after reading that talk? Yep! Richard was actually sitting on his roof chilling out. We hesitated to talk to him because it's sort of awkward talking to someone who's sitting on a roof. But we did anyways! And look what happened!

2. How does the whole internet access/iPad rules work? Like can you use facebook? I can actually read emails whenever I want, I just can't reply until P-Day. In our apartment complex, there's a fitness center with wifi, so I just read emails and study while I do the stationary bike or something like that. We aren't authorized to use Facebook yet. There's rumors floating around that in about a year they will authorize that. I can download apps, but only ones approved by the church. I can only download apps through a filtered app store that they use. iPads have been great though to play videos and pull up other church things in lessons, that's probably the nicest thing they assist in.

3. How long are your transfers? Transfers are every six weeks. Wednesday marks the halfway point!

4. Who did you meet with this week? Richard was the only set lesson that we had, but we had another "spot lesson" with him, and another one with a couple named Steve and Tavasha. They're really cool, we taught them the Restoration. With Richard, we taught the Plan of Salvation, and then the Gospel.

5. Would you like me to pray for anyone you are working with? I can't think of anyone in particular, but prayers for safety don't hurt!

6. How was your meeting with Adrian? The last lesson we taught him was the Restoration, but he was one that cancelled for this week. We're rescheduling with him for this week. He received the Restoration really well though!

7. What are you studying in your personal study? I took your advice, and I've been studying the Christlike attributes. Today I studied hope. Not only have these helped me become better, but they've helped me recognize and develop these qualities in others. Richard and Adrian have grown the most from what I've seen, it's been awesome.

How are things going with you? How's your semester? How's the MTC? I hope you're doing well! If there's anything you want or need from Las Vegas, let me know haha. How's the CD coming? The Disney music they have here is getting old hahaha.

Love you Mis!

Trev

 

I don't have enough time for the family email because we're leaving now, so just forward the stuff to everyone!
 

Oh by the way, there was a fire at our church building. One of the Scouts left a burner on and put a cooler on the stove. We spent Saturday morning and early afternoon cleaning up after the fire and then helping with the Scout expo. It was pretty crazy, the kitchen is completely destroyed.

 

I also forgot, can you email me a picture of our family so I can use it for my wallpaper? Thanks!

Trevor's zone at zone conference (sent 10/19/15)

Trevor with Elder Wightman at the temple (sent 10/19/15)

Trevor with his district (sent 10/19/15)

Trevor with his district (sent 10/19/15)

Trevor in his element (Five Guys) on preparation day (sent 10/19/15)

Week #4

The mission has been awesome so far! I was on an exchange with Elder Simpson earlier this week. He's really cool. He's from North Carolina, a fellow east-coaster. Anyways, when we were riding around on bikes, we came across a Brazilian lady who asked us for help. She told us that she was running away because her husband thinks she's crazy and is really mean to her. She asked us to call her son on her phone to prove she isn't crazy. As soon as she found out Elder Simpson spoke Spanish, she went on a rant in Spanish. When we called her son, he said she was crazy. Then we talked to her husband who had already called the police on her. Every time she saw her husband she got crazier, so we split them up. I calmed down the husband while Elder Simpson tried to calm down the Brazilian lady. We basically got to play peacemaker for a half hour until the police arrived. Fun times.

A couple days later, Elder Wightman and I were riding our bikes in a neighborhood. We saw some kids throwing a football around. So, we stopped and threw it around with them for like 10-15 minutes in front of their house, then we left. A couple days after that, we went to contact a referral, Adrian. When we got to the address, it turned out to be the same house we played football at! The kids that we played football with were Adrian's nephews! So we got to know them really well and we get to teach them on Tuesday! I'm super excited!

 

For Zone Lunch, we stopped at Five Guys. Made me think of my old job! I love and miss you all, I hope you're doing well!

Elder Trevor Morreall

My address is:
675 E Azure Ave
Apt #2033
North Las Vegas, NV 89081

Week #3

I'm pinched on time, so I just copied the letter for the blog:

Things are going well here in the Sierra Ranch Ward. Elder Wightman has already taught me a lot about the importance of setting goals, and pursuing them. He's also taught me the importance of street contacting, and pursuing the desire to help others come unto Christ. We've been able to have many street contacts, and have been able to connect well with those we come in contact with. In particular, on Saturday we met a woman named Cheryl while we were biking. Cheryl moved in with her son and daughter-in-law from California, where she was homeless and unemployed. Recently she has been able to quit using drugs and drinking alcohol, because she has a desire to be better. She explained that when she moved in, she prayed to find a "good church to go to". Three days later, she met us. We taught her on Sunday about the Restoration. She was very excited about it, and wanted to know more. We gave her a Book of Mormon and a pamphlet of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and invited her to read them and to pray to know if they were true. We're scheduled to meet with her tomorrow at 3 pm, where we will teach her about repentance and baptism.

Biking has been an interesting challenge, but I feel that we have been handling it well, and it helps us be able to come in contact with more people. We've also been able to visit the Waites, a part-member family. We taught of the importance of faith to Velia Waite, a non-member, and are trying to help her come closer to Christ by inviting her to church. We hope to see her Sunday. I'm excited for this opportunity to serve, and am excited to be able to learn with Elder Wightman.

