XXooxoXOxxooOOxx

Another week has come and passed.  Time continues to speed up.  I guess I´ve just got to put on the seat belt and hang on for the ride.  You guys did a great job keeping me updated this week.  Spencer, did you know that $30 is 150 pesos here?  That´s about how much I spend in a week. :)

 

Dad, the answer is yes, Luis´ grandmother got baptized.  Woohoo!  Lidia Paez is officially the newest member of the Güiraldes Ward.  Her baptism might have been the greatest yet.  The talks were incredible and very heartfelt.  The baptizer was nervous but did splendid.  The cake for refreshments was down right delish.  I would say a great way to end the story but that would be a lie -- a great way to BEGIN the story would be more appropriate.  Lidia has gone through a lot in her life.  This has been a big change for her and she has risen up to the challenge.

 

This week´s miracle came with Maira, the recent convert´s, family.  Like I said before, Maira was a headache for the elders a few months ago.  But do to the faithfulness of her mother, she too gained a testimony.  Anyways, she´s got a young sister, Rocío, who´s 15.  She´s like any other 15 year old girl.  Sarcastic.  Rebelious.  You get the picture.  When I first arrived, she was almost impossible to talk to.  --I´m a firm believer that baptisms can work miracles, now.--  The week after the baptism of her sister, she began to read the Liahona (Ensign) until 4 in the morning several nights in a row.  Conveniently, it was entirely about the Book of Mormon.  She loved it.  Imagine my surprise when I walked into that house and this girl, who doesn´t want anything to do with the Church, tells me that she liked what the prophets said.  ¨uhh... come again??¨  We gave her a Book of Mormon.  She prayed and says it´s true.  She accepted the challenge to be baptized in February.  If somebody had told me last week that I would be writing about this in my email this week, I probably would have laugh in their face.  I´m still baffled.  My testimony of the Book of Mormon continues to grow.  Please keep Rocío in your prayers.

 

Well, I think that´s about it for the week.  Keep it real and thanks for everything.

 

Love you all.

 

Elder McMurray

Pictures

Maira Micaela Duré.

 

Love you guys!

BIG mini.

Another week has come and passed?  Yikes.  It sounds like life is returning to the norm after Christmas Break.  I can´t believe we´re in 2013.  My year of wearing a shirt and tie every day has come to an end (I don´t know if I should cry or cheer at the thought...).

 

Elder Marilaf and I ended the year with a bang.  As missionaries, we were given permission to eat with a family for New Year´s Eve.  We opted to go to the Chapel to make sugar cookies, eat 3 liters of ice cream, and most importantly -- play ping pong.  It turns out the Chilean has got some skill.  In a match of best of 5, he beat me 3 to 1.  :(  He was gracious enough to tell me that I was the best ¨Gringo¨ he had ever played. (too kind, really.)  Needless to say, we sweated a lot and got some needed exercise.

 

Tuesday morning, my BIG mini arrived.  Elder Baez hails from the great city of Corrientes, Corrientes.  The capital of Corrientes. (Did I write Corrientes enough times? :))  He has already received his mission call to Mexico.  He reports to the Mexican MTC April 3.  He´s a great guy and we´re getting along just fine.  Like always, it is a new learning experience for the both of us.

 

Bad Luck of the week:  Last night it rained.  A lot.  Fortunately, our cellphone got soaked, and no longer works.  Fun stuff.

 

Best Part of the Week:  Maira´s baptism and confirmation!  The service was spiritual, as always.  I feel as if the Spirit can be felt very strongly in Baptismal Services.  It´s a confirmation from the Spirit that the decision that that person has made in their life is correct.  I love this Work.  Her confirmation was equally rewarding.  We were able to give her baby a name and a blessing as well.  Her mother, also a new convert, gave a very sweet testimony and how blessed she is to have a daughter that wants follow Christ.

 

This week, we have plans to have the baptism of Lidia Paez, the grandmother of Luis and Pablo, that were baptized a few weeks ago.  Please pray for her.  She´s a trooper.

 

Helaman 3:33-35: The Church is perfect, the members aren´t.  So true.

 

I love you all,

 

Elder McMurray

 

ps Got the Halloween package. mmmm... :)