Kumusta Lahat!
This week was SO great! I have been happier this week than I have my whole mission! I have found a greater love for the people and am finding ways to serve them. We have a lot of wonderful and progressing investigators and I am really pleased at the progress we have been making here in Cabiao!
One day we had a service project with our zone and we used big sickles and machetes to clear a field to become a basketball court for an elementary school. It was really hard work and I got so sunburned! It was very fun! Afterwards, they fed us and instead of plates they put a bunch of huge banana leaves on the long table and we all ate our food right from the leaves. It was weird at first, hahaha.
I sure love the Philippines! The people here are so genuine and honestly the nicest most respectful people I have ever met! I have never had anyone treat me rudely. Most of the time when people reject us they just come up with excuses that vary from; "I have no time, I am busy" to "I will try" Which pretty much means no. It's sad but it is part of the process of separating the wheat from the tares. I am constantly praying to find the pure in heart.
Lately, I have felt a little emptiness inside and didn't know what to do. I was talking to an older missionary who is going home soon and was just the Assistant the the president. I asked him what advice he had for me on my mission. He told me as cliche as it sounds just love the people. He continued to say, that because people can feel when you really care about them and their well being, it is the most important part of being a missionary. After he told me this I decided to pray for the gift of charity and opportunities to serve. It was really cool to see all of the little opportunities I was able to find to serve people in simple ways. One experience I had this week that was really touching for me: one of our investigators had an accident at work in which a nail punctured his eye close to the center. It was really painful as you could imagine for him and the doctors said it would have to be removed! When we found out about this, me and my companion were on splits, and I was with a member. We decided to go visit this man and ask him if he wanted a priesthood blessing. As we went to his humble shack of a home, he accepted our invitation and I gave him a blessing in broken Tagalog. I felt the love that God had for this man and it was overwhelming for me! I felt an overwhelming feeling of joy and love for him. I looked into his eyes and his eye didn't make me even cringe. I told the man that if he had faith he could be healed and would be able to find work to provide for his family. I am so grateful for the priesthood and the opportunity I had to give this man a blessing. I have felt a great joy in serving others and forgetting about my problems and worries. Every night I ask myself as I evaluate the day to my Father in Heaven, "Was I help to someone in need? Did I help ease someones burden? Did I observe then serve? As I have been praying for those to be put in my path that need relief, I have felt a greater joy than I have my whole life. I know that Satan wants us to focus on our needs, problems, and worries. But as we focus on others, our burdens become lighter and we are able to refocus and have an eternal perspective on what is important. I love my Savior! I love all of you! I am forever grateful for the joy and peace that the gospel brings into my life! That is why I am on a mission and that is why I stay on a mission! One thing that can never be taken from us is our testimonies! When we lose our testimony its because we willfully give it away. I love this work! I am grateful for all of you! You have made a great difference to me in my life! Let's all see what we can do to change the world by our testimonies!
You have a great week!
ELDER MURDOCK!
pilipinas landscape
Monday, October 27, 2014
Monday, October 20, 2014
WEEK 16 Learning to trust
Hey Everybody!
This week was awesome! I can't believe that it has already been four months! Wow, time is flying! It seems like just a while ago I was the MTC preparing to enter the field! I am so grateful that I have had this opportunity to serve here in the Angeles mission and am really learning that I am here in this mission for a reason! I have also learned this week to trust more in God and less in myself.
We are teaching a beautiful family who are really progressing! It makes me so excited for them. We are praying really hard for the father who is still uninterested, but we should be baptizing the rest of them this coming month. I am so grateful for the chance I have to witness the atonement changing the lives of these people, it is amazing to see how I am changing too! I am becoming more like the Savior as I serve with love.