Elder Trevor Morreall

That was my letter to the President. To answer your questions:

1. My first day was very busy! My trainer got lost while driving, so we drove right by the strip, and into the West mission. Oops.

2. My trainer is Elder Wightman (White-min). He's from Rexburg, and he's been out a grand total of six weeks. We're learning together haha. He's really cool though.

3. I am in the Sierra Ranch Ward, which is in the North Las Vegas Stake. I don't know my exact address yet, but yeah haha. It's SUPER GHETTO, it reminds me of Binghamton haha. Like there are nice parts, like Binghamton, but there's a lot of sketchy areas. And yes, it is a biking area.

4. My first week was busy! We got lost again on Thursday and went into the other mission. BUT, we've been doing a lot of street contacting. There hasn't really been much success in our area recently, so we're trying to start fresh. We've had some cool experiences from it though, like the story I mentioned above. There were also some crazy stuff too. Like these two black teenagers wearing cut off sweatpants followed us around pointing their fingers, saying "you stole our religion", "y'all don't believe in Jesus", and "f*** outta here". And then there was also a chihuahua that chased us down the street barking at us. We also met three drunk black dudes, named Larry, Willy, and Vernon, that talked to us for ten minutes about everything from Donald Trump, Obama, Jehovah's witnesses, jazz music, Mohammed, taxes, beer, and Jesus. It was awesome. We gave them some pass along cards. We also had a neighbor tell us to stop by his apartment so he could "pick our brain". He obviously wanted to Bible Bash, so we stuck a pass along card in his door frame after he went to bed haha. 

5. President and Sister Snow are awesome! They're both really nice and outgoing. They're also a little more lax, which I think helps a lot since the culture here is also very relaxed. I don't really know a whole lot else about them though.

6. We visited the Waites. Brother Waite is a member. He's a returned missionary, and he has a firm belief in the church. He doesn't go to church much because his wife, Velia, isn't a member and doesn't feel comfortable going. They have a 14 month old, Brayden, and theyre a super cute family. We're trying to help Velia feel the Spirit more so she can feel comfortable, but they are suuuuuper busy. Brother Waite is an optometrist, and Velia is a veterinarian (sp?), so they're schedules are crazy. It's been super fun though. I met the bishop and his family, the Warners. He has EIGHT KIDS. AND he runs his own business. AND he's a high school volleyball coach. AND he's the bishop. It's crazy. He's suuuuper laid back though, it's awesome. We also met the Leavers. The grandparents are really laid back. Brother Leaver is in the bishopric. He reminds me of Brother Talley, minus the mustache, and he's bald. Their son lives around the corner from them. He has a wife and three kids, as well as the other two grandparents living there. They're both really fun families. They both have said that if no one signs up to feed us, we can come over any night.

So yeah! That's what's been going on. That's cool that you and Cheryl had that experience, I've definitely felt mom's presence here. That's awesome that dad is going to Utah and that he's handing off the car! Is it the Honda or Subaru?

My favorite part of conference was Elder Holland's talk Saturday afternoon. I've actually been sick since Monday at the MTC, but his talk helped me think a lot about Mom and what she went through. If she was able to accomplish what she did while she was battling, then I can stick it out here in the field while I'm facing a much more minor sickness.

 I'm fine with the USB converter by the way, I don't need it. But thanks!

I love and miss you!

 Trevor :D

 

Hey dad! That's a bummer the Yanks only got a wild card, but hopefully we'll see a miracle haha. I hope you have fun down there though! As for the iPod, I don't know, those were the only two passcodes I remember using. I haven't found out my exact address yet, but you can still send me stuff through the mission office. And the mission has been exactly that, a roller coaster. I got sick the day that I wrote you, and have not felt well ever since. It's been challenging, but it's been a great experience. I am in the Sierra Ranch Ward, which is in the North Las Vegas stake. It's a biking area, and so the bike you got has worked great! Thank you. As for the iPad, I don't receive it for two weeks, because I need to do some specific training. My trainer is Elder Wightman, from Rexburg. He's really cool. He's only had six weeks of experience, so it has been and will continue to be a learning experience. It has been fun though. I loved General Conference this weekend, particularly Elder Holland's talk Saturday afternoon. It made me think of mom and all she went through, and it's helped motivate me. If mom was able to accomplish what she did while battling, I can fight through this much more minor sickness and continue to do missionary work. I'm going to send Misa a copy of my email to the mission president, and will do the same for you. I also have some pictures I'll send, and one is particularly for you. I hope and pray that you and Asia are doing well, and I was grateful for the opportunity that we had to speak before I boarded my plane. Thank you for everything, and for providing the opportunity for me to serve. I'll send a name tag home as soon as I can.

I love you!

Elder Trevor Morreall

Trevor and Elder Aitchison on TRAX at 4:30 am - sent 10/5/15

Trevor's impression of Dad's mission - sent 10/5/15

Trevor and and Elder Wightman (his trainer) - sent 10/5/15

Dinner at the Bishop's House (Pictures from Bishop 10/4/15)

First Day in Las Vegas (Pictures from Mission President 10/1/15)