Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Ryan is in Argentina!
Ryan left the Missionary Training Center on Monday and is now in Argentina! We got to talk to him for a few minutes via airport payphone, and he sounds great. He says he is SO excited and really nervous. He would love to hear from you, so get those letters to Argentina shipped!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Last Email from the MTC!
Hola mi Familia!
This week, unlike the rest thus far, has actually gone somewhat slow. Time began to stand still once we received our Travel Plans. By the way, I'm assuming the times that I am available to call you all will work, right? I sure hope so. Thank you for all of the letters and packages! Don't feel bad if you don't write me as much in Argentina. It's more expensive and word has it that it will take at least two weeks to get to me. With that being said, letters are still encouraged. :)
Our current investigators, Carlos and Javier, have both accepted baptism of late. Pretty exciting considering they are only our second and third in our tenure here at the MTC. Javier was fun due to the fact that he was 12. It's a different style of teaching when they are twelve. It's fun! And for all of you Spanish Buffs, it gave me a chance to practice my VOZ before I go to Argentina. Voz is basically a similar (but different) to the Tu form in Spanish everywhere else in the world. As missionaries, we are only allowed to use voz with children. Other than that, we have to use usted form, as many of you probably know.
Many great things have happened during my stay here at the MTC. But the pinnacle of them all might have come this week. For those of you that have been to the MTC, you probably know very well the Legend of the Pillow Room. For some of you, it may have been a reality. But this is my story...
Each week, our district preforms service at the same residence hall. For an hour every Wednesday morning, we clean/stock whatever is needed by the staff of that building. Over the 9 weeks that we've been here, we've gotten to know our superiors pretty. We even had a surprise birthday celebration for one of them. While, stocking rooms with new blankets and pillows, we have often times, run out of pillows. This leads to the question: where do pillows come from? (No, not the Pillow Stork) For weeks we've heard whisperings of the infamous, Pillow Room. We hadn't received exact, first hand confirmation that it existed, just stories of elders getting there. In our hearts, we knew that Legend told of a legendary room, who's pillows were stuff of legends. So... we decided to ask our service commanders to take us there. ....And they accepted. On Wednesday, at approximately 9:06am, our dreams came true. We were allowed admitance. Pillows filled this room at high as 6 or 7 feet in areas. You know what happened next. The pillow fights of all pillow fights began (with the exception of the Pillow Fight of '86, Brother P. :) ). Have you ever tried to get out of a pit full of pillows before? My guess is no. It is near impossible. You have NOTHING to grab onto. I think we all got a taste of what Heaven will be like.
In my scripture reading this week, I've been reading in 2 Nephi and the Doctrine and Covenants. Chapter 33 of 2 Nephi, Nephi give some amazing counsel. My new life motto comes out of verse 6. Look it up! Also, section 93 is amazing. If you don't know what it is off of the top of you head, please read it. You'll be glad you did.
You guys are awesome, last thing I'm gonna say,
Elder McMurray
This week, unlike the rest thus far, has actually gone somewhat slow. Time began to stand still once we received our Travel Plans. By the way, I'm assuming the times that I am available to call you all will work, right? I sure hope so. Thank you for all of the letters and packages! Don't feel bad if you don't write me as much in Argentina. It's more expensive and word has it that it will take at least two weeks to get to me. With that being said, letters are still encouraged. :)
Our current investigators, Carlos and Javier, have both accepted baptism of late. Pretty exciting considering they are only our second and third in our tenure here at the MTC. Javier was fun due to the fact that he was 12. It's a different style of teaching when they are twelve. It's fun! And for all of you Spanish Buffs, it gave me a chance to practice my VOZ before I go to Argentina. Voz is basically a similar (but different) to the Tu form in Spanish everywhere else in the world. As missionaries, we are only allowed to use voz with children. Other than that, we have to use usted form, as many of you probably know.
Many great things have happened during my stay here at the MTC. But the pinnacle of them all might have come this week. For those of you that have been to the MTC, you probably know very well the Legend of the Pillow Room. For some of you, it may have been a reality. But this is my story...
Each week, our district preforms service at the same residence hall. For an hour every Wednesday morning, we clean/stock whatever is needed by the staff of that building. Over the 9 weeks that we've been here, we've gotten to know our superiors pretty. We even had a surprise birthday celebration for one of them. While, stocking rooms with new blankets and pillows, we have often times, run out of pillows. This leads to the question: where do pillows come from? (No, not the Pillow Stork) For weeks we've heard whisperings of the infamous, Pillow Room. We hadn't received exact, first hand confirmation that it existed, just stories of elders getting there. In our hearts, we knew that Legend told of a legendary room, who's pillows were stuff of legends. So... we decided to ask our service commanders to take us there. ....And they accepted. On Wednesday, at approximately 9:06am, our dreams came true. We were allowed admitance. Pillows filled this room at high as 6 or 7 feet in areas. You know what happened next. The pillow fights of all pillow fights began (with the exception of the Pillow Fight of '86, Brother P. :) ). Have you ever tried to get out of a pit full of pillows before? My guess is no. It is near impossible. You have NOTHING to grab onto. I think we all got a taste of what Heaven will be like.
In my scripture reading this week, I've been reading in 2 Nephi and the Doctrine and Covenants. Chapter 33 of 2 Nephi, Nephi give some amazing counsel. My new life motto comes out of verse 6. Look it up! Also, section 93 is amazing. If you don't know what it is off of the top of you head, please read it. You'll be glad you did.
You guys are awesome, last thing I'm gonna say,
Elder McMurray
Thursday, July 7, 2011
An MTC 4th of July
Hola Familia y amigos!
It is hard to believe that we have been here for a month and a half now! That means that we leave in exactly two and a half weeks!! We receive our travel plans at the end of next week! Am I really ready to be thrown into Argentina? I sure hope so. With that in mind, I feel I have an even greater desire to stay focused and not get distracted.
It's good to hear from you all! It sounds like life during the Fourth of July was phenomenal. Speaking of the Fourth of July, we (the MTC) had our own celebration, of sorts. On Saturday, we had a special devotional that began at 9pm. Kind of late, considering that we have to be in our rooms at 10:15. Don't worry -- we can do the math. We added it up, and knew that this was going to be a great night. In the wise words of my brother, when he was in the MTC in July, it was the "Greatest night of his MTC life." I couldn't have put it better myself. During the Fireside, we heard from an MTC Branch President who has served with multiple presidents of the United States. His stories were powerful. The peak might have been when a Scottish Band came in (bag pipes...oh yeah.) playing Praise to the Man. Everyone was definitely pumped. And it only got better. After the Fireside, we were then told that we could stay up later than usual and watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks. Can I hear a woot woot?? Not only that but we were given Haagen Daaz; not just your average ice cream....HAAGEN DAAZ. If this isn't paradise then I don't know what is. The Fireworks were amazing, as usual.
Gym has been ever increasingly crazy. Especially now that the gym is closed for 10 days. Who knew that I'd ever experience something crazier than playing Marion (at Marion) on a field that can't be more than 80 yards long? Try playing on a field with 35 to 40 elders. 80 yards: no more no less. Wild. That's the only way to put it. I never would have guessed that I would be working on patience even during gym time!
My time is short, but guess what; I still love you all.
Elder McMurray
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