Californian in Kansas: Goodbyes, Fatherhood, and Responsibility

Elder Sperry and I had to say goodbye this week. It was super sad and kinda weird at first because I've seen him every day since I've been in Kansas. On our last couple of days we went to different members houses and he said goodbye and then we took pictures with them. I could really tell how much of an impact he had on them and everyone was sad that he was leaving. I learned soooo much from him, he trained me and taught me everything I know about being a missionary and I'm super grateful that we were able to serve together. He is going to chance people's lives in Garden City.

ANYWAYS......IM A DAD!!! When missionaries train someone new the call them their children and they become new missionary's "dad" or "mom". So on our missions we have this "family tree" where you can say who your parents are (Elder Sperry is my Dad) and grandparents (Elder Evans is my Grandpa(Elder Evans trained Elder Sperry)) and stuff like that. I dunno how else to explain it to y'all.... missionaries are weird.

But anyways, my new companion is Elder Pankratz!! He's from Florida, he fearless and he's been around the world because his dad was in the military!When we first met each other we went right out to go teach people. We drove to an area and parked the car then started to knock some doors. And the first person that opened the door was super mean. He just went off about how wrong we are and how we are wasting our time and how we are a cult and just was super rude for no reason. I just stood there not thinking much of it because even Jesus Christ himself was rejected in his personal ministry. But about halfway through I realized that this was the very first house Elder Pankratz had ever knocked in Kansas. Poor guy was getting yelled at the very first time he ever tried to teach someone. When we left we had a pretty good talk about how not everyone will accept what we teach and how sometimes we just have to take getting yelled at for the lord to bless us with the person he has prepared for us. Anyways, so far our companionship has been a hoot. He isn't afraid to speak in lessons even if he knows he's gonna say something incorrect or say something really gringo in Spanish. And we are pretty much having to learn from each other how to speak Spanish. We are still trying to figure out each other's teaching styles and how we can teach with more unity but that will come with time :)

Also, somehow I made it a whole week pretending to be a district leader and no body noticed. Hahaha just kidding. I had to give my first training as a district leader and I think it went really well. As a district we are going to be focusing on how we can be lovingly bold. Specifically with helping those we teach make and keep commitments. We are also going to be doing service as a district today to help build unity and get to know each other! I can't wait!

Luis also made a lot of huge steps to his baptism next week. Each time we teach him I can see him getting more and more excited to make this sacred covenant with his Heavenly Father. Lots of prayers for him this week would be greatly appreciated!

As a companionship we had been really struggling to find new investigators this week. Our entire teaching pool came from within one family and we really wanted to spread out our efforts and find more families to teach. We had been praying all week and doing everything we thought we could do to find these families, but nothing was happening. When we decided to pray over a map of our area and asked the lord where he wanted us to go, we felt prompted to go to a certain neighborhood close to Antonios house. Last night when we went there we stopped at every street corner and asked the lord to guide us which way we should go. After doing this a few times we finally felt like we had found the street the lord wanted us at and within 5 minutes we had found a Hispanic family that welcomed us in immediately. We powerfully testified to them about the Book of Mormon and about the restoration and the father of the house was practically begging for a copy so that he could read it. We have a return appointment Tuesday to teach his entire family of 6. What an incredibly powerful experience.

My testimony has grown so much this week and my relationship with the savior has exponentially increased. I love my savior so much and can say without a doubt that he is my best friend. I need him for everything I do and wouldn't be able to do this work without him by my side. I've been asked quite a few times this week how I could leave my family for 2 years, put my entire life on hold, move to a random place, and teach people in a language I don't speak. Each time my answer is simple: I do this for him. For my Savior. For my redeemer. For the man that has felt every single feeling I have ever felt. Every heart ache, every sickness, every rejection, every sadness, every depressing thought, and every moment I've ever felt alone. Jesus Christ has felt that all of it and because he's felt that pain he can take it away from me. And through him I can be perfected. His sacrifice was infinite, and it caused him to bleed from every pore of his body. And I Marvell to know that he loved me enough to do that. Which drops of blood did I cause him to bleed? How much pain did I put him though? It's almost too hard to even think about. To give up 2 years of my life to serve him doesn't feel like enough when I think of all that he has given me. I love him. And I do this for him. And I testify to you of the power of our saviors atoning sacrifice. It is there for every single one of you. On a very personal and individual scale. He loves you more that you know. And I love being in his service.

Keep emailing and telling me how y'all are doing! Send me lots of pictures of your thanksgivings! I wanna see those turkeys!

Elder Murphy