Quickies

This is a short one my friends and I considered taking a break this week but I must leave you all with one particular experience that really was quite awesome.

The Lord truly orchestrates our path so that we can meet those who truly need Light in their lives. President Monson is all about "being on the Lord's errand," because it brings THE greatest joy. We walked up to our dinner appointment with Chi Chi and at the door her son cancelled because her lady time hit this week and she had hit the bed to snooze. So we walked, hungrily out to the street determinedly to finally contact that one person we really needed to see. We cross the street and approach the roaring train on it's tracks, waiting for all 126 cars to pass. And then run past the stinky stinky house with poop and hobo smell in the yard, slow down look up and get nervous because there was a woman walking toward us. For some reason it doesn't ever get easy to approach people on the street, but you do it. You just do it because the Lord called you to. "Hey are you doing okay?" We randomly asked (later to discover it was the Holy Ghost!). She wasn't. She was mad about all her life's drama and overwhelmed by her addictions and just wanting a sign from God that she was still loved.

She got emotional and smiled as we answered her questions and assured her we were the Lord's messengers, here to tell her that He loves her, so immensely and unconditionally. We were here to show her the way to pure peace and joy on a regular basis, through the Resotored Gospel and a living Prophet of God. She took the book excitedly.

The next day she texted us no, no don't come, she can't.

These moments are so important for us to have. So often they don't endure, but it comes with a lifelong emotion of accomplishment. For one moment you were living righteously enough and had committed to the Lord that you would ask EVERY person you meet to be baptized, and so he gave you someone broken enough to listen for just a fleeting moment. Just enough to maybe impact her life forever, even if we don't get to see it.

Keep up the prayers for people like Brandy! They need us.

Love you all loads, I'm still so very very happy to be out here and I love you all so very much. I'm so proud of my dear family at home. MAN they are awesome!!!

Best,

Sister Murphy

Lamanites

All I can say is I am so stinkin happy. Why? Gosh I dunno. Can't even sum it up, there are so many reasons. Too many. I sit here every week wonderin how on EARTH I'm gonna narrow my week to a few sentences. It's ridiculous and right now I feel it's impossible! There's too many good things. How about you all fly out to see me and I just stay here and keep living in such awesomeness and I'll just tell it to your face?

 

No? Fine.

Haha, okay so first of all Sister Cramer and I had the glorious and quick experience of Mary being baptized. Attached is a couple of grrrrreat photos of the occasion, she is half Cherokee and blood line of Lamanites. Prophesy, baby!!

Second of all, the Spirit is STILL following me and helping me make many many decisions daily. That is a wonderful feeling because, things may not be smooth, but I'll still be calm. I feel like sometimes even I'm in this storm, just yesterday actually. It was the apostles on the sea kind of storm, turbulent and dark and overwhelming and our hands were to our faces and we shrunk our shoulders to cry and then suddenly the Spirit of the Lord steps in and says PEACE, be still. And even just thinking of the feeling now is drooping my eyelids with pure focus and calm. I desire the Will of the Lord. I'm working hard therefore, whatever happens is God's will, and it is just and it is what's best. And as John says it, the truth will make me freeeeee.

 

Thirdly I've got amazing friends here in Kansas. It is such a joy to see people change from the gospel of Jesus Christ.... it's so hard to grasp the gospel and muster the strength to do what is BESTEST sometimes. Yet once you are back in the swing of things you can't ever imagine slacking again. You want to repent all day and keep a prayer in your heart and sing out loud and hug people and be patient and kind. These good friends of mine right this very moment are finally letting more of the atonement change them and they are happier and WOW it makes ME happier and joyous to see them improving. All because of our Savior Jesus Christ. The big brotha.

 

Basically I'm in love with being a missionary. I'm constantly puzzled about what I will do when the time comes to transition into home life and "what media will I watch??" and "where will I go??" and "would I ever return to crummy ol Kansas???" keep getting at me. Probs because I just hit my one year mark. HAPPY B-DAY SISTA MURPH DAWG. I'm a one-year-oldsie. ?Que estrano??? Spanglish haha. Cramer and I are good at that Spanglish thing on door approaches. Hola! Nosotros misionarios (as?) de la inglesia de Jesu Cristo des los ultimos dias! Tenemos un libro, el libro de Mormon! Podes.... leer? ....so bad.

