Californian in Kansas: MTC

¡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