Week 82

Hello Family and Friends,

Things went well this week in Bulaon as we saw a lot of great work happen, especially with members. We have had members work with us more than ever before in my whole mission. Families who have been trusting us with their family and friends and have been doing missionary work. I have learned this week the power of member missionary work. This area is a lot different then my last area as most people are professionals here and live a lot more Americanized lives. It also means people have a little bit more of the American attitude of door to door salesmen and some mistakenly reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are finding a lot more success in members who give us referrals and then teach with us. It softens a lot of hearts! I am so grateful for the great members here. They are busy, but they find time to be missionaries. It is so rewarding to see them bring their friends to the gospel. One of the referrals we received is Jen she is a maid of one of our faithful member families. She was so prepared to be taught because of the great example of this family and she will be baptized next month. 

I invite you all to pray of who of your friends you should invite to learn about the gospel. You will be surprised and overjoyed when you learn that they have been unknowingly waiting for the gospel, waiting for you to invite them to partake of the fruit of the gospel. Missionary work will accelerate in your home ward as you do this!

love you all!  

PS. Sorry no pictures, my card got a virus and so lost the pictures I wanted to send you, sa susunod na lang!

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ELDER MURDOCK

Week 81

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was really challenging in a good way, I learned SO much, especially about faith.

Our area here in Bulaon is growing.

When I first got here we had very few investigators, but this week we found a lot more. We are focusing on a place in our area called San Rafael that used to have a branch, but because of some things that happened every member that lives in San Rafael fell into inactivity. We are seeing progress as miracles are happening.

One miracle that we saw in San Rafael, was when we taught Sister Jessica for the first time who was a less active member.  She told us: Don't worry Elders I am going to church tomorrow. True to her word we saw her there early on Sunday morning.

One thing about Sister Jessica is that she has polio and it is a struggle for her to get around. We asked her how she got to church and she told us she walked! I marveled at her great faith and diligence!

Yesterday we taught her father, and he at first was really hard headed and told us he couldn't promise us that he would go to church, but at the end of the lesson as he said the closing prayer, the spirit touched his heart and his voice started to choke. After the prayer he said, Elders we are going to church on Sunday. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost who softens the hearts of others.

Not much time but, I just want you all to know I love you very much and pray for you.

mahal kita

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ELDER MURDOCK

Week 80

Family and Friends.

I am so grateful for all of you, I have felt your support and your prayers in my new assignment and it has given me strength.

This week was really great, and really busy. I am learning that being a leader is very rewarding and you learn so much from the people you serve. It is service, and often that means denying your own comforts and needs in order to help others and meet their needs.

I have learned to appreciate church leaders a lot more as they sacrifice so much for those they serve. I have felt your prayers, and I have felt the Lord guide me in my mission, particularly in my assignment as zone leader as I have been guided by the Holy Ghost in how to respond to certain situations beyond my natural ability. I know the Lord guides us as we are humble enough to follow His will.

Elder Fernandez is my new companion he is great, he is from Cebu. He is a great missionary and I have a lot to learn from him. He is going home just a transfer before I do. I look forward to learning from him as he is already teaching me so much.

The members are so nice, I am already loving the people here in Bulaon. I am sure that it won't be long until I will feel at home just like I did in Gabaldon. 

The members feed us a lot which is nice. One elderly couple, the Punos, are so awesome they give us so many referrals. We are trying to find more people to teach and it is so much more effective when we have members working with us.

One part of our area that we are working in was a branch, but because of some problems that happened ten years ago the whole branch went inactive, even the branch president. We have felt impressed to focus on this area and help rescue the members there. I know the Lord has instructed us to work there and therefore we will cannot fail. 

We are very blessed to be in this area.

Again, I thank you for your support. I can feel the powers of heaven being called down on my behalf and in behalf of the people we are serving here.

I pray for you all,

Mahal kita

ELDER MURDOCK

Week 79

Hello Family and Friends,

I have so much to tell you all but I don't know how to put it into the right words!

I got a call last Wednesday from the Mission President. He told me I would transfer and that I would be assigned in the biggest city in the mission, Angeles. I would be assigned with my new companion to lead 16 other missionaries. As I got this call, my knees were shaking. I felt overwhelmed. I quickly told my Mission President that I would do my best. I couldn't believe it. I have still since, wondered often why me? There are so many other missionaries that could do that. I have had no leadership assignments (like a district leader) before in the mission although everyone else that arrived in the mission with me had. To me that was fine as I just wanted to serve the people.

 I know that I cannot do this assignment on my own. I need my Savior and I know that he will guide me. He will take me by the hand and make me equal to the task, I know that, because he has been with me every step of the way here in the mission. As I have allowed Him to, He has been my light and guide. Through His help I have seen miracles. I know from my experience that as we have faith and are humble our weaknesses can be come our strengths, only through Him. 

I am weak. I can be strong, as I trust in the Lord. Those weakness we have bring us to Him, it isn't a sin to be weak but weakness is a blessing.

I am so grateful for the Atonement that makes me able to do things I cannot on my own. I know, we are never alone, He will help us as we look to Him.

I will miss the beautiful people in Gabaldon. I cannot explain how hard it was for me to leave. I miss the beautiful mountains, the fields of rice and caribou grazing in the fields. The bamboo huts and the humble and down to earth people. I love them so much. I thank my Heavenly Father that I have had the chance to serve in that wonderful place. I will always remember them and the lessons they taught me.

I am excited for the adventures I have here in my new area. We are assigned in Bulaon. Which is a area that is right in the middle of two huge cities. Most of the houses here are really nice and this is a much more wealthier area than I have ever been assigned in. People here have a lot more material things. I pray that their hearts will be soften and that they will allow the Holy Spirit into their hearts.

I ask for your prayers for my companion and also for me and especially for the people here.

I love you so much. I am grateful for your support and I know with my whole soul and heart that this is the work of the Lord.

I pray for you and know that you are in the Lords hands.

ELDER MURDOCK