Last Week in the MTC

WOW!!!! Can you believe that I'm already done with the Missionary Training Center. 6 weeks ago I was saying goodbye to my family and getting on a plane, and now Ill be getting on a plane and saying goodbye to all the people I was with these past 6 weeks. I can't wait to be in Kansas!! (I might be the first person in the world to say that but I don't care) 

Things I've learned in the MTC:

1. Spanish is hard
2. Praying is real and blesses us so much
3. Minute Maid Orange Guava Passion Fruit Juice is the best drink in the world
4. BYU Creamery Strawberry Cream Cheese and Chocolate Milk is sent from Heaven
5. I actually am Lactose Intolerant (theres a really funny story with this one)
6. Going to bed on time helps you stay awake the next day
7. Don't eat bananas with the peels on
8. I'm happiest when I'm reading my scriptures
9. I love to sing
10. You can make friends when you smell trees with them
    

My week was pretty crazy, on Tuesday we woke up at 5:15 and went to the Temple for the the earliest session. It was super hard to stay awake, but it was also very spiritual. I got to help in the laundry room after and learn how they fold socks in the Heaven (kidding we probably dont need socks in Heaven). We had really cool devotional this week too! Bonnie L Oscarson, the Young Women's President came and spoke to us. She talked about how God uses our experiences to shape our lives and for what he has prepared for us. She compared us to a bush, and God is our Gardener. Sometimes we grow in a way that is bad for our development. And sometimes we need to be pruned down to better our potential at bearing fruit. 

There is a beautiful video on the analogy called the Current Bush. I challege you all to watch and email me back your feelings, or the feelings you felt when watching it. It is so powerful and It helps remind me to be humble and to trust the Plan that God has for me. He is the Gardener of our lives and he is constantly tending to us. 

Here is the link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr8xvw0cgw0

   

Friday was a super long day, and but I definitely learned a lot. We had Infield Orientation, where we learn to apply all that we learned in the MTC and use it wherever we are serving. They told us we had the largest departing group the MTC has all year (with over 800 leaving) It was kinda crazy getting to all the workshops but I think It helped a lot. However, I don't think I am a fan of assemblies from 8 AM to 5:50 PM. It was a really long day for sure. One of the things that I learned was that Satan can tempt us with good things, to distract us from better things. And its really important that we use our time as wisely as possible. 

On Saturday our district leader Elder Peterson left to go home it was super sad. He dislocated his shoulder a week ago and has to have Surgery on it. They said its really bad and don't know the extent of the damage until the open him up because hes already has surgery there before. He has at least a 4 month recovery and it just felt so much like when my brother had to go home from the MTC for his knee. Thankfully, he was able to finish the MTC and can go right to his mission when he recovers. Every one pray for him!!! (Ian Peterson)

On Sunday I performed in a musical number during church and Solo'd a special arrangement of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" it was super good and a bunch of people told me how much they enjoyed my singing. Its something that I'm kind of shy about but I hit all the notes perfectly and it was really powerful. 

I also learned this week that we can't do anything without the Lord. I was studying in John and came across a few really amazing scriptures. They are after the Savior was crucified and the Apostles were fishing on their boats. Its in John 21

3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

These scriptures perfectly describe how when we heed to what the Lord desire, he will bless us with more than we can handle. The disciples had caught no fish all night, but when they listened to the Saviors simple advice, they had so many fish their nets couldn't even bare them. Later in the same chapter he explains to them a very important principle. To Feed his Sheep. 

15 ¶So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Many times throughout the scriptures, Christ refers to his people as "His Sheep" and he is our Shepard, here to guide us. In these verses, he asks Peter if he loves him, after Peter answered yes 3 times. Christ explains to his Apostles they need to Feed His Sheep and to tend to his flock, to teach them and edify them and to serve him. To us comes the same call. If we love the Lord, we will serve him and we will teach his Sheep of his infinite love. That is why I am serving a mission, because I LOVE the lord. I will serve him with all my might and "Feed" his sheep in Kansas. 

