Til We Meet Again.

Family,

 

I feel like I´ve done this more that a hundred times -- like maybe even 104 times.  Oh wait...  I still find it hard to believe that I am finishing this two year quest.  I´m excited to see you all in the forthcoming weeks.

 

I´ve learned so much from these last two years; not just learned stuff such as doctrine or things of the world, but more importantly I´ve learned more about myself.  Now it´s time to put in practice the things that I´ve learned.  It´s time to step up to the plate.

 

This Sunday was a bittersweet day.  I wasn't quite prepared for what ended up happening.  The bishopric had assigned me a talk last week for this week.  So I had it prepared and ready to go.  A few weeks ago, I told the sister that plays the piano at Church that she played, ¨Til We Meet Again,¨ a little too early.  We joked that my companion could sing a solo for my last week.  My companion, however, didn´t like the idea and it was put to an end.  So you can imagine my curiosity when the program announced that there would be a musical number.  Hmm... Five brothers and sisters assembled for the number.  Before the second chord was even played, I already knew.  ¨Til We Meet Again,¨ has now taken on a whole new meaning.  Not only did I have to follow that act, but it got worse.  As I prepared to go up on the stand for my talk, the bishop announced that this was my last week as a missionary and that they enjoyed the time that I had been here in their ward.  On top of that it was cold.  I credit the shaky voice and legs to the cold weather, of course.  I will miss this ward and its members terribly.

 

Fittingly, I read Jacob 5 this morning.  Verses 70 to 75 have a new meaning to me now.

 

For the last time,

 

Elder McMurray

 

PS 2 Timothy 4:7

¨Don´t Cry for me Argentina, the Truth is, I Never [Will Leave You]¨

Family!

 

It was fun talking to all of you last night!  It sounds like everyone is doing great as usual.  G´ma Mc was the lucky one to get the calling card cutting off in mid conversation. :)  It still hasn´t fully hit me that I´m going to be seeing you guys soon.  I´ve spent my entire life preparing for a mission.  But I don´t an entire life´s preparation could prepare me for what is going to happen in less than two weeks.  I feel very blessed to still have at least one more week as a full-time missionary.

 

Best News of the Week:  Javier´s baptism!  It was a very sweet baptismal service.  I consider myself very blessed for having taken part in the teaching process as well as the program on Saturday.  I was privileged enough to perform the ordinance.  Sunday was equally as amazing.  Javier, along with his uncle Coco, that got baptized two weeks ago, both received the priesthood.  We had no idea, but the bishop asked them both before hand if they could get short testimonies in Sacrament Meeting.  Two of the sweetest testimonies that I´ve ever heard were given.  Their future is looking bright.  My only complaint is that I won´t be here to watch them grow even more.

 

Saturday morning, we were able to participate in a Stake Service Project, ¨Mormon Helping Hands.¨ (Manos Mormonas Que Ayudan.)  We cleaned four blocks and then painted the curbs.  When you come to pick me up, I´ll make sure to point out my handiwork.

 

...Oh, I almost forgot!  I got bitten by a dog for the first time in forever this last week.  Let me tell ya, that was the most ferocious lap dog I´ve ever seen.  It got me on the sneak attack -- no barking until after the bite.

 

This week, I have been reading the end of 2 Nephi, one of the most enjoyable parts of the Book of Mormon in my opinion.  It´s amazing reading about a book (the Book of Mormon) that will come forth in the last days.  Then, chapter 31 just hits a grand slam with the Doctrine of Christ.  Feel free to look over 2 Nephi 31 this week.  It will help you answer questions that your friends have.

 

From the elder that only has ten days to live,

 

Elder McMurray

Happy Worker´s Day!

Family,

 

Is it May already?  I´ve officially been in the mission for three different Mays now.   Crazy how time flies!  Fortunately, there´s still a little time left!  Let´s see if I can go out with a bang.  I had a Zone Leader tell me that this last transfer would be like my last 800m in a cross country race.  A true test to see what you are made of.  I like to picture in my head something comparable to Roger Banister´s last 100m when he broke the 4 minute mile mark (3:59.4), or when Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby by 27 lengths.  It's time to see if my training will strong until the end.

 

Luckily, I don´t think it will be that hard to finish.  This Saturday, the 11th, we have the baptism of Javier!  Javier has been a dream.  He has no problems with anything, and he readily accepts everything that we have to offer him.  Keep him in your prayers this week.  The following weekend (my last) we have another baptism.  Nely Esquivel.  I´ll write more about her next week.  But keep her in your prayers as well.  She´s getting married on Tuesday, the 14th, and we want everything to go well there.

 

Wednesday, the 1st, was Worker´s Day.  It was celebrated by no one working. (Not sure where the science behind that one is...)  It´s also a tradition to eat Locro on this day.  I think I talked about it last year, but what it is is a soup.  It´s made with a corn starch base, if I´m not mistaken.  It often contains a little bit of everything....veggies, weird parts of a cow, etc.  Well, I´ve already had experience with it.  But it was Elder Deniston´s first time.  Let´s just say that it is an acquired taste.  Final result:  I thought it was pretty good, my companion wasn´t too big on it.  But it´s like the locals say, ¨Cuando hay hambre, no hay pan duro.¨

 

This week, we did divisions with our Zone Leaders.  I stayed here in my area, as Elder Deniston only has three weeks.  Elder Bowhill, our new Zone Leader, came to Güiraldes.  Elder Bowhill is from Uruguay. (His last name is Scottish.)  He had small contract playing minor league soccer before the mission.  He also spent 5 months at the beginning of his mission in Uruguay for Visa problems.  He served in the other mission, but he said that you would like your mission a lot, Emily.  He says, ¨That Uruguay is MUCH prettier than Argentina.¨ ...We´ll have to see about that.  From what I´m hearing, your mission area is very comparable to my mission.  Anyways, let it be known that I beat a semi pro soccer player in a very competitive game of ping pong.

 

This Sunday, we were blessed to have nearly a hundred people in Church.  I've never attended a Sacrament Meeting in the mission that exceeded 100.  As a missionary, I felt particularly blessed, seeing as 15 of those were less active members or new members that we are helping.  It made me think even more about the importance of renewing baptismal covenants.  It´s vital.  We can´t live without it.  Think of somebody this week that hasn´t come to Church lately.  Think of a way to help them come and renew that covenant again.  And if they haven´t made that covenant yet, think of a way that they can listen to the missionaries. ;)

 

Don´t cry for me Argentina,

 

Elder McMurray