Californian in Kansas: Snow, Broken Cars, and More Trust In The Lord

On Tuesday we pulled a super funny prank on our Zone Leaders. Earlier this month they challenged us to a "Charity War" and we as a zone responded back. We got together on P-day and rehearsed a flash mob that we pulled off in the middle of our Zone meeting. Im not going to go into all of the Details because it was very elaborate. But I will send pictures of our Zone leaders afterwards. I think we broke them.

So, on Saturday we woke up and looked out side and it was snowing! Not enough to be doing anything but we got all excited because snow is cool and what not. So we continued with our morning like normal, we did our studies, ate some food and went off for the day. Right around 1 or 2 the weather started changing and it started snowing super bad. It got to the point where we had to take our car back to our apartment and park it because we aren't allowed to be driving the Mission vehicles in that kind of weather. By 3 or 4 the roads and sidewalks and everyone's yards were covered in a nice blanket of fresh snow. But hey we didn't care! ( it was -19° wind chill hahaha) We just kept working! We were calling members and investigators and trying to encourage everyone we could to come the Christmas party and not worry.

So later that day we had our Branch Christmas Party, and I was pretty nervous that no one was going to show up because of the snow that had just come though. But we actually had a really amazing turn out. Elder Pankratz and I were constantly setting up tables the whole time because more and more families were rolling in! We had about 9 investigators there and it was super awesome. One of our members brought 2 friends from their work and they arre now going to be taking lessons with the Sister Missionaries in the English ward! It was super awesome to see everyone come together and celebrate the Birth of our Savior.

Then on Sunday when we had to go to church, our car wouldn't start! The battery is all messed up and we had to leave the car at Firestone to get it fixed. So all day Sunday we went without a car. We had to get a ride to church, and then after church we walked everywhere in the snow and had a night fill of miracles! No car, no problem!

This week we also meet Vivian, who is actually Antonios neighbor. She is a super sweet girl who wants nothing more than to strengthen her relationship with Christ. We have already seen huge changes in her and how much the Gospel has already blessed her life. On Sunday she wasn't able to come to church because her mom went super Catholic on her and told her she wasn't able to meet with us anymore. So last night we walked over to her house to have one last lesson and try to talk with her mom and had an incredibly powerful testimony meeting that completely changed her Moms attitude. Vivian bore the sweetest testimony I have ever heard and the spirit really softened her Mom's heart. We taught her the message of the Restoration and she will now be reading and praying about the Book of Mormon!

Update on the Arambula family: they all came to church this week and came to the branch Christmas party on Saturday and Beatriz ( the mom ) even made tamales for it!! They are so excited to get baptized and loveeee the Book of Mormon!

Overall it was a really amazing week, we faced a lot of opposition but we didn't let any of it face us, we put our trust in the Lord and he was there with us every step of the way. It's so amazing how much the Lord can do when we do put our trust in him. Ive seen over and over in my mission times when Satan has thrown opposition our way in attempt to divert the work of Salvation. As missionaries we teach our investigators a lot about this. We explain how the things we are teaching them are really good, and because it is so good, Satan does not want it. And he will do anything he can to distract them from their goal of strengthening their relationship with the savior. It's funny because we teach it a lot but we don't realize how true it is for us as missionaries too. Satan does not want us to be out there teaching. He hates it. And he will do anything he can to distract us. He will make us homesick, he will send cold weather and snow and break our cars. But all we have to do is focus on the good that this work brings and how important this work is and the Lord will always be there with us. I love being a missionary!

I love you all so much! Thank you for all the support and love you send my way! Keep emailing me, and I hope you all have a very Merry CHRISTmas! Remember the reason for the season! Spend time with your loved ones, and send me lots of pictures of your holidays!!

Elder Murphy