Week 95

Hello Everybody!

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes! I really felt your love, thank you so much! I am so blessed to have you all in my life! It is hard for me to believe that I will be 20 this Thursday!

What a great week! This week we saw a lot of the fruits of our labors with the rescue of less active members! We have been teaching the Rivera family since I got here to Bulaon in January, This month they have grown in the gospel and you can just see how truly happy they are!

 Sister Rivera has 5 kids, the oldest 14 year old young man and 4 small kids.

Sister Rivera and her son both returned and her son received the office of a teacher in the Aaronic priesthood! On saturday we had the baptism of their two sweet little girls. It was a great baptism, I can see the future of this family and it is bright!

We are also preparing a older couple to be sealed in the temple. This great couple just recently returned and they will be sealed on June 25 on one of my very last days here in the Philippines! The past few weeks my perspective has changed about teaching less active members and I have learned how much Heavenly Father really does love those people that are often termed as less active. We really don't know how big of impact we make on these people as we do our duty as home teachers, visiting teachers, and most importantly neighbors and friends. One of the ways we do missionary work is by helping those we know that are not yet active to become active again in the Gospel.

 I feel so privileged to serve here on my mission at this time. There is nothing like it!

I am loving everyday!

mahal ko kayo!

ELDER MURDOCK

Week 94

Hello family!

Well, this week was so hot!! I mean so hot that I woke up thirsty! Believe it or not it reached 44 C or about 108 F.

Although it was hot, we had a great week!

First we had interviews with President Clark, he is such a inspiring person to be with. I have really grown to love my mission president and his wife Sister Clark. They are great people. It was also my companions birthday this week, we had a great time and had cake and ice cream. 

But the highlight of the week for me was on Friday when we had Bro. Michael's baptism! It is so hard to explain in words what it is like to watch some you first meet on their doorstep grow and change and begin that journey of discipleship.You really grow to love them. As Michael bore his testimony he talked about his family and how now he is going to do all he can to help them also partake of the gospel. As he bore his testimony you could just tell that he is a good father and really loves his family. He has the desire to change his life and follow the Savior and that is what has gotten him this far and that is what will help him continue on the path of enduring to the end.

I thank the Lord for everyday he is giving me to serve these great people in the this special part of the world. This is His work!

mahal na mahal ko kayo! 

-- 

ELDER MURDOCK

Week 93

Hello Family and Friends!

What a great week!

As I look at the subject line I realize how fast time really is going, as the hymn goes "The time is far spent, there is little remaining." Never before in my mission have those lines rung more true to me at this time. It makes me feel a little sad as I know even now that I will miss this great culture, place, the food but mostly the people especially the cute smiling faces of the Filipino children.

On the other hand It is funny as I have realized some things that I have forgotten about and even miss, Like country music (who knew I would miss that right?) and soccer and tacos and fresh milk and such. But without a doubt I would not wish myself anywhere else. And recently I have learned to rejoice in every bagong gising, every new day the Lord has given me here in the Philippines to serve. No matter wherever we are each new day is a gift from our Heavenly Father.  Mahal ko ang Pilipinas! 

I loved conference this week!! Here in the Philippines because we are on the other side of the world we watch conference a week after all of you back in the states! 

I loved how the Sunday sessions talked so much about the temple.

One small miracle that happened surrounding conference here, happened with Bro. Michael our investigator who is getting baptized this week. 

Because of my mistake, Bro. Michael thought that we were going to pick him up to take him to the stake center in downtown Angeles city. When we got to the chapel, we learned that the members had offered to take him but he declined because he thought that we were going to pick him up. When I learned of this I felt awful, I thought it was my fault that he wasn't able to come to church. But about 20 minutes into conference we saw Bro. Michael walk into the stake center. When we didn't come to pick him up he paid the travel expenses to get to the stake center about 40 minutes way. I was so grateful and pleased with his faith as that is a big sacrifice for him. He has often told us of the financial problems their family is having with his wife  needing  frequent medical care. One thing I learned from this experience is that it really does no good to worry. As we remember who we are as children of God and follow our divine nature as His children by choosing obedience, "The harder right" as Prophet Thomas S. Monson declared in conference, we will be happy and everything will work out for our eternal benefit!