Sometimes it is so easy for me to get really frustrated with the day, that we didn't teach enough appointments, we didn't meet our goals, investigators agency, not enough time in the day, you know the list could be very long. There were days this week that I felt like I was not doing enough and that I wasn't making much of a difference. Then I realized that I was focusing way to much on myself. Yes, I had the right desires of working hard and preaching the gospel, but I was determined to do it on my terms not God's. I humbled myself and decided that I would do the very best I could and then let God do the rest. That I would chose to put my life in heavens hands. I will work my guts out that day and if we hit opposition and don't meet our goals I am content because I know that God is in control. That is, it will all work out the way it is supposed to, and that I can have a peace of mind knowing that He is in charge. Once I made this adjustment to my attitude we actually found more success! As I prayed fervently and with faith that he would guide us and trusted less in my abilities I was amazed at the difference of our teaching! It's not easy, but when we rely on him and less on the arm of the flesh, that is when real miracles happen.
I would like to share my testimony that this gospel is true, and that if we come unto Christ we may become perfected in him! I know that the gospel was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith and that the Book of Mormon is the source that we find answers in our lives! I know that our Savior lives and loves us infinitely! I love this work and have found great joy in it!
I love you all so much and am grateful for your support, emails, and prayers. If there is anything I can do for you, or pray for you about, send me an email- I am here for all of you. I love you and pray for you always!
Stay true!
ELDER MURDOCK
This week was awesome! I can't believe that it has already been four months! Wow, time is flying! It seems like just a while ago I was the MTC preparing to enter the field! I am so grateful that I have had this opportunity to serve here in the Angeles mission and am really learning that I am here in this mission for a reason! I have also learned this week to trust more in God and less in myself.
We are teaching a beautiful family who are really progressing! It makes me so excited for them. We are praying really hard for the father who is still uninterested, but we should be baptizing the rest of them this coming month. I am so grateful for the chance I have to witness the atonement changing the lives of these people, it is amazing to see how I am changing too! I am becoming more like the Savior as I serve with love.
Sometimes it is so easy for me to get really frustrated with the day, that we didn't teach enough appointments, we didn't meet our goals, investigators agency, not enough time in the day, you know the list could be very long. There were days this week that I felt like I was not doing enough and that I wasn't making much of a difference. Then I realized that I was focusing way to much on myself. Yes, I had the right desires of working hard and preaching the gospel, but I was determined to do it on my terms not God's. I humbled myself and decided that I would do the very best I could and then let God do the rest. That I would chose to put my life in heavens hands. I will work my guts out that day and if we hit opposition and don't meet our goals I am content because I know that God is in control. That is, it will all work out the way it is supposed to, and that I can have a peace of mind knowing that He is in charge. Once I made this adjustment to my attitude we actually found more success! As I prayed fervently and with faith that he would guide us and trusted less in my abilities I was amazed at the difference of our teaching! It's not easy, but when we rely on him and less on the arm of the flesh, that is when real miracles happen.
I would like to share my testimony that this gospel is true, and that if we come unto Christ we may become perfected in him! I know that the gospel was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith and that the Book of Mormon is the source that we find answers in our lives! I know that our Savior lives and loves us infinitely! I love this work and have found great joy in it!
I love you all so much and am grateful for your support, emails, and prayers. If there is anything I can do for you, or pray for you about, send me an email- I am here for all of you. I love you and pray for you always!
Stay true!
ELDER MURDOCK
Monday, October 13, 2014
Week 15 Representatives of Him
Hey Pamilia!
This week was a fantastic week! First of all I had my first baptism! Which was so awesome! I got to baptize and it was a really neat experience and was a beautiful service! And of course it was conference which is always a treat! I just loved all of the wonderful talks! I learned so much and received a witness that those men that speak to us are men of God.
At the stake center they have two rooms that play conference, one for English and the chapel for Tagalog As I listened to the holy ghost I was prompted for one of the sessions to listen to it in Tagalog. This was a weird thought to me because I wanted to get the most out of conference possible. But as I sat quietly talking to a recent convert in my ward as we saw on the screen our wonderful prophet Thomas S. Monson. I had a peace come over me. The stillness I felt was a reaffirming witness to me that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet today for the whole world. As I listened to conference I was impressed at the testimony after testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.