 

Love yall! Hope life is wonderful!! I really hope you are loving people and being loved back most importantly, and following spiritual promptings. As Monson says, it's his most favorite feeling when he acts on a thought, then later discovers it was the answer to someone's prayer. Be that answer to someone's prayer today, eh?? Awesome!!

 

Best,

Sista mmmm

Murrrrraculous‏

Okay family, get ready for some miracle messages. This week was an epic one :)

You know those Sacrament Meetings when you sit down and you're anxious and you've been running around and feeling late and you are singing the hymn and then you put the book down to hear the opening prayer and then something miraculous happens? The Spirit. He pours into your heart. He fills up your soul. You feel calm, warm, focused, reverant, grateful. I had one of those yesterday, but there was OH so much more. Our investigator Mary was sitting beside me, the PMF Canada's walked in, the Elders had four additional investigators beside them, and one of our lesser-active families I've grown so in love with as they have struggled to come to church were FINALLY in the chapel. Sitting there, together, in white, smiling and hopefully feeling that powerful Comforter as I was. And we cried together. Nice, hot tears of joy.

Cramer and I strolled the streets of Wichita in the crisp pre-Autumn air and people running all over their yards outside. We approached every one of them, even if they were tinkering away deep in their garage. And we testified, we invited, we read and felt the Spirit strongly. He is our dear dear companion, and I'm realizing this very moment that His nearness to me is something I've yearned passionately for my whole life, and never quite understood how to obtain His constant presence. I remember hoping I would learn how to be open and worthy for Him before I left on this great mission of mine, and now he directs the majority of my moves. Oh happy day! And because Cramer and I have promised the Lord we would improve by discussing baptism with everyone we meet, he is sent us the elect, helping us to not just PLANT seeds but mainly to HARVEST them! Now I do not mean to boast of myself, no no no no no. I want to help all of you understand how much happier and guided you can be if you promise the Lord you will work harder to do a little better.

Elder Bednar teaches the purpose of the atonement is to ENABLE us. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can repent and be changed. If we are afraid of doing the Lord's work, if we are too busy, if we are ignorant, complacent or overwhelmed, we need to apply the atonement. Even if we are so joyously happy as I've been so blessed to be lately, I get to apply the atonement and get happier as God changes me even more while I'm healthy (physically and spiritually). Repent, apologize, ask how to improve, plead for the eyes to see and the ears to hear, beg for the opportunities and I PROMISE, God will give it thee. And by no means does this need to be said to help you, my dear friends, to become better missionaries. The enabling power of the atonement is for every aspect of your life.

There was one person in particular we met that I'd like to finish up with. We chose her door only out of the long stretch of homes. She answered while holding her small brother. She said she was 15 and a devout Christian at a nearby church. She was bold and matter-of-fact, and passionate about her Savior Jesus Christ. Sister Cramer was inspired to ask her how Christ has helped her in her life. She needed to step out of her home and shut the door for this one, "That's a really good question," she replied. (What the heck, she is only 15 years old!!) She said He helped her abstain from giving in to peer pressure and to feel confident in herself. Wow. As we taught her the Restoration she listened intently and replied after the First Vision, that just makes sense. "SO will you read the Book of Mormon and pray about it?" we asked. YES. She said it with such bold sincerity.

The Lord's work of salvation right now is so stinkin awesome. It's like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland; fast-paced, a bit dark and rickety in places, but you're roaring through the ride at great speeds and dodging boulders of danger and zooming to the finish line with whiplash and glee.

IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A MISSIONARY!! :)

Love ya'll loads.

Best,

Sister Murpha-HAAAYYY

PS: My belly is wonderfully full of black-forest ham sandwich, made with sharp cheddar, freshly baked rye bread, spinach and avocado. Just thought I'd let you know. Gourmet missionary lunch, that's what's up.

