Week 85

Hello family and friends!

Boy do I love emailing all of you! You make me smile and give me added strength.

This week was great. We are preparing 3 of our investigators to be baptized in the coming weeks. It has been amazing to see the growth and change in them.

Elvie is doing so well. She is the one that I told you we met on a jeepney (if you don't know what that is google it :)) From the moment I met her I knew she was being prepared by the Lord. It was a divine mercy that we were lead to her. Her husband who is a inactive member is now coming back with her and you can just see the light that is returning to their countenances. 

I also had an odd experience that I wanted to share with all of you when I went on exchanges.

So there is one area in Angeles zone that is notorious for being like Las Vegas in the United States.There are so many old American men that go there for not good reasons. While I went there for a day to visit the area and be with one of the missionaries who is assigned there, we saw so many "Joe's" or old American men. That day while we were walking down the street we saw this big white American man that looked like Mr. Incredible from the Disney movie Incredibles. He was riding a scooter. As he turned the corner he saw us and stopped us and asked if we could have a picture with him. He said he was a member, but we would tell by what he was saying that he was not currently active. He spoke in a thick Boston accent. As we sat and talked to him, I had the impression to ask him if he was reading the Book of Mormon. He replied that he was not, So we helped him download the app on his phone, he agreed to read later that night. As we were about to leave he stopped us and said: "Aren't we going to pray or something?" We smiled and then he offered to give a prayer right there on the busy street corner. His prayer was something I will not forget, he prayed in gratitude that he saw us and that he knew that it was God's will and divine providence that we our paths crossed. As he prayed I felt the Holy Ghost bear witness to me of God's love for this man, in addition I felt the sweet assurance that I was where I needed to be at that moment. I will continue pray for this man.

I know that God puts us in the path of His children, especially as we are anxiously ready and willing to serve. We can help rescue those souls around us. We can pray for those opportunities.

Tomorrow we have President Russel M. Nelson coming to our mission! I will have the opportunity to shake hands with a living apostle! What a blessing!

I love you all,

-- 

ELDER MURDOCK

Week 84

Hello Family. This week was so great!

We had miracles happen this week when it comes to finding those people who the Lord has prepared for us. In this area I have seen a lot more diversity of people and have seen a lot more rejection than I have my whole mission. At the same time we have see great things happen as we have kept pressing forward.

Two weeks ago we met a lady on a jeepney. She immediately identified us as missionaries and wanted us to teach her. She had been taught by missionaries before. She was so excited to be taught and told us that her husband was a member but had been inactive for 20+ years. As we taught Sister Elvie and Bro.Fred as a couple you could just see that they felt the spirit and they want to know more. Sister Elvie just asks so many questions and they both just radiate with light. We have had the members help us as we are working to help Fred return to activity and Elvie be baptized this March! We are so excited for their progress and the great things that we are seeing here. The work is moving forward.

I am grateful I am apart of the work here in this mission.

Our Zone is doing well. I have loved learning to be a more Christ-like servant and leader to these missionaries. I have really started to see them more like Heavenly Father sees them. It is very rewarding being a leader, even when it is stressful and has hard experiences. I pray for you all, and ask for you to pray for the people here.

--

ELDER MURDOCK

Week 83

Hello family and friends,

Today we are a little heavy on reports, but I am so happy that I had the chance to receive all of your wonderful emails! I love receiving your words of encouragement and know that you are all  doing so well. I hear that there is a lot of snow! That is so different as now it is getting so hot here! It is about 40 degrees Celsius(104 F.) all the time! I miss the snow! I especially miss snowboarding with my little brothers! Next season Jacob and Kaden... But in truth I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the whole world. 

On Wednesday we watched a broadcast for all the missionaries in the whole world. It gave me power to think that I was singing and gathering with 75,000+ missionaries all singing Called to serve in all different places in the world from Hawaii to Finland. It makes me feel overjoyed to be apart of a noble army of God. Many apostles and general authorities spoke and they even had a part of it feature missionaries from the Ogden Utah mission! It was a joyful experience.

The Lord is blessing us. I am starting to just love the people here. I feel right at home in the ward here and the members are so strong. We have been blessed with much support from them. We have received many referrals and also had members willing to be brave and share their testimonies along side ours as we have helped others come unto the light of the gospel. It has softened many hearts.

We also have had people put in our path as we have opened our mouths.

Being a missionary is so amazing. It is definitely a marvelous work and a wonder. I wonder all the time what I am going to say next and then bam!, I just know. I am so weak and young and inadequate, I can speak the language functionally, but sometimes I still am reminded I am not a native.  I have never experienced what most of these people are going through or feeling... But as I have been humble enough to realize my weaknesses and had faith that despite them, I can succeed if lay aside myself and let Him take me by the hand and make me equal to every task He gives me.

I encourage you all, to continue to do what you are already doing, lift others up, be an example. forgive and see beyond others weaknesses. Apply the Atonement everyday, whether if you made a mistake that needs erasing or need comfort to make it to tomorrow. I am learning that the Atonement is something intended for us to use generously because it never runs out-- ever! 

I have been pondering these verses lately :

28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

As we take His yoke upon us, we will find rest to our souls. That yoke require sacrifice but the reward is bliss.

I love you all so much! I pray for you always

tandaan niyo mahal kita!

ELDER MURDOCK

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!

--

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

-- 

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