One thing I absolutely love about missionary work is when we are on the street talking to people, they look at my badge examining it closely looking at my name and then they look at the Saviors name. Sometimes when I introduce myself and point to my name tag they say Christ's name and I smile at them and say: yes we are representatives of Him. I am so humbled for that opportunity to bear his name and have been striving everyday to become like him and study his earthly ministry. It is not an easy but through the atonement it is possible! I love the scripture Ether 12:27 about weaknesses, but it only hit me this week the significance of the first line "If men come unto me." I never realized that the very act of coming unto him is when we see our weaknesses. But it is through him that we overcome them and become stronger.
I love my Savior! I have grown so much closer to him in the past few weeks. He invites us all to come unto him and follow in his footsteps. I know that as we do we will find a greater happiness and joy in our life as we embrace and accept his atonement.
I love you all so much and pray for you everyday! I am grateful for your prayers with the language and know that I am receiving help from angels. I invite you all to share the light of Christ you all have with those around you! Use the tools you have, such as the movie Meet the Mormons and invite your friends to partake of the joy you have felt. It will change not only their life, but yours as well!
Mahal ko kayo!
ELDER MURDOCK
This week was a fantastic week! First of all I had my first baptism! Which was so awesome! I got to baptize and it was a really neat experience and was a beautiful service! And of course it was conference which is always a treat! I just loved all of the wonderful talks! I learned so much and received a witness that those men that speak to us are men of God.
At the stake center they have two rooms that play conference, one for English and the chapel for Tagalog As I listened to the holy ghost I was prompted for one of the sessions to listen to it in Tagalog. This was a weird thought to me because I wanted to get the most out of conference possible. But as I sat quietly talking to a recent convert in my ward as we saw on the screen our wonderful prophet Thomas S. Monson. I had a peace come over me. The stillness I felt was a reaffirming witness to me that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet today for the whole world. As I listened to conference I was impressed at the testimony after testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.
One thing I absolutely love about missionary work is when we are on the street talking to people, they look at my badge examining it closely looking at my name and then they look at the Saviors name. Sometimes when I introduce myself and point to my name tag they say Christ's name and I smile at them and say: yes we are representatives of Him. I am so humbled for that opportunity to bear his name and have been striving everyday to become like him and study his earthly ministry. It is not an easy but through the atonement it is possible! I love the scripture Ether 12:27 about weaknesses, but it only hit me this week the significance of the first line "If men come unto me." I never realized that the very act of coming unto him is when we see our weaknesses. But it is through him that we overcome them and become stronger.
I love my Savior! I have grown so much closer to him in the past few weeks. He invites us all to come unto him and follow in his footsteps. I know that as we do we will find a greater happiness and joy in our life as we embrace and accept his atonement.
I love you all so much and pray for you everyday! I am grateful for your prayers with the language and know that I am receiving help from angels. I invite you all to share the light of Christ you all have with those around you! Use the tools you have, such as the movie Meet the Mormons and invite your friends to partake of the joy you have felt. It will change not only their life, but yours as well!
Mahal ko kayo!
ELDER MURDOCK
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| 1st Baptism |
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| When it rains, it pours! |
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| Elder Murdock with Natives in front of a Rice field |
Monday, October 6, 2014
Week14
Hey family!
This week was good! I learned a lot and grew a lot from my challenges. We had some really cool and some what unusual experiences this week. First we taught a Joe! Here in the Philippines a Joe is a white guy. Many times I will be walking down the street and someone would yell "hey Joe!"Anyway, there was this guy here doing humanitarian work and he was from the UK. First of all this was a dream come true for me, at first! I got to speak English!!! I was so stoked!
As we started the lesson on the Restoration the spirit was there, and it was amazing because I was able to answer his questions almost perfectly, This man had a lot of doubts and didn't even believe in God, I felt like I was teaching Korihor!:) It didn't matter how many inspired questions we
asked him or how many verses we read in the scriptures he was really hard hearted. It made me sad to think that he had forgotten who he was. The funny thing about it was that it was at first a little hard for me to teach in English, I kept saying things in Tagalog and he would just look at me with a blank look on his face. haha! I guess my Tagalog is better than I think it is! This experience really taught me why I am here in the Philippines. God needed me in a place where people are ready to receive the gospel and where people were humble and willing to learn of him. I learned that I was taking for granted the humble hearts of these people, The Filipino people are truly special children of God!