PPS: PICTURES! The first is the Cramester and I with a dead harvesting field and random wild sunflowers! The second is that one armadillo I once took a picture of. Now it's an armadillo chip.

Update!

Hey friends and fam!

I'm doin wonderful, but don't really feel like writing right now, but here is an update:

[ 1 ] 

Sister McClees was ETed (Emergency Transferred) two wards over and I have a new comp, Sister Cramer! Yeah, like THE Cramer!! Haha, all I could think of when I first met her was that tall skinny tan man oiling up on the roof apartments to soak some sun, and somebody imagining him as nicely roasted chicken. Oh Seinfield. She is super quirky and hard working and we are already working much harder than I ever have before. 

 

[ 2 ] 

Stake Conference was entirely about missionary work!! I learned so much, but the highlights were learning about the ENABLING power of the atonement, "IF you don't feel like praying, let's pray until you want to," and assisting with the hastening brings THE greatest joy man could possibly ever feel. I saw the latter in over ten of the speaker's countenance. They were so joyfull because of missionary work, because it helps them apply the atonement in their life, and your joy is full when you witness a friend come into the fold. It is surreal! This is NOT just because I'm a biased full-time missionary! The hastening is more of a bigger deal than I ever imagined.

[ 3 ] 

Yesterday morning we had many final week goals that were lacking, so we prayed that Heavenly Father would help us to accomplish those numbers, to find those people and help along those people, so that we could hit the high numbers we had set the previous week. Her and I knew God could do all things, and accept God's will regardless of what could happen. God orchestrated Sunday just beautifully. We found the two new investigators we craved for, we contacted a referral and set her on date for baptism, and Mary made it to church with us :) It was absolutely riveting, total miracles and blessings and faith-builders to kick off a new and exciting transfer.

[ 4 ] 

I've identified a physical issue I've obtained. Well, there have been several, allergies (I'm downing Kansan bee pollen) and Menares. Go self-diagnosis!! I don't have much alternative haha. Basically every time I stand up or make any sudden movement I get super lightheaded, and eventually nauseous and I'm just waiting for the day I topple over! A member taught me this trick: I sit completely backwards on a couch, feet touching the wall, back in the seat, head hanging over the couch front side. And then I let my head hang there for a few minutes. It feels awesome!! And THEN I somersault forward off of the couch and then VUALAA! I'm healed! For like five hours! I'm super grateful that God gives us bodies that make sense, and we have SO many resources to help our ailments. Believe it, son. This is real life.

Love ya'lll! Sorry it's kind of a strange email this week.. haha... love you!!!

Best,

Sister m

Miss Maddie Moisture

Three types of moisture governed my weekend of total bliss.

1. Dove deep, a whole 625 feet below Kansas into the great salt channel of minery! After spending over two hours in the dim mine lights of a massive cavern of salt, all the moisture my skin could possibly produce was absorbed into the mineral walls. It was SUCH a cool experience. It was full of spiritual meaning too, not just super fun times! I had no idea how much stinkin salt there is here. And it's really hard to break down, and under water it shines up real good and it cleans your sinuses. I didn't even know I had sinus to cleanse, and yet I was easy breathin easy livin down there! "Ye are the salt of the earth," many in number, tough to break, and pure after a nice bath (baptism!!).

2. The second form of moisture was actual baptism. BAPTISM! A wonderful and dear to my heart ol' geezer in Hutchinson (my last area) was at last baptized after two years of investigating. His wife had been baptized years ago and has been doing everything she could possibly think of to get him in the water. I sat next to her yesterday as we watched Andy enter the font. She exploded with emotion, two years of anticipatory tears. Which leads to my last and most obvious water gushing:

3. TEARS. Lots of em. Because I witnessed a man change his life. And I felt a great change in me, and Hutch welcomed me with such loving and open arms. I felt like I was indulging selfishly all weekend as I spent time with the people I truly love that love me too. A member helped me understand however that it wasn't self-centered, it was self-FULFILLING. I like that :) I filled myself full all Sunday and Monday :)

Basically I'm quite the happy camper! I LOVE being a missionary in Kansas, in the Heartland!! Ain't no better mission, ain't no better work. We've got good things planned too, and can't wait for the miracles to occur in the great Harrison Park ward.