I want you to know that I love you all, You are my hero's! Thank you for your kind and generous support.

Mahal ko kayo,

ELDER MURDOCK

PS

Thank you Tito Monte and Tita Meagan and their family for the nice Easter package

also Lola Murdock for her thoughtful birthday card

and lastly Thank you Luke for your awesome letters and congratulations on your baptism!

Week 92

Hello Everybody,

Well this week was good. We had transfer announcement and I am staying here in Bulaon :) I am grateful that I have the chance to continue to serve this ward and the people here in Angeles Pampanga area. It is great to be here, and I am growing to love the city folk just as much as I  love the people in the rice fields. The city is much different then the peaceful countryside, so when I first got her in January I had a hard time adjusting because this is the first time that I have been assigned in the city. But now I love it! The members here are so great! So willing to help and are just easy to love. Although here in this area I have seen a lot more rejection I have also seen many miracles. Every set back we have had has taught us something that has given us the strength to become more Christ like.

Here is a quick story I would like to share with you!

At the beginning of the week we taught a less active man who had decided that because of the hard things that he is experiencing in his life he didn't believe in God.

It was a little difficult to understand him because he doesn't speak Tagalog very well but speaks Cebuano, but because my companion also was a native Cebuano speaker we were able to communicate well with him. As we taught him the spirit was strong and by the end of the lesson his countenance started to change and I could tell he was feeling the spirit. I felt love for this man even though I did not know him that well. When we came back to teach him a few days later I was a little disappointed when he said he was busy and didn't want to be taught that afternoon. But I felt like I should try reading out of the Cebuano book of Mormon we brought to give to him. As I struggled with the words as I read, He smiled and asked if he could read. I handed the book over to him and we sat and watched as he read for 15 minutes out of the book of Mormon. As we left he looked at us and said. "I shouldn't have said there wasn't a God, that was evil of me to do, I know that there is a God" That simple statement made me smile. We challenged him to read the Book of Mormon and he agreed, I knew that the Book of Mormon and the Holy spirit are what were instrument in helping him soften his heart.

 I have witnessed time and time again the power of the Book of Mormon is softening the hearts of God's children.

We have an investigator named Michael he is such a great man. Even though his eyes hurt when he reads, He says he reads because when he does he feels something; "it is like my problems are lighter"  he says.

 I too know that if we read the Book of Mormon "we will know all things which we should do".  I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have read it, I have prayed about it and I have received that witness from the Holy Spirit. That is one of the biggest reasons why I am here on my mission.

Although I am young and honestly incapable to do this work alone, I know that through the holy spirit and the Book of Mormon lives can be touched and changed.

 

mahal ko kayo! :)

--

ELDER MURDOCK

Week 91

Hello Family and Friends!

This week was one that was full of tender mercies and love, very appropriate I believe for this week as we celebrated Easter.

Clear back in January we met Elvie on a jeepney, she was a little bit familiar with the church because she met missionaries while she was working in Hong Kong and her husband was baptized many years ago. She was very excited and was really interested in having us go to her house and teach her the gospel. When we taught her it was very evident that she was prepared by the Lord and very ready for baptism and activity in the church, she even brought her husband to church with her and has made so many friends with church members. She is so smart and her testimony has grown so fast. But then just a few days before she was supposed to be baptized on March 5 she announced that she had to move to Manila for work and that she didn't know if she would be able to be baptized. 

I was shocked, I did not want to believe that that was happening. To make a short story short, we lost contact with her for 3 weeks, and although I didn't know how she was doing, I kept praying for her and hoping that she would come home so that she could be baptized. After trying to call her many times without her reply, last Sunday we got a call in the middle of sacrament meeting and it was Sister Elvie! She told us she was praying what she should do because she wanted badly to be baptized but she didn't even know where the church was in Manila and as she finished her prayer she looked up and there she saw two elders walking down the street! She called after them and asked where the church is and went with them to church. She then told us that because of the holiday she could get work off and be baptized this weekend! Yesterday she was confirmed and on Saturday she was baptized! It was a miracle for me. Heavenly Father really knows our needs and and is mindful of us, He listens to our prayers. He knows the people we teach, He knows their hearts. Elvie is so strong. One thing that I think was significant was that when Elvie called she told me that she had enough money to get to Bulaon but not enough to go back to Manila. I felt guided by the spirit as I felt inspired to tell her that if she came here to be baptized the Lord would provide a way for her to go back to manila. I know that the Lord is with us. He asks though that we sacrifice, but as we sacrifice we are given blessings more than we can imagine!