Everyday I am learning to trust in him more, and to allow for him to make me a finer instrument. In Ether I am reading about how the Jaredites left all they knew and traveled in barges to the promised land. One thing I noticed is that that the barges had no windows! They didn't see where they were going but they trusted in God that he would lead them, even through hard times- it says that there were mountainous waves and the winds never stopped. But they never stopped praising their God day and night! It says in the scriptures that they were in the barges for 334 days! Wow, what faith they had! I am striving to have that faith in my Savior and let him guide me to my promised land!
The last thing I would like to share with you all is the power of a smile! Smiles are amazing, they can do amazing things and can lift the spirits! A smile speaks all languages and is a universal gesture of happiness and kindness. I am finding that when I smile genuinely at people on the street they usually smile back and it opens opportunities to share the gospel with them. I feel Christ's love when I smile at the wonderful people here.
I am grateful for the wonderful people here, they make it all worth it! I am excited for my first baptism this week! I feel the Saviors love everyday and know without a doubt that this work is real! I love you all so much! I am so grateful for your prayers! You are amazing examples to me! Don't forget that a great way of sharing your light is through a smile!
You all take care and remember that Christ is the only way for us to truly become happy!
mahal ko kayo!
Your pinoy Elder,
ELDER MURDOCK
This week was good! I learned a lot and grew a lot from my challenges. We had some really cool and some what unusual experiences this week. First we taught a Joe! Here in the Philippines a Joe is a white guy. Many times I will be walking down the street and someone would yell "hey Joe!"Anyway, there was this guy here doing humanitarian work and he was from the UK. First of all this was a dream come true for me, at first! I got to speak English!!! I was so stoked!
As we started the lesson on the Restoration the spirit was there, and it was amazing because I was able to answer his questions almost perfectly, This man had a lot of doubts and didn't even believe in God, I felt like I was teaching Korihor!:) It didn't matter how many inspired questions we
asked him or how many verses we read in the scriptures he was really hard hearted. It made me sad to think that he had forgotten who he was. The funny thing about it was that it was at first a little hard for me to teach in English, I kept saying things in Tagalog and he would just look at me with a blank look on his face. haha! I guess my Tagalog is better than I think it is! This experience really taught me why I am here in the Philippines. God needed me in a place where people are ready to receive the gospel and where people were humble and willing to learn of him. I learned that I was taking for granted the humble hearts of these people, The Filipino people are truly special children of God!
Everyday I am learning to trust in him more, and to allow for him to make me a finer instrument. In Ether I am reading about how the Jaredites left all they knew and traveled in barges to the promised land. One thing I noticed is that that the barges had no windows! They didn't see where they were going but they trusted in God that he would lead them, even through hard times- it says that there were mountainous waves and the winds never stopped. But they never stopped praising their God day and night! It says in the scriptures that they were in the barges for 334 days! Wow, what faith they had! I am striving to have that faith in my Savior and let him guide me to my promised land!
The last thing I would like to share with you all is the power of a smile! Smiles are amazing, they can do amazing things and can lift the spirits! A smile speaks all languages and is a universal gesture of happiness and kindness. I am finding that when I smile genuinely at people on the street they usually smile back and it opens opportunities to share the gospel with them. I feel Christ's love when I smile at the wonderful people here.
I am grateful for the wonderful people here, they make it all worth it! I am excited for my first baptism this week! I feel the Saviors love everyday and know without a doubt that this work is real! I love you all so much! I am so grateful for your prayers! You are amazing examples to me! Don't forget that a great way of sharing your light is through a smile!
You all take care and remember that Christ is the only way for us to truly become happy!
mahal ko kayo!
Your pinoy Elder,
ELDER MURDOCK
Monday, September 29, 2014
Week 13 - marvel moments
Hey Family and friends!