Love you all! Thanks for your prayers and letters! It's amazing to have such fantastic friends :)

Best,

Sister Murphy

Miracles & Meltingness

Oh boy! This week was full of heat waves, electrolytes, giggles, moving trucks, service pants, fliers, and baptismal invites!! The humid humid sunshine kept a nice constant drippy sweat down our backs as we proselyted, and the blast of ice in each home kept it nice and whiplashy to experience ten times daily, haha.

 

On Tuesday we had probs the best training EVER. Okay maybe I always feel that way with every training. I can't help it if I just happen to have the coolest, most divinely led leaders in mission history, AND work in the greatest mission in the world. We answer every phone call, "It's a great day to be a missionary! This is <insert name>!!!" Because seriously guys, it really is. But anyways, back to the training! We have had months of applying Faith Requires Action, and now we've transitioned it to Faith With Action Plus Sacrifice Equals POWER. ....wohzies!!!! And so we sacrifice our inhibitions and fears and approach every single person we meet to powerfully announce our purpose and within three minutes invite them to be baptized. That's for EVERY person we meet and have a sec to chat with!!

 

Talk about HASTENIN IT, YO!!!

 

So basically we are pretty pumped to be missionaries in such an epic time. Sister McClees and I were handed an amazing referral for a middle-aged woman who is so prepared, and is preppin for baptism. She has been trying to cut all ties off with her evil ex-boyfriend that abused her. She works third hour shifts (SO common here) and sleeps all day, making it difficult to meet and stop the abuse. She had a FORTY FOOT trailer of stuff in his possession that needed to be moved to a storage space, and he'd been threatening to dump it all out for weeks. So Saturday we finally gathered some Saints and packed that thing in two garages. WOW it was a project in searing heat. We were all unfortunately malnourished and dehydrated, it was a 7am-3pm project. That's a whole work shift!!

 

The miracle of it all though, besides the weird stamina S. McClees and I had despite not eating nor drinking anything but half a donut all day, was that we had some extra Elders come to the rescue. K, but they weren't just your average Elders. They were Chocolate Lamanites. ...that's what the K-dub calls them anyways hahaha. They were superman polys. And they wouldn't have normally been available, but their own companions happened to get sick and the other had been stitched up after a face peel, so they had a truck and were ready help. It could NOT have happened if Elder Ives had not smashed Elder Dansey in the face Friday night. "Miracles happen once in awhile!!!" ...you know that Princess Diaries song moment? hahaha

 

Basically I'm happy as a clam and loving God's arm extended in my life. I read a pretty cool scripture the other day. Mormon is talking about how boss their scriptural writings are, and they write them because they need to share the gospel with everyone. He says, "And behold, these things which we have desired concerning our brethren, yea, even their restoration to the knowledge of Christ, are according to the PRAYERS of ALL THE SAINTS who have dwelt in the land. And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered ACCORDING to their FAITH; and may God the Father...bless them forever, through faith on the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!" So that's just the end, but I HIGHLY recommend reading the entire chapter. In a nut shell, we, as God's gathered sheep magnificently blessed with knowledge of His gospel, must pray with Faith in Christ, meaning we ACT and sacrifice, and power is produced as we testify of the truth. The Spirit just can't help but be exploding in the hearts of those we speak too when we've got the power of Christ on our side. So pray and act and sacrifice on, my friends!

 

I love bein a missionary. I'm so happy! It's always weird giving just one or two experiences to sum an entire week of awesome. I hope all of you have been equally blessed, noticing the orchestrations of God to assist you in your life. If not, then repent and do better! Apply the atonement! ACT on that faith with your prayers. I promise miracles will happen :)

 

With so much joy, peace and love,

Sista Mads Pants