I believe in miracles, both big and small!

I pray for each of you and know that you are in the Lord's hands!

mahal ko kayo!

Elder Murdock

Week 90

Family and Friends!

I am so grateful for the chance to share my week with you!

So first I'd like to share a story that may make you smile or gag, I don't know...

We went on exchanges with the assistants to the president and while I was in their area they had a huge fiesta going on! Everyone was cooking to prepare for the following day.

As we were walking to a member's home we saw them huddled around the body of an animal. It was a dog. They were preparing it for their fiesta feast! Hahaha.... The dog just happened to be one that was really nice and would follow the missionaries as they worked around that neighborhood, so it was even a bigger shock to them when they found out that the dog they were going to cook was that one. :( hahaha  Yes they eat a lot of weird stuff here!

This week was really good! :) My companion and I are doing great work and seeing great things happen here in Bulaon!

Even in our zone! We have been blessed so much by our Heavenly Father and have been able to achieve our goals, our monthly goals for baptisms and confirmations and even exceed our goal for less active return! I can really feel the Lord with us, he is truly teaching us and serving with us.

So brother Michael one of our investigators I mentioned last week is doing so well! Every time we visit him I just see his countenance brighten. He is making a great change in his life. Yesterday at church he told us that he has lost the appetite to sins that he had struggled with in the past. He said it simply, "I don't want to be that kind of person anymore" That is what I believe real conversion is, the change not only of our actions, but the change of our hearts and our desires and appetites. As I think of Bro. Michael and also myself with all my short comings and sins, my thoughts turn to Jesus Christ 

as we know this coming week is Easter! One thing is true, Filipinos love what they call holy week. They celebrate the last week of the Savior's life in many interesting and diverse ways! (some people even get nailed to crosses)

Although there is a lot of chaos in it all, it is a prime time to share the gospel because so many people already are thinking of Jesus Christ. I love sharing my testimony that we know that Jesus Christ lives because He has shown Himself to a prophet in our day.

I know that Jesus truly paid for our sins and truly is the Son of God and the Redeemer of the world. He experienced all of our pains, all of our sorrows and paid for all of our sins.

Through Jesus Christ, we all can find new life!

One thing that I love about these special people in the Philippines is that except the rare occasion of meeting a Muslim, every person I meet knows that Jesus Christ is the Savior. I am grateful and humbled that I have the chance to carry His name and be His representative to these people.

I love you all,

ELDER MURDOCK

Week 89

Hello Family!

This week was a good week.

We found a new progressing investigator! His name is John Michael but he goes by "Chavie".  When we taught him the first time I did not think he was that interested, but we had a pleasant surprise when we went to teach him again just a day later. The first thing he said to us was: "Elders! I read the blue bible you gave me! please come in".  We then shared the plan of salvation with this man and the spirit filled the room. At the end of the lesson he prayed and he suddenly just stopped and started to cry. After his prayer we asked him what he was feeling, he said. "I will be the one to show my family the right way and be their example"

Bro. Chavie came to church twice now. He has made friends with the recently returned older couple that I mentioned last week. I pray for him everyday that he will continue to progress. 

We have a few set backs this week with investigators who decided not to progress anymore, but we have also had miracles. I believe it is a choice to see and believe in miracles. We can focus on whats going wrong, or we can focus on the eternal and on the bounteous blessing the Lord is giving us!

I love you all, I love these people in a way that is hard to describe. Every setback and disappointment is worth every sweet moment of seeing the light within these people grow.

tandaan ninyo, na mahal tayo ng ating Ama sa Langit, at hindi niya tayo pababayaan. Alam ko na buhay ang Diyos at nagbayad-sala si Hesucristo para sa ating kasalanan.

(According to google translate this says- Our Heavenly Father loves us, remember he will not abandon us. I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ atoned for our sins.)

Go and do miracles!

ELDER MURDOCK