I testify to you that Christ lives. And that he guides us here today. The Book of Mormon is the witness and proof of that love. It works perfectly with the Bible, and it Testifies continualy of him. Read it, Ponder about it, pray about it. I know it is true with every fiber of my body. To all of you who aren't members, I speak especially to you. I tell you this because this church is everything to me and brings me so much joy that I would NEVER have without it. The Book of Mormon brings so much peace to my life and answers questions that I have about my life. It has been said that man can grow closer to God by The Book of Mormon, than by any book in the world. I love you all and I pray for you all daily. Search for God's hand in your life, its is there and it blessing you in all things. Please feel free to ask me any questions that you have, and I will do my best to help you. 

Love, 

Elder Murphy

My district: Hermano Powell (teacher), Elder Erickson, Elder Yuvienco, Elder Barker, Me, Elder Trebeilcock, Elder Burker, Elder Peterson, Elder Nelson, Hermano Kinghorn (teacher)

Hermana Levitri, Hermana Goss, Hermana Russell, Hermana Fisher

Elder Peterson on his last day

The friends we made while smelling trees

We wore our ugliest ties

Elder Robinson (man from UP, or when he doesn't have his glasses on - Handsom Shrek)

Elder Yuvienco and I

Elder Barker (my companion) and I

Elder Erickson and I

MTC - Week 5

¡Hola! I can't believe that I'm almost done with my training! I already got my flight plans this week, and Ill be leaving Utah at 6 am on the 23rd (next Tuesday)

My weeks honesty just blur together, and I feel like I say this every week but my week was almost an exact copy of the other 4 weeks before it. 

We got to be host missionaries again this week, so I got to talk help more scared and nervous missionaries into the MTC. Its honestly so much fun! Its sad at first because they are missing their families and they are wondering whats going to happen next. I helped one of the early arrival missionaries that got to the MTC by plane, and not by being dropped off by his family. We talked and had lunch together until it was time to take him to get his stuff. It was amazing how similar we were! Neither of his parents are member and he is taking a big risk by going on a mission. They are both Catholic and they are really supportive of him. We shared stories and talked about our lives some more then got his classroom supplies/ went to his residence. I saw him again yesterday, when he ran up to me super excited and told me all about how he had his first lesson. He told me all about it and was super happy to see me. I love seeing the people that I host, they always look so happy to see me and sometimes I even get food from them! 

Oh yeah I forgot, Elder Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came this week. IT WAS SO COOL!!!!! I was sitting in the 4th row, in the middle section. We made eye contact like 1000 times and I felt as if he was looking right at me while he was giving his message. Because it was such a special occasion, the whole talk was live broadcasted to all the MTC's around the world. I was in the Choir too, so I can say that a sang in a worldwide broadcast. Ill share some of the notes I took from his talk:

• Learning how to be a missionary is not complex, but its not easy either. Be all you can be, set yourself firmly in the foundation of your faith 
• D&C 1: 16 They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness,but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.
• The world fashions God in their own way, they want a God they are comfortable with, one they don't want to have to work hard for
• We have to give all we can to preparing the world
• Learn to testify of the Savior
• It takes time, it doesn't happen in a day
• Jerimaih 16: 16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord,and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain,and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
  
• Missionaries = fishers / hunters of men
• Fishers: Places where baptisms are high, (casting out a net and gathering a lot at a time)
• Hunters: Places where baptisms aren't as high, (have to wait and search and work hard for only one.
• "Be Clean, Be Obedient, Be Busy"
• John 13: 34-35 
• 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
  
   35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
• Love the people -> see the good in everyone
• When the mission gets hard, keep the faith inside you, its essential. Pray with all the energy of your heart.
• Faith is like a flame, don't let someone put it out, especiallyyou. 
• Kindle your flame, let it grow, and continue to feed it. 
• If you aren't continually adding to it, you're subtracting from it.
• "I believe in Christ, so come what may." 

It was an incredible experience hearing from another Apostle of the Lord, and hearing him testify of Christ. The spirit was incredible and I felt Christs love for me, as if he was sitting right next to me the whole time. It will truly be an experience I will never forget. 

We also got to teach a lesson to a lady in Argentina this week, it was really hard! Her internet connection wasn't very good, so she couldn't see us, and it was hard for us to hear her. We talked about the need for Prophets in the world today. We shared Amos 3:7 (Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.). We testified of Prophets in the Bible, and then explained how we have a Prophet on the earth today. It was overall a really cool experience being able to teach someone in another country, in a foreign language, and have her be excited to learn more.

We also got our flight plans on Friday. Its going to be a really long day.

