35. I got it.

Date: Mon, Feb 18, 2013 at 10:29 AM

First of all, I am still in amazement of what you sent to me, Nathan.  I cannot believe that Brandon Miles is a Mormon convert of less than a year.  That´s awesome!  Way to go Brandon!  I had to have entered into Milestat.com at least 7,000 times. at least.

 

Soo... what happened to the Pope, exactly?  We´ve heard a wide scale of reports.

 

This week was officially the nastiest weather week of my mission.  We had a ¨wonderful¨ combination of hot, humid, and small rain showers.  I´ve never felt so sticky in my life.  Three days this week we had mini rain storms.  They are the worst.  Before it rains it is incredibly hot.  Then it rains for 15 minutes.  Finally, the sun comes out, making things unbearable.  Lucky us...

 

Most of the excitement happened over the weekend, so I´ll just jump to it.

Friday: I ate cow liver for lunch.  Though I had a slight pasty (bloody) taste in my mouth after, it was actually pretty tasty.  Saturday: I was able to baptize an eight year old girl, whose father wasn´t able to perform the baptism.  It´s always an honor to participate in a baptism.  Sunday: While in the bathroom in the Church building before the meetings started, Raul told us that he wanted to get baptized.  I was so shocked that I walked out of the bathroom and left my companion to talk to him about it.  While they conversed, I stood behind them with a double fist pump in the air.  The only thing lacking was the music to ¨Game Day¨ in the background.  He´s gone to Church several times and might be getting baptized this weekend.  I´ll keep you posted!  Also, we had the privilege to have Elder Avila attend our ward.  Remember when a Seventy visited our branch while I was in Posadas a few months ago?  Well it´s the same Elder.  He´s a great man with a great Spirit that has a gift for teaching.  It was a very inspiring meeting that included talks from the entire Stake Presidency.

 

This week, I´ve been finishing 3 Nephi.  The Savior taught that if it is His church then it should have His name.  Something so basic, and yet so few actually heed that. Also, I have new appreciation for the Bible.  The Bible and the Book of Mormon work hand in hand so well together.  The Bible gives so many reasons to believe that the Church has been restored again.

 

Other than that, life continues.  Elder Posadas has eight days left in the mission.  (Not that he is counting our anything... :)) 

 

Keep it classy,

 

Elder McMurray

Pictures

Baptism!

 

My companion (and another elder)  are kind of trunky.

Soaking Wet.

This week was a record.  I´ve never received so many emails.  Thanks for the support.  You´re awesome, last thing I´m gonna say...

 

This week went by faster than any other week in my mission thus far.  I spent two days of it in divisions with Elder Snelson, my old companion.  It´s strange being with an elder for so much time.  I was lots of fun getting to know more people in his area.  I love meeting new people.  Every person has their own story to share.  Different trials, tests and difficulties.  But one thing is constant: the Gospel.

 

The most exciting day of the week award goes to Sunday.  For starters, we had the baptism of Nayla and Santiago Aguirre!  I love that family.  I love seeing the changes that people make from the first time we meet them up until now.  It strengthens my testimony in knowing that what we are teaching is true.  We practically didn´t teach anything to them...they themselves had a thirst and won´t stop until it is quenched.

Sunday evening, we became like little children, again.  Due to semi-flash floods, most of the streets were entirely covered in water.  You know that attitude, ¨when you´re wet, what´s a little more wet going to hurt?¨ well... we had it bad.  Elder Posadas and I walked four blocks in water half way up our calves.  Other than the slight concern of ravenous turtles or snakes eating us, I would totally do it again in a heartbeat.

 

This week, my companion gave me a great talk on virtue and your thoughts.  It´s in spanish so I´ll let you have fun with Google translator.  President Spencer W. Kimball said, ¨Solo el hombre, de todas las criaturas sobre la tierra, puede cambiar el curso de sus pensamientos y llegar a ser el arquitecto de su destino.¨ Pretty deep stuff, I know.  I´ll let you think and study on that one.

 

I love you all!

 

Un Abrazo,

 

Elder McMurray

Conejo

I will have you all know that I did say rabbit this last week on the 1st.  The only difference is that I said it in Spanish so that my companion could be my witness.  February is feeling lucky.

 

So you guys are experiencing snow on the home front, ehh?  I´m curious, is there anyone that could do me the favor of sending me the weather reports of Resistencia?  I´m curious to see how hot it has been lately...  Nowhere close to snow, that´s for sure.  If you could save a little of that cold weather for when I get home it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Good news of the week:  President and Sister Heyman are back!  Sister Heyman has recovered enough so that they arrived on Saturday.  President Di Giovanni was an excellent intern president.  I was able to have a nice conversation with him about two weeks ago.  It gives me even more of a testimony that this Church is the only true church that is guided and directed by the Priesthood power of God.  Elder Di Giovanni will continue his labors in Paraguay as Area Seventy.

 

This week was a week of referrals.  I now have an even greater appreciation for Lord´s work with the members of the Church.  This week, we were able to talk to several friends of members.  These are people that have been waiting for the Gospel.  One of the them even told us that he´s always wanted to talk to the missionaries (us) but never had the chance.  He´s also told us that he had put it as a goal to be a member of our Church and serve a full-time mission.  (...You can imagine our faces in that moment, filled with astonishment.. :) )  My greatest desire is for my friends and family to all know what I know.  To have what I have.  To believe what I believe.  If you have the chance this week, invite the missionaries to talk to your friends and family.  You´ll be eternally blessed.

 

Do you believe in Miracles?

 

This week we´ve got a baptism!!!  I haven´t mentioned much about it.  Nayla Aguirre, 11, will be getting baptized on Sunday.  It´s incredible the changes in her family.  Her mom is fully active, now.  Her brother, Santiago, 8, will also be getting baptized on Sunday.  I´ve never seen a family so excited.  This week, we entered the house and found more than 15 Church articles from the Ensign and Friend, printed.  They are eating the Gospel for breakfast.

 

Thanks for all of your support,

 

Elder McMurray

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... :)