A MI CASA

Hellllloooooooooooo dear family and friends in the greater Salt Lake area, Kansas, and beyond!!! This is my LAST email can you believe it? I SURE CAN'T!!

And WOW there is much to report for this past week. Bear with me, I'm putting every ounce I can fathom into this email to make sure it's the bast last hurrah of all Sister Murphy missionary time!

We castrated a bull.

Hahahahahahahahahaha it's true!!! We really did!!! Okay well maybe I didn't perform the actual surgical part, but i handed that rancher tool by tool by iodine spray!!!! And BOY was it an experience. THEN we latched his poor nostrils to a rope and looped it to the side bar to strap his head down and the rancher began sawing at his horns! It was the most gore i have EVER seen, and it was live and active. My companion had the lovely experience in singing the open horn wound with a hot iron to stump the spurting veins. WOW!

I have never been involved in more service projects in my entire life than we did these past two weeks. We've sanded cupboards (power tools, YES!) (...are those approved? dangit i didn't even think of that...), we've raked junky fields, herded cows, made salads, fancied up cups for a fund raiser, served slop to the elderly, sang and performed at the old folks home, swept and dusted carports, and fasted mucho. Through it I've met gentle horses, pet deer head mounts, been splattered with blood and chemicals and manure and shnozz, wheezed sawdust, smiled and laughed and enjoyed gorgeous sunsets in spiritual conversations. The Lord created courageous animals and surreal scenes and wow we are so lucky to be his precious spirit children, learning to grow in these valuable bodies of ours.

I spent way too much time whining and griping this past transfer. I've been negative and prideful. I've forgotten simple truths and lived in shadows of doubt. I've encountered doors slammed and sarcastic grins flashed and hate words shouted. Up and down in this field and river and gulf and mist and light and love of God. There have been angels protecting us and walking with us and softening the hearts of many we teach. The Holy Ghost has been incredibly active, bringing new thoughts and light to my anxious and eager mind, through others or scriptures or thoughts and it always always brings peace, and surety, and faith is grown and sins are forgiven and a plan made more sure and lives blessed.

We are so human! We have this carnal man inside us and you know why we are commanded to share the gospel? Because God intends to cut off the weakness that bears us down. He intends to build His children into an army of love and compassion and pure good! Why I ever think it should be easier I just don't know. The joy that God knows and desires to share does not come at a cheap price. It requires constant sacrifice, constant humility in asking Him for help, acting and envisioning, setting goals and getting to work. Mosiah 5 taught me today there are very specific key indicators we can recognize within us if we are repentant and progressing: 

1. Obtaining a KNOWing by the Spirit in hearing spiritual things

2. "No more disposition to do evil, but to do GOOD continually"

3. "Great views of what's to come" (a vision for your future, a plan!)

4. Pure faith in words of the prophets and our leaders

5. Desire to fulfill God's will

6. Obedience to commandments

7. And most significant for my past concerns and dire need to understand: JOY!! Exceedingly GREAT joy!!!

We are to be happy, and sure, and trusting, and obedient, and wow I just love how simple it is. This is the key to joy and freedom!! King Benjamin boldly and lovingly states after all of this: "And under this head ye are made FREE." ....WOW i love it!!!

We called and called Sharese Saturday and Sunday morning, a member went by to pick them up, we sat in the pieu waiting in anxiousness, and Sister Davalos walked in without them. They did not answer the door, not the phone, they did not make it to church. So we find a teamup (a wonderful return sister missionary :D) and we zoom 30 minutes west to the little town of Leoti. Kaley opens the door and we go in and they were just as usual, tired, negative, worn, eating, tv. We sat and prayed silently for the Lord's love and guidance to teach them as He would have us. A discussion later and Sharese is in tears, "You mean I need to not just ask the Lord to help me, but... I need to put Him first and do more?" "YES!" we respond. "....oh! ....that makes sense!" and she cries, seemingly touched by the Spirit who was working on her in ways we could not see nor fully comprehend. She was learning, learning what God hoped for her to learn in order to have the willingness to act. For we know that she cannot be cleansed and sanctified through any other way.

And He wants Sharese to be happy too!!! I just didn't understand that, i used to think well, if it's not about us and we are to focus entirely on others than why would we even CARE to feel our own joy? Why do we even deserve it when we are so weak and mess up so often? I know now that it's simply because the Lord is GOOD and He really does love us. Wow He loves us so much. I'm tearing even now, trying to fathom His love for us. It's perfect. His plan is perfect. And He invites us to become perfect, wherein lies a more blissful joy than I cannot even begin to comprehend.

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

And so, as I close this chapter of my life as a full-time missionary, I am completely renewed. I have learned to apply the atonement, to love others, and I've learned there is SO MUCH MORE for me to learn, and I'm thrilled to be entrusted with living back in the warring and cold world to do it. I am ready, so ready to fight in this war and lift up the broken-hearted and give spiritual sight to the spiritually blind. It never ends, for we have been truly blessed with the truth that sets us free, and we get to "waste away" our lives in spreading it to others.

GRIN!!