I have to be at the MTC Travel Office at 3:00 AM on Tuesday morning, Where we will be bused off the the Salt Lake City Airport. Ill be on American Airlines Flight 1219, flying out at 6:00 AM for Dallas. Then once I land(at 9:40), ill switch flights to American Airlines flight 5977, headed for Wichita at 10:35. If everything goes according to plan, Ill be in Wichita Kansas by 12:00.

I appreciate all of you and love hearing from yall. Please send me Dear Elder's this week! I barely got any this week, so send me a paragraph or two and let me know how ya'll are doing! 

Love, 

Elder Murphy

Elder Burke took this while we were hosting new missionaries

Provo Temple

My teacher got engaged this week! We were all really excited for him.

Thank you Lottermoser family for the package!!

They have this thing called "rain" in Utah, I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.

Yes, even missionaries fall asleep in class (thank goodness I haven't yet)

MTC - Week 4

Wait.... Have I really been in this place for a whole month? Its only felt like 5, so I guess that's pretty good. I feel like a lot happened this week but I can't really remember everything because all the days are blending together. 

We got to be Host missionaries this week which was super fun! It was really sad watching all the families crying while dropping off their families, but It was a nice being able to comfort the new arrivals and help them in a really confusing time. I think I set a record for the day and hosted a total of 7 missionaries. I even saw Elder Cruz,  he's from Clovis, and his Uncle is in my home Ward's Bishopric. I helped the missionaries get their name tags, and then got all of their reading materials with them. I showed them their room and helped answer as many questions as I could before taking them to their classroom. One missionary came about an hour late and had a bunch of stuff he had to take care of in the Health Center so we got to hang out more than the other missionaries, which was pretty fun. Its also been really cool running into them throughout the week and them getting all excited to see me. I saw one of them today in the cafeteria and had to let him know that he still had the sticker on his brand new pants. He was embarrassed but thankful. Another missionary I hosted got donuts sent to him and tracked me down to give me one which was also really awesome as you can imagine. 

My companion was sick more this week too which sucked because I had to miss alot of class to be with him. He slept for an entire day straight and I envied him while i studied from my materials. I was just glad that I wasn't the one sick! 

We also had an English fast on Friday which is where we go 24 hours with no English at all so we spoke in Spanish all day! It was really hard and we had to carry around dictionaries with us but we made it through it just fine, we plan to do a lot more before we leave. We also learned how to give lessons in 30 seconds which really forces you to know what you're saying and focus on the Important aspects of the lesson. This is really useful when we are street contacting or don't have a lot of time to teach a 20 minute lesson. 

This week our zone also got in trouble a little but for really small and stupid stuff but overall it was just super funny. We had this tradition in our zone where we do an "Initiation" to all the new elders that come. Its super harmless and actually just fun, but one kid emailed home about it and his parents freaked out and called the MTC and told them about it and then we got in trouble. Let me explain; all the kid told his parents was " It involves duct tape, a chair and a bed sheet. " Now THAT sounds bad, but all we do is use a CHAIR, to DUCT TAPE the BED SHEETS to the ceiling and create a Sauna in the showers by turning them all on the hottest temperature and then we all would go in and chill in our shorts.... Anyways, Sauna Saturdays are no longer a thing in Zone 24. Oops.

On Thursday, our district leader also got in trouble for eating a Banana in the cafeteria this week. Someone dared him to eat it whole, peel and all, so he did (duh). When he finished, a man came over and said,"President Snow doesn't like your eating habits." and then kicked him out of the cafeteria. Imagine our confusion when there isn't even a President Snow in the MTC. Fast forward to a special MTC wide conference we had on Sunday... the MTC second counselor gets released for health reasons, so we have to get a new MTC Second counselor. Can you guess who it was? PRESIDENT SNOW. Whole district tried to hold in our laughter and it was really funny. Elder Peterson's face got super red.

Ok back to spiritual stuff. 

We are still teaching out TRC investigator, and we've been really struggling to teach her because she isn't receptive to our lessons, and she has a fear of the Book of Mormon. We were walking to class and trying to decide what we could teacher her that could open her up to the gospel, and I got the prompting that we needed to teach the Plan of Salvation. I told my companion and we both kinda shrugged it off because that lesson is really confusing and she didn't even understand the first lesson so we decided to re teach the restoration lesson again with Joseph Smith as the focus and read from Joseph Smith History. We talked with our teacher about it and he agreed with us and then we planned an entire lesson out. Right before we were going to leave I said, "I still feel like we should teach the Plan of Salvation." even though we hadn't planned for it and we were leaving for our lesson. My companion just looked at me with a "Are you stupid Elder." kind if look and I agreed with him that we should stick with the lesson plan, but I decided to bring the Plan of Salvation pamphlet with us just in case. We got there and I started talking to her  and asking her questions and just trying to get to know her better because It had been a whole week since we'd seen her. 