This week was overall a great week and went by so fast! It feels like yesterday I was emailing you all! We have been doing well here in Cabiao and love the little miracles that make it all worth it. Wednesday was our transfer meeting. Thank goodness me and my trainer will be staying here in Cabiao! I love this ward and quite honestly would be content if my mission call changed to Cabiao mission.:) The members here are so willing to help with the work and we are seeing more success when we tag team with the members. I am finding how important referrals are and really suggest to all of you to share the gospel with your friends because member referrals have a much higher chance of leading to baptism and activity in the church!
So we are teaching this little family named the Yakat family, they have three little girls that are so cute and always smiling. They live in a humble little shack a crossed the street from the chapel. When we first started teaching them we made the mistake of going on auto pilot and didn't teach them to their needs. It wasn't until we got to the Book of Mormon that we found out that Sister Yakat didn't know how to read! Later when we taught her about the word of wisdom she asked who Joseph Smith was. We quickly learned how slow her understanding was and adapted our teaching! This was really discouraging and we realized our mistake that we were just teaching the lesson and not the people. We fixed our error in our planning and teaching and challenged her and her daughter to enter the waters of baptism on Oct 25. I am learning to be humble with my weaknesses and willing to recognize and fix them.
I know that God is in the detail of our lives and that he love us and will guide us if we let him and are humble enough to become what he wants us to become . I often wonder and find it so amazing that God trusts 18-21 year old young men and woman to do his work! It is amazing. Many times I feel inadequate for this work. What do I know, I am a young white kid from Utah who doesn't know Tagalog ! But then I remember that it really isn't about me and that I am armed with a great power, that is the Holy Ghost. I don't need to worry because if I do my best, God will make my weaknesses become my strengths. I know that when we are willing and humble that he will mold us like clay. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes the heat of the furnace seems unbearable to bear, but through the atonement of Jesus Christ we are able to all things that seem impossible. I am seeing these little miracles in my life as I apply the atonement to my life. I have moments I would like to call marvel moments, where I marvel at what comes out of my mouth, The thoughts and impressions I receive and little miracles that are frequent in my life when I am actively look for them. It is amazing to see these little things happen. It strengthens my testimony that God is a loving parent who wants to give us those blessing and all he requires is for us to ask and knock and it shall be open unto us! I love my work here and want all of you to know that you are in my prayers. I know that as we pray to see those marvel moments and those blessing that God already gives to us, we will begin to recognize how much the hand of the lord is in our lives.
I love you all so much and am so grateful for all of you! You are stronger than you think and have impacted me in ways you don't know. Missionary work is not just done by full time missionaries but is most effective when we all do our part to hasten the work of salvation! So let us do our part and prepare the way for the second coming of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ! I know that the work will go forward, so lets be on board when the boat leaves so to speak!
You rock! I pray for you,
Mahal ko kayo!
ELDER MURDOCK
This week was overall a great week and went by so fast! It feels like yesterday I was emailing you all! We have been doing well here in Cabiao and love the little miracles that make it all worth it. Wednesday was our transfer meeting. Thank goodness me and my trainer will be staying here in Cabiao! I love this ward and quite honestly would be content if my mission call changed to Cabiao mission.:) The members here are so willing to help with the work and we are seeing more success when we tag team with the members. I am finding how important referrals are and really suggest to all of you to share the gospel with your friends because member referrals have a much higher chance of leading to baptism and activity in the church!
So we are teaching this little family named the Yakat family, they have three little girls that are so cute and always smiling. They live in a humble little shack a crossed the street from the chapel. When we first started teaching them we made the mistake of going on auto pilot and didn't teach them to their needs. It wasn't until we got to the Book of Mormon that we found out that Sister Yakat didn't know how to read! Later when we taught her about the word of wisdom she asked who Joseph Smith was. We quickly learned how slow her understanding was and adapted our teaching! This was really discouraging and we realized our mistake that we were just teaching the lesson and not the people. We fixed our error in our planning and teaching and challenged her and her daughter to enter the waters of baptism on Oct 25. I am learning to be humble with my weaknesses and willing to recognize and fix them.