WOW I love you all!!!! Here are a couple more pics of us at the ranch, and I"ll add more too:

1. Hot rod and Hook rope

2. Pile of bright and beautiful sister missionaries, both returned and current

3. Me in my self-upholstered chair

4. Legacy wall of all past comps and some baptisms

5. Sisters of the district at Dodge City Sisters Conference

6. The West. Winter wheat, toy story clouds, and turbines.

I LOVE YOU FAMILY!!! I will see you oh so very soon. I'm off to the free zoo, a packed and give-it-all-you-got-left proselyting day tomorrow, then to Wichita to farewell my missionary friends Wednesday, and a perfectly timed flight to 801 Thursday morning.

God be with you til we meet again!!

Best,

THE LAST SISTER MURPHY

.......or am i??

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

So much is happening here and WOW I'm still being tried and tested and WOW there are miracles and such fantastic people we get to teach :) Scott City is a tough area, but it needs more and more love of Christ. I'm so grateful to be a missionary and so grateful to be here in the Heartland, where the Kingdom of God is surely being prepared!

I feel I haven't born my testimony all that much, so here ya go:

I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that He is the bread of life, the living water, always flowing into our hearts to give us sustenance. I know He is the Great Mediator and a perfect anchor of an example for us to trust in and be redeemed through. I know that the Book of Mormon is the pure Word of God. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and Thomas S. Monson leads and guides us with all of the Lord's prophets and apostles today! I know that we are Heavenly Father's precious children, and He wants ALL of us to come back to Him in strength, courage and love. Thus His hands are always outstretched to take us and guide us through this earthly life.

I know that sharing the gospel is THE most important duty we have, and it brings the greatest joy! I know our families can be together, and WOW I have such an amazing amazing family that His been significantly blessed because of the Lord's plan.

I love you all unfathomably. I will do my best to email next Monday, however I will also be packing and preparing to come home!! So I'll see ya soon!!!

God be with you til we meet again :D

With much much love,

Sister Murphy Senior

Week of Tender Mercies!

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Week of tender mercies:

She is laughing, I smile big and drink in the bright blue sky, the grey-grey fields, the rolling purple and orange rock formations jetting between plains, our car speeding by.

We hand them each a Book of Mormon, joke about the randomness of our being out in the middle-of-nowhere Russell Springs, thank them for the map and new directions, an burst into the midday breeze as we exit "The Stitchin Post."

My eyes are closed softly. I extend my arms out agains the stern warm wind and embrace God's hug, and fold my arms back in to pray. I thank Him for the Holy Ghost. I thank Him for good shoes, good leaders, good companion. I thank Him for the splendor of being at such a view of endless Kansas, flourishin in wildlife and calm as ever.

So much peace is found in God's country.

After we climbed Lone Butte and drove back through the prairie dog fields to the Haverfields, we ate a codfish dinner. As it darkened we left with a prayer and thanked Lillian and Calvin for the perfect day cleaning their dusty carport and exploring the ranch. We bolted to the car, across the dirt roads, and turned to the rich pink and deep blue sun setting.

It wasn't just the thrill of driving miles and miles to simply visit our Relief Society President far up North and away that was so fun for Sister Depp and I. We had felt so distinctly that morning that we just were not supposed to go to Dighton. It did not feel right! Nor did Leoti, neither Scott. Up. North. Russell. That's all we could think. It was the craziest whim, but we KNEW it is what the Lord wanted most.

"Glad you made it safely home. So happy you sisters made the effort to come spend the day with us. I was really needing a spiritual lift. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT! Thank you for your help with the car port cleaning. Love, Sis. Haverfield."

President Monson once said that his favorite feeling is to receive some sort of prompting, act on it, and then see that it was from the Lord to bless another person's life. We may not have found the perfect family for baptism this past week, and we may not have accomplished some crazy numbers for our mission. We did, however, follow what the Lord needed and received such tender mercies and love in return. I invite you all to really ponder the gift of the Holy Ghost and how He prompts you. Learn how you can be a unique vessel in the Hands of the Lord, and bless some other man's life by your obedience to Him. The joy that comes is inexpressible.

I love love love you all, I cannot believe I get to see you in just a couple weeks time. God be with you til we meet again!!

Best,

Sister Murphy

Heads up: A new Mormon Message to watch (it is so stinkin good!!!)

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/obedience-to-the-ten-commandments?cid=HPTU031015743

Baptism by Fire‏

Gooooood morning mis amigos!!!!

WOW I'm just happy as a clam today :) Things are just really looking up!!! The past week was miraculous, the Holy Ghost is answering so many of my questions and concerns, the Lord is carrying me when I'm so weak, and my companion is serving me like crazy!

Last week I had perhaps the last of many, many priesthood blessings on my mission. Brother Irven Yeager lives with his family on a large cow feedlot, which happened to be directly on our way to a small town to work in. We called and asked if we could stop by, we were both feeling quite pressed to receive a blessing. Sister Craig says he was the best bishop she has ever had, and it showed, for he was pure, gentle, and consecrated vessel for the Lord to speak to us. God said I need to continue thrusting my sickle with all my might and do what I've been called to here in the Scott ward. I need to keep studying the scriptures and pray for everything, even the littlest thoughts and feelings. He blessed the area that we will be welcomed into homes. He reminded me that the Lord loves and knows me and I need to BE HAPPY!

