May 28th - Spontaneous water/mud fight!

Dear family,

This week has been a very interesting week. As for business, I received the prescription and should only have to go one more week without glasses, which is good. The pants should work, I really hope that they aren't too big. The ones I have now are perfect size. Anyways, I think that's all for business.

As for this week, let's start out with Tuesday. I had Zone Conference this week so we had that on Tuesday. We had a training in Spanish for the first time, which was really interesting. We played a game where you have to get an oreo from your head to your mouth without touching it with anything but face muscles.

Then on Wednesday we had a pretty regular day. The only interesting thing that happened was that night, when my companion was at an missionary coordination meeting, so I was visiting people with a member. The member ended up playing chess with a investigator kid, which was pretty funny. 

Thursday was a pretty good day as well. We had an appointment with an investigator that night where we helped wash her car and then feed these tiny baby kittens with the things you use to put shots in people. That was very interesting.

On Friday night, we had a pretty great night as well and this is where my title comes from. We went to teach these kids and their mom. We are trying to help the mom to open up to us more about everything that is going on with her, but we love to play with her kids, so we were playing games with them like freeze tag and some other things and then this kid turns on his hose and they started filling up water bottles and throwing water on us, So we got them back by putting him under the hose and soaking him... He wasn't about to let us get the last laugh so he started throwing mud at us, haha. It really was a crazy night. Hopefully it helps the lady open up a little more now that she knows we are really just a bunch of fun kids. 

Saturday was just a regular day.We tried some people that we want to teach because we are looking for a lot of new people right now and then we had a pretty regular night on the bikes.

Sunday was a good day as well. We had church which is always good. I woke up a little sick that day and so I was worried I was going to get something bad but I blasted it with all kinds of medicines and remedies and I think I am not gonna end up getting any worse then I was Sunday morning. We had a really great lesson with a new family that night which was cool. He gave us some plants, then we talked to this guy on the corner where we live who was watering his lawn. 

Today one of the members took me and this other missionary to Fresno to play sports with a whole bunch of missionaries I don't know. It has been okay pretty far, but everyone left a little while ago so me and him are just chilling in the gym. I got to have Wendy's for the first time in 5 months!

Anyways, this week has been pretty great. As for a short gospel lesson, I started really studying the Book of Mormon this week and I have gotten through the beginning chapters of first Nephi. This is the second full read-through so far on my mission, and it really is exciting. I cannot begin to describe the power that the Book of Mormon has and the importance that it should have in each and every one of our lives. The gospel is true and I am so blessed to have the opportunity to serve a mission. Don't every forget the love that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for each and every one of you! I love you all!

Love, 

Elder Murray

May 21st - Operation Makeover!

Dear Family!

Alright, I have a lot of business today, so please bear with me. First of all, I broke my glasses this week. The side just snapped off, so I have an important task! I need you to send me my prescription as fast as you can, so that I can send it to a member to order me cheap glasses online. The next thing I have is, if and when you send me pants, please send me "Hagger" pants because those are like the only pants I wear. The rest of them are really hot or do not fit me right anymore, also they are just really BOM pants. Also, I pretty much spent all that money you put in my account really fast because I bought a bunch of allergy medicine. I already have lotion and stuff so don't worry about putting in anymore. Certain companions and roommates are much harder to budget with...

Alright, so Tuesday we had our last regular Tuesday for a while. We tried to talk to a bunch of people with not much success, and then we taught a English class.

On Wednesday we had a great day. We started it all out with the Vineyard, which is seriously like my major stress reliever here in the mission. I love Brother Hansen. He is probably one of my favorite members, so I also love going with him. Then I  had a lunch with a member and we got some great burritos. We worked the rest of the day and had a lesson that night where the mission president came out teaching with us. It was really cool, he complimented me on my Spanish.

Thursday was a great day. We worked during the day and we gave these two kids that have been coming to church with us white shirts and ties. I no longer have any of my flower ties, because I can't wear them, so I gave them all out haha. That night we had an annual priesthood dinner which was cool. It was in English though because it was for the stake so I felt bad for my Spanish members who could not understand. 

Friday was a crazy day as well. We had a lot of food that day. I had a 5 patty burger at this place at 12 and then we had dinner early at 2 o'clock so I had to eat that as well. Then we had this super fun service project at 5 where we ripped all of the shingles and weather stuff off of a house. It took us like 3 hours and we had fiber glass in our arms by the end, so we all went to bed early that night.