I know that God is in the detail of our lives and that he love us and will guide us if we let him and are humble enough to become what he wants us to become . I often wonder and find it so amazing that God trusts 18-21 year old young men and woman to do his work! It is amazing. Many times I feel inadequate for this work. What do I know, I am a young white kid from Utah who doesn't know Tagalog ! But then I remember that it really isn't about me and that I am armed with a great power, that is the Holy Ghost. I don't need to worry because if I do my best, God will make my weaknesses become my strengths. I know that when we are willing and humble that he will mold us like clay. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes the heat of the furnace seems unbearable to bear, but through the atonement of Jesus Christ we are able to all things that seem impossible. I am seeing these little miracles in my life as I apply the atonement to my life. I have moments I would like to call marvel moments, where I marvel at what comes out of my mouth, The thoughts and impressions I receive and little miracles that are frequent in my life when I am actively look for them. It is amazing to see these little things happen. It strengthens my testimony that God is a loving parent who wants to give us those blessing and all he requires is for us to ask and knock and it shall be open unto us! I love my work here and want all of you to know that you are in my prayers. I know that as we pray to see those marvel moments and those blessing that God already gives to us, we will begin to recognize how much the hand of the lord is in our lives.
I love you all so much and am so grateful for all of you! You are stronger than you think and have impacted me in ways you don't know. Missionary work is not just done by full time missionaries but is most effective when we all do our part to hasten the work of salvation! So let us do our part and prepare the way for the second coming of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ! I know that the work will go forward, so lets be on board when the boat leaves so to speak!
You rock! I pray for you,
Mahal ko kayo!
ELDER MURDOCK
Monday, September 22, 2014
Week 12- Come what may and love it!
Hey Family and Friends!
This week was great! We saw a lot of success this week as we worked hard and applied what we learned in Preach my Gospel and the Book of Mormon and I can testify to you that those two books are so powerful! Especially the Book of Mormon. I have really taken my study of the Book of Mormon to a new level and it has really helped me become a better missionary.
The language is coming easier for me, I still struggle sometimes but it is amazing to see the progress I have had. I give all credit to the help of heaven because I don't know how else I could be learning this crazy language! I gave my first talk in church yesterday. It was really scary and I was given a really hard topic of protecting ourselves from pornography. I got this assignment from the bishop two days before sacrament meeting and I was really stressed. I just prepared the best I could and prayed very hard that the congregation would be able to understand me. I spoke in Taglish and it went well. I felt the spirit strongly and really felt that I had strength beyond mine own. I am glad I am learning Tagalog I wouldn't want it any other way, I feel born to speak this language! :)
This week I learned a lot about patience and not sweating the small stuff. Last Monday I was at a zone activity and we were playing dodge ball and I ran into another elder and "pulled a a Madie" and sprained my wrist. I was more embarrassed than anything but it hurt really bad and I could barely move it, it eventually began to swell and so we got some ice for it and ibuprofen and I put an essential oil on it and it was amazing after a few days my wrist healed. it still hurts sometimes but it really healing.
I am so grateful for the blessing that I receive in being a missionary. This experience taught me to just laugh and just enjoy the journey and realize that every moment in life isn't going to be pleasant. I read a really great quote from Elder Wirthlin that says: "Come what may and love it!" I am really trying to do just that to love the hard things and trust that things will work out the way that they are supposed to. Sometimes missionary work has is unexpected moments, like when drunk people confront you and dogs chase you or like when we have to walk through flooded streets to our knees to get to an appointment or the frustrating moments when all of our appointments seem to fall through. Even when we don't know why sometimes these things happen I am a firm believe that God is in charge and he knows better than we do,
I love those moments those little missionary moments when it goes right, when the spirit confirms that this work is real, it is not a church built upon fictitious imagination but is true and is real! I love it when we teach families and get a glimpse of how this gospel could bless their lives. It is a wonderful feeling.
I know that life isn't always easy and sometimes it seems too hard to bare. But I know that God is mindful of us and will strengthen us and give us the challenges that we need in this life to reach our full potential. I am not afraid of the future, I am not afraid of what is to come because I know that my savior is walking beside me every step of the way. I know that each of us can receive the strength we need to fully trust in the will of God and so that we can say come what may and love it!
