February 11th - Tsim Nuj

Dear Family,

I received your package this week! It was cool. I always like the cool scriptures. The candy is good, but I shouldn't eat so much chocolate though, haha. I forgot to mention that I got a package from Joe and his family last week which was really cool to see that they were thinking about me. Plus it came with a tie to add to my collection. 

Tuesday was good. This week we did exchanges with the Zone leaders two days in a row. I went with Elder Hinckley which was cool because he is a Hmong missionary so I got to hear a completely different language. The only bummer part is that I don't speak it, obviously, so I couldn't actually teach. However, in the Hmong culture you receive a new name that isn't your birth name, so a cool lady name Ku gave me my name which is Tsim Nuj pronounced Cheenou. It means to have power and to have respect.

Wednesday I went with Elder Smith. It was good. We tried to visit some people and did missionary work. He is English and we were in my area so I spoke Spanish and taught alone.

Thursday we had our trip to the temple which happens now every 3rd transfer which was super spiritual and cool. I saw Elder Griffith there, and it was good to see him. A member took us there. Fresno is like an hour and a half from where we live in Merced so it was a drive.

Friday morning we went to the Zoo again which was good and fun as always. That night we had a soccer night with some members in our branch. The two guys brought all their friends and they were all super good so it was crazy. Surprisingly most of them were pretty tall for Mexicans which you don't see a lot.

Saturday was just a regular day of missionary work so we talked to people and contacted people and did our best to find prepared people.

Sunday we had Branch Conference so that was good. We heard from the branch president and the stake president in sacrament and we received a class on suicide prevention for the class.

That was the week and it was pretty good. I am doing well and this week is Valentine's day so lock your heart haha!

Love,

Elder Murray

February 4th - Gainz

Dear Family,

Another week has flown by here in the bountiful land of Merced. As for business, I bought some sweet blue pants from Ross this week that are usually $89 but I got them for $12. The mission also gave me the correct amount on my card this month, so hopefully I won't have to use personal as much. It is hard though with all the extra expenses like laundry and car wash. Laundry mats cost an arm and a leg to wash your clothes.

Tuesday this week we had Zone Conference. They installed new Tiwi's in our cars which is the thing that regulates our speed or aggressive driving or if we have our seat belts on. It is way more sensitive so it actually catches your mistakes most of the time unlike the broken ones we used to have. It was strange because we also heard the departing testimonies of the sister missionaries that were in my district in the MTC, so that means I am getting old in the mission. 

Wednesday we just did missionary work. It was pretty normal.

Thursday was some more missionary work and Elder Wride did a baptismal interview that night for someone that lives an hour away in a place called Los Banos. Also I went pee in this sketchy out of service bathroom that was pretty fun. I felt like I was a homeless man.

Friday I went to the Zoo and we cleaned out the big bird pond and I got to see my favorite emu, Bob. I took some pics with the goats for Dad so hopefully he enjoys those. 

Saturday was an equally interesting day. I went on a mini exchange with Elder Smith because they had a lesson they needed to make but they also had to do a baptismal interlude in Los Banos for that one girl that I mentioned earlier. The lesson went well. It was weird because this girl was doing a project on religion for here college course so she was like pretty much interviewing us.

Sunday we had church. A couple of people that we teach showed up which was good. I don't know what to think about this branch I am in. It isn't very strong from my viewpoint. I bore my testimony on the power of scripture study and prayer and it went well. 

That was pretty much my week in a nutshell. It was good. I am having a fun time here with Elder Wride and we are doing a lot of work. I love you all and wish you the best this week. Good luck to the boys at Nationals and Worlds! I will be excited to hear the news next week. Oh on a random note, I have decided that I want to be in The Lamb of God musical at some point in my life because the music is awesome.

Love,

Elder Murray