Ok pause, I suck really bad at Spanish and most of the time I have to read my lesson from written notes, or am kind of stuck to just bearing my testimony at the end and praying. my companion is really good and makes up for my inabilities. anyways before the lesson he said, "Elder Murphy, you're taking the lead on this one." I was really freaked out and not ready but I just went with it in the moment and it was incredible. I literally talked the whole lesson.OK back to the good part. 

I'd been talking to her for about 5 minutes and then just asked her how her day was Yesterday for no reason. And she begins to tell us about how it was really sad because her friend's family was in a really bad car accident and all of them died except for her friend. She explained that the car rolled a bunch of times and the Dad, mom, and kids were flung from the car and her friend was trapped inside while it caught on fire. The rescue crew got him out, but he is in the ICU with really bad burns all over his body. Elder Barker looked at me with the biggest shock on his face and I whispered, "Plan of Salvation" and then he nodded. I turned right back to her and pulled out the pamphlet and went just started teaching to her and testifying that we know that Families can be together forever and that we can live with Heavenly father after this life. The spirit was so strong, perhaps stronger than I had ever felt before. She was wiping away tears during the lesson and I taught it without any notes and it was incredible. 

When we got out, Elder Barker apologized to me and said sorry for not listening to me a whole day before the lesson when I had the prompting. We went to a quiet place and poured our hearts out to the lord and prayed for a good 15 minutes just saying thank you and sorry for not listening to his promptings earlier.

I know without a doubt that this is Christ's Church and I know that he lives and guides us today. I am on a mission to gather his lost sheep and declare his word. I am a witness that he brings miracles to our lives, we just have to listen and heed to his promptings. I love him and I love all of you. 

"He aquí, soy discípulo de Jesucristo, el Hijo de Dios. He sido llamado por él para declarar su palabra entre los de su pueblo, a fin de que alcancen la vida sempiterna."

or translated:

Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. (3 Nephi 5:13)

Elder Murphy

Elders in my district

Kansas!

Elder Harris

Host Missionary Tag

One of the missionaries I hosted

Elder Cruz

Elder Burke, the missionary I connect with best

Elder Hansen left this week

MTC - Week 3

Time is flying super fast, and I don't really understand how I know as much Spanish as I do. The Gift of Tongues is so real and It manifests itself in so many ways. Most of the time, it will come in the middle of class, and I'll understand a topic I was previously stuck on. Other times It will come  in a lesson and Ill testify of something I didn't know I could. It also helped my companion and I connect with our investigator in a very unique way. Let me explain. 

We had our first TRC investigator this week, and we were given a little piece of paper that had a small description of the investigator. We learned that ours was in a DUI accident and wanted to have a better relationship with God. She moved to Provo for a better life, and her room mate suggested she meet with the missionaries. We prayed about it alot and both agreed that she needed to here a lesson about God's Love for her. We made a special lesson just for this full of scriptures, and explanations of the atonement. We met her and she said she only had 20 minutes when we had been told we would have 45, so we adjusted our lesson. She didn't seem interested in anything we had to say. We asked her if she had a relationship with God, and she told us she prays everyday, but that she never felt anything. We shared some scriptures with her, and she said she knew they we true. We were really excited and asked her to read Moroni 10: 3-5, this is when the lesson went to heck. She freaked out and told us that the book was of the Devil and wouldn't even touch it. So I read it to her and testified to her of the truthfulness of it, we prayed and left with our heads really low and wondering what we did wrong. 