Alam ko po ang simbahan natin ay totoo!
I love you all and am so grateful for all of all the prayers and emails!
Mahal na mahal po ko kayo!
ingat lahat!
ELDER MURDOCK
This week was great! We saw a lot of success this week as we worked hard and applied what we learned in Preach my Gospel and the Book of Mormon and I can testify to you that those two books are so powerful! Especially the Book of Mormon. I have really taken my study of the Book of Mormon to a new level and it has really helped me become a better missionary.
The language is coming easier for me, I still struggle sometimes but it is amazing to see the progress I have had. I give all credit to the help of heaven because I don't know how else I could be learning this crazy language! I gave my first talk in church yesterday. It was really scary and I was given a really hard topic of protecting ourselves from pornography. I got this assignment from the bishop two days before sacrament meeting and I was really stressed. I just prepared the best I could and prayed very hard that the congregation would be able to understand me. I spoke in Taglish and it went well. I felt the spirit strongly and really felt that I had strength beyond mine own. I am glad I am learning Tagalog I wouldn't want it any other way, I feel born to speak this language! :)
This week I learned a lot about patience and not sweating the small stuff. Last Monday I was at a zone activity and we were playing dodge ball and I ran into another elder and "pulled a a Madie" and sprained my wrist. I was more embarrassed than anything but it hurt really bad and I could barely move it, it eventually began to swell and so we got some ice for it and ibuprofen and I put an essential oil on it and it was amazing after a few days my wrist healed. it still hurts sometimes but it really healing.
I am so grateful for the blessing that I receive in being a missionary. This experience taught me to just laugh and just enjoy the journey and realize that every moment in life isn't going to be pleasant. I read a really great quote from Elder Wirthlin that says: "Come what may and love it!" I am really trying to do just that to love the hard things and trust that things will work out the way that they are supposed to. Sometimes missionary work has is unexpected moments, like when drunk people confront you and dogs chase you or like when we have to walk through flooded streets to our knees to get to an appointment or the frustrating moments when all of our appointments seem to fall through. Even when we don't know why sometimes these things happen I am a firm believe that God is in charge and he knows better than we do,
I love those moments those little missionary moments when it goes right, when the spirit confirms that this work is real, it is not a church built upon fictitious imagination but is true and is real! I love it when we teach families and get a glimpse of how this gospel could bless their lives. It is a wonderful feeling.
I know that life isn't always easy and sometimes it seems too hard to bare. But I know that God is mindful of us and will strengthen us and give us the challenges that we need in this life to reach our full potential. I am not afraid of the future, I am not afraid of what is to come because I know that my savior is walking beside me every step of the way. I know that each of us can receive the strength we need to fully trust in the will of God and so that we can say come what may and love it!
Alam ko po ang simbahan natin ay totoo!
I love you all and am so grateful for all of all the prayers and emails!
Mahal na mahal po ko kayo!
ingat lahat!
ELDER MURDOCK
Monday, September 15, 2014
WEEK 11- new found strength and faith
~KUMUSTA LAHAT! :D
This week was great! It is so weird but it all is starting to blur together and it is hard for me remember what is this week and what was the week before. I can't believe that next week is the last week of the transfer and I have already been here 5 weeks! I love it here!! Especially the ward! I am definitely feeling more and more a part of the culture here! The members love feeding us! :)
This week started really slow, and really hard. We were struggling to meet our goals and had a really hard time staying focused and work our very hardest. Honestly we got a little lazy and was going through the motions. We haven't had any baptisms this month and so it has been a bit discouraging and I felt like I was pulling more than my weight sometimes. I have prayed so hard for my companion that he would know the best way to train me and that he would have that desire to work his hardest. One day it was amazing he just snapped out of it! He worked so hard ! We applied preach my gospel and planned more than ever before. He talked to everyone we met and taught the lessons with a new found power, it was hard for me to keep up with him! We got three new baptismal commitments that day! And three more the next! I marveled at the change that we had! I know that as we are dedicated and do our best God will lead us to those that are ready to receive the gospel.