On Saturday, the big thing was that one of the other companionships here in Madera had a baptism for a man that I had taught on exchanges one time, who is really super cool. I volunteered myself for the interlude teaching so I could go. My companion was not very happy but it ended up being a super cool thing to go to. 

Sunday was a good day as well. We had church and had Jorge and Juan show up. Then we ate dinner at the Bishop's house which was cool. I got a haircut that night.

Sorry for how long winded this letter was. We did an absolute ton of stuff this week. The title of the email was because we ended up giving those same kids that we gifted the shirts and ties haircuts this week as well and so now they both look way better when they show up to church and activities and things. I love you all. I hope that each and every one of you has a great week. I wish you all the best.

Love,

Elder Murray

Here are pictures of us on the roof, studying, a family of goose we saw, giving a haircut and Elder Vargas in the vineyard.

May 14th - Mother's Day!

Dear Family, 

Long time no see, haha. This week has been a pretty great week. There really isn't much to write about business, so I will get straight to it.

Tuesday was a good day. We had interviews with the mission president and we had a good training about loving those in our areas and those that we teach. That night we visited Jerusalen and talked about eternal families and the Plan of Salvation. It was a really good lesson. 

Wednesday was a pretty darn regular day. We just did our thing, we talked to a lot of people and we had a couple of lessons.

Thursday was just another regular day, but since you asked I will explain it. We usually wake up between 6 and 6:30 and then we get ready. Then we have a mission wide prayer at 7:55 with everyone in the mission. After that, we have studies which consists of: first individual study, then companionship study, then language study, and finally lunch. After that we hit the streets and we either visit people who are either investigators or less Actives depending on the day. Sometimes we update our area books, which are on our phones now, so we have to switch all investigators and formers into our phone. Then we have dinner at a members house from 5-6 and then we teach more people at night. Then we go home between 9 and 9:30 and then have lights out at 10:30. That is a regular day.

Friday was a fun day. The manager that owns our house came by again to fix some more things so we were there for a little while. Then that night we had a Mother's Day activity and it was really pretty fun. I only wish as a missionary you were allowed to dance.

Saturday was another pretty regular day honestly. We visited people and talked to people and tried potentials and all that jazz.

Sunday was great. It was Mother's Day as you well know, so I first had church where some youth spoke and it was really sweet. Then after that I had a great dinner and finally I got to talk to my family which was so great. I really cannot believe that I have been away from everyone for 5 months

Today is Monday and so far it has been a good day. We shopped and I spent more than I should have, and then we played some sports again. I also had little Caesar's today.

I am so grateful to have such a great family. Thank you so much for supporting me in everything that you do, and make sure to have a great week. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers and don't forget to open the pages of your Book of Mormon every day! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Murray

May 7th - Same Old Madera

Dear Family,

This week has been pretty new for me, but all together good. As for the Skype next week, we still haven't heard anything about it, so I don't know how it is going to happen or when. Sorry! I will probably let you know through Facebook Mom. As for me week. . . 

Tuesday,I received a new companion. He is straight brown and short so we are quite the duo, One Elder in our district said that we are a more attractive version of Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro which I really don't understand. Anyway he lived in Mexico City until he was four and his Mom only speaks Spanish so his Spanish is really good.

Wednesday was the first full day with him and it was pretty good. W did some missionary work it was honestly pretty sad, because our house roommates were not there yet so we were all alone.

Thursday was really cool. We went to the vineyard with the other companionship and we did some good work. Things are getting dry there, so I always go home like 2 shades darker. 

Friday entailed a lot of planning because we had to do weekly planning. Then the guy who owns our house came by to fix a bunch of stuff and I have been there longest so I had to stay there and talk with the homie. Then we tried some people that night but didn't have much luck.

Saturday was a good day. We had a lesson with our most progressing investigator and we are really working with her to have her baptized on the 12 of May which I am excited for. It will probably be really hard to do.

Sunday was a good day. Our most progressing brought her whole family to church and we also had two investigator kids there. It was Elder Vargas' first week so he met the members and bore his testimony in sacrament.

I love you all. This week I would encourage you to read from the Liahona that just came out with all the conference talks in it. I have been reading some this week. Some of my favorites are "Until 70 times 7" and David A. Bednar's talk on Meekness which is the next one I have to read. Good luck with everything and remember who you are all!

Love,

Elder Murray