The next lesson we tried to break the barrier and get to know her so shed be more comfortable and receptive to our lesson. My companion Elder Barker told an embarrassing story about how he had emailed h is whole family home telling his sister happy birthday, and even sent a big heartfelt letter. But it turns out that her birthday was last month... June 27, not July 27. he even celebrated it with her! He then tried to end with "I'm embarrassed" but he said, "Estoy embarazado" which would translate to "I'm pregnant." The investigator laughed and told him it was wrong. She then pulled out her phone and showed him a picture of a pregnant lady. We laughed about it for about 5 minutes and then had an incredible lesson with a lady that had no interest in the church previously. Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways, instead if blessing us with perfect Spanish, he gave us a mistake that led to a great relationship with the investigator. Ultimately he knows the way and we need to trust him. In the words of Elder Bednar, "Don't wait for an impression go, and do, the spirit will manifest".

We also had a thing called Member TRC, where we teach two 20 minute lessons to volunteer members and we get practice teaching people. We taught Emily, a sister that just returned from her mission in Peru 2 weeks ago. For our second lesson we taught Kira, a college student at BYU majoring in Spanish. They both spoke great Spanish and we were intimidated at first, but we still did really good. 

Last Tuesday, we had a devotional by Spencer J Condie and his wife. I went to choir before hand so I could get better seats and got really lucky because I got to sit next to Elder Harris (formerly known as Connor Harris back in Fresno) we got to catch up a ton and it felt kinda like the old times before we were missionaries. For the devotional, we sang "Where Can I Turn for Peace" which is an absolutely beautiful song. Sister Condie spoke first and said some amazing things, my two favorite were, "Our testimony of Jesus Christ and his restored church is our most powerful missionary tool." and, "The spirit cannot be restrained when a pure testimony of Christ is borne."

Brother Condie shared Mosiah 28: 3 

3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.

He then stated something that I really loved, "We don't preach to bring others to church, we invite all to come unto Christ." 

Our teacher was also gone most of this week so we had a sub, Hermano Workman. He served his mission in Honduras which is really cool, and one of the Elders in my district even knew his sister which was really funny. 

There is also a really nasty virus going around the MTC, almost half of my district has been bed ridden at one point this week. My companion Elder Barker is sick right now, and we had to be in our room all day because he is "contagious" I got a ton of personal study in while he slept all day which was nice, but we had to miss a lesson! About halfway through the day, Elder Tribeilcock came back to the room with the same virus but much worse so Elder Burke (his companion) and I played doctor and then went on splits while they slept. We had to got food and stuff for them though. I'm sure that my family is shocked that i wasn't the one to get sick. Yes mom and dad I'm fine. 

Also some pretty really exciting news, I get to be a Host for all the new missionaries that come this week! Its not a huge deal and probably doesn't seem like a big deal to ya'll, but here in the MTC its super exciting. We get to be the first missionaries that everyone meets when they come, and we answer any questions that they have. Its gonna be a blast. 

About 20 missionaries from my zone left on Monday (8/1/16) and it was super bitter sweet, these were all my brothers and not seeing them all day is super weird. They were really cool and super funny, but I'm happy for them as they ALL head for Argentina! The night before they left, I was hanging out in one of their rooms and someone accidentally knocked off the Air Vents so in effort to put it back, we found a ton of stuff up there! It was legendary. There was a picture of John Cena, a letter to another Elder, a California License plate, and a Tie with the tin man from Wizard of Oz on it. I got to keep the tie because the Wizard of Oz was filmed in my mission, so how could I not. We all signed and dated the License plate, and put it back with a letter explaining how we found it, then closed it back up for another group of Elders to find. 

Overall, the MTC has been so much fun. I'm excited for a bunch of new people to come because we lost so many this week. I think we are getting 26 total new people. 

I love you all and miss you so much!! Thank you to everyone that sent me Dear Elder's this week!! Keep sending them to me! The record for most Dear Elders received in one day is 11 for my district so I wanna beat that! 

Pictures to follow!!

Elder Murphy

An old bottle flip picture. Elder Erickson and Elder Yuvienco

All the Kansas bound missionaries! Elder Davies (middle) is in a different district. That's why this is the first you're seeing of him.

Elder Ward from my YSA Ward!!!! He will be serving in India, but has to wait for his Visa to come through, so he is assigned to the Seattle Washington Mission until then!

Elder Barker and I (Week 1)

This all my study materials! So many books! I try to always keep it this organized. The bright cases are my Spanish scriptures and hymn book.

Planning lessons! (Yes, we posed for this picture.)

Favorite scripture from this weeks personal study:

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Here's a look at my planner! This is pretty much what it looks like every day.

The legendary Wizard of Oz tie found in the vent