I would love to share an experience we had that strengthened my testimony:
Lately it has been raining a lot, when I say a lot I mean a lot! Like flooding the streets, and so sometimes it is really hard to get to appointments. On Friday night all of our appointments fell through and it was really discouraging. It was about 8:30 and it was raining so hard. Everyone we went to visit was either asleep or not home. We were really tempted to just go home because we were wet, cold, tired, and hungry. We decided to just visit one more Recent convert. When we got there the father offered us coffee (which always makes me chuckle inside) and we found out that the young man we came to visit wasn't a Recent convert! The records were wrong an he never got baptized! So we taught lesson one to him and his sister and challenged them both to be baptized. They accepted our invitation! If we would have just went home we would have never had that opportunity! I am so grateful that we stuck it through and endured to the end. It reminds me of my cross country days when I would run hard work outs. Sometimes I wanted to give up close to the end, but if I gave up close to the end then I never would cross that finish line and I never would get any better.
I know that the grace of Jesus Christ and his atonement is real and that if we pray for his help he will help us, we just have to ask and be humble enough to let him guide us. I had an exchange this week with our zone leader and I was expected to lead the area. I was really nervous and didn't think I could do it, but I had faith and trusted that I would be able to navigate through these crazy burungays and streets. I was able to lead the area and was able to navigate! It was amazing. I know that it is through Jesus Christ that our weaknesses become strengths, he fills in the holes of our imperfections!
I love you all! Thank you for your prayers and your emails! I pray for you!
Until next week!
mahal kayo,
ELDER MURDOCK
This week was great! It is so weird but it all is starting to blur together and it is hard for me remember what is this week and what was the week before. I can't believe that next week is the last week of the transfer and I have already been here 5 weeks! I love it here!! Especially the ward! I am definitely feeling more and more a part of the culture here! The members love feeding us! :)
This week started really slow, and really hard. We were struggling to meet our goals and had a really hard time staying focused and work our very hardest. Honestly we got a little lazy and was going through the motions. We haven't had any baptisms this month and so it has been a bit discouraging and I felt like I was pulling more than my weight sometimes. I have prayed so hard for my companion that he would know the best way to train me and that he would have that desire to work his hardest. One day it was amazing he just snapped out of it! He worked so hard ! We applied preach my gospel and planned more than ever before. He talked to everyone we met and taught the lessons with a new found power, it was hard for me to keep up with him! We got three new baptismal commitments that day! And three more the next! I marveled at the change that we had! I know that as we are dedicated and do our best God will lead us to those that are ready to receive the gospel.
I would love to share an experience we had that strengthened my testimony:
Lately it has been raining a lot, when I say a lot I mean a lot! Like flooding the streets, and so sometimes it is really hard to get to appointments. On Friday night all of our appointments fell through and it was really discouraging. It was about 8:30 and it was raining so hard. Everyone we went to visit was either asleep or not home. We were really tempted to just go home because we were wet, cold, tired, and hungry. We decided to just visit one more Recent convert. When we got there the father offered us coffee (which always makes me chuckle inside) and we found out that the young man we came to visit wasn't a Recent convert! The records were wrong an he never got baptized! So we taught lesson one to him and his sister and challenged them both to be baptized. They accepted our invitation! If we would have just went home we would have never had that opportunity! I am so grateful that we stuck it through and endured to the end. It reminds me of my cross country days when I would run hard work outs. Sometimes I wanted to give up close to the end, but if I gave up close to the end then I never would cross that finish line and I never would get any better.
I know that the grace of Jesus Christ and his atonement is real and that if we pray for his help he will help us, we just have to ask and be humble enough to let him guide us. I had an exchange this week with our zone leader and I was expected to lead the area. I was really nervous and didn't think I could do it, but I had faith and trusted that I would be able to navigate through these crazy burungays and streets. I was able to lead the area and was able to navigate! It was amazing. I know that it is through Jesus Christ that our weaknesses become strengths, he fills in the holes of our imperfections!
I love you all! Thank you for your prayers and your emails! I pray for you!
Until next week!
mahal kayo,
ELDER MURDOCK
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