It was a marvelous, tear-filled blessing. Sister Deppe's was equally profound and personal. We are still weary and weak, but the Lord is giving us ALL the tools and opportunities we need to do His work, and harvest good fruit from good soil. So exciting!!!!

On Thursday we double checked the amount of our remaining miles, and reqlized there was about 115 left and we could indeed spend a day in Leoti!! Excitedly we packed and prepared and hopped in the car to head out there. When we arrived a blizzard rolled in and snow threatened our chance to drive back home that evening. Nervous and unsure, we prayed to know what the Lord would have us do. Sister Deppe was certain we needed to contact SOMEONE, some soul that was waiting for us. We decided we would first try contacting a less-active member and just go from there.

Teri answered her door and invited us right in! She told us why she does't come to church, and what she was experiencing with her teenage boys the past few months. It was positive, we set a return appointment and then asked if she knew of anyone else that might be going through a difficult time. "Actually," she said, "I do have an acquaintance in town who always seems to be a bit down when I see her at the store." Teri then told us the location of her apartments, and that we'd find her door number in the lobby.

Indeed, it was all according to her directions! After a quick restroom break and discovering Ruth on the list tacked to the lobby wall, we knocked on #14.

Ruth, a middle-aged latina from Mexico, answered the door with oily bed hair. We told her we were representatives of Christ and had a message of peace and love. She leaned her head against the door frame and told us of her mother, whom had died three years ago. Ruth has been in total depression ever since. She was reluctant, but said we could come in, because "It's too cold to be outside!"

The Lord works in mysterious ways! Meeting with Ruth was a sacred experience. She was indeed thoroughly depressed and dysfunctional. Her two sons have been keeping her alive despite her bottles of anti-depressants and suicidal attempts. She said she knows her mother would never want her to be this way, but she has fallen into a deep hole and can only try to "claw out of the darkness" without hope.

The Spirit was very strong. We talked about her belief in Christ and the Father. We discussed the progression of a mustard seed of desire, as well as the plan of salvation. We read Alma 40:11-12, she read it aloud and stammered, in tears, taken aback. "Do you think that's where your mother is?" we asked. "...I would like to think so..." "Ruth, we testify that's precisely where your mother is."

We are so lucky to know the Plan of Happiness :)

Sorry it was such a long one today. Miracles are continuing and the Lord is hastily building us up to hastily spread His gospel. His precious lost sheep are cold and tired, and it is such an honor to get to attend to them. I love the warmth of the Spirit and the confirmation that we've worked through Him to help others.

I also really really love Dairy King burgers!! And fried okra! And the pleasant aroma of beef and cow turd each time we go outside!!

I LOVE YA ALL LIKE CRAZY!!! Keep on keepin on :)

Best,

Sister Murph

MEN ARE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE JOY

Here's another oldie :) sisters conference with the cramesta!

I stepped outside onto the snow-chunked mud and took a deep breath of the bitter wind infused with cow turd. I smile. Exhale! Another quaint day in little ol' Scott City!!

The branch here is teeny tiny! Most members have some farm animals and two own massive feedlots! When we drove out to even teenier Leoti we passed acres and acres of cows grazing in their pens. MOOOOOOooove it a long!!!

It's been such a thrill serving in Western Kansas! It's about time I got to the Midwestern feel of the Midwest. The heartland is such a special place :)

We had some pretty cool experiences, some more of those sacred ones I hesitate to talk too much about. Perhaps I'll one day share it all, for in it I have truly changed. The worries and strife have absolutely continued as I've come out to a new area. I still have doubts and questions in the gospel and have felt heavily influenced by the adversary yet steadfast and committed to the Lord and you know what?! The peace and love of God never stops comin!! And more than that the Lord inspired me with an even more profound revelation this past week and it came so simply and so quietly but as I have acted on it my life is already turning around full throttle!!

MEN ARE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE JOY.

I know that you know that and I know that I knew that. But sometimes we just like to forget, don't we?? We forget the simple gospel truths and we can get so caught up in deeper meanings or in trial in the application or yada yada but God just wants me to be happy!!!! Don't worry and BE HAPPY!!

I hope you know I've got a big big grin on my face right now :) :) I big one and it's because the Lord loves me. And He loves my brothers and sisters. And even if that stinky ol adversary is getting strong and fighting hard and tearing the world apart, the Lord is on our side and there is ALWAYS hope, there will be a happy ending no matter what!!! Jesus Christ has already performed the atonement and even if we don't apply it, it blesses our lives! And our family! And our friends! And our future and our past!! There is so so much to be joyful about :) And this is me, finally, at long last, truly throwing my cares to the wind and joyfully trusting in God!

That's all I really have to share this week.... haahaha. BE HAPPY! God wants you to be happy! He made you to be happy! And happiness is in and through His Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days. Oh happy days :)

Love you all lots, just as usual!!!

Best,

Sister Murph

Scott City‏

Dearest family,

Life here is bliss :) So much lovely work, many miracles, and a constant river of the Love of God. We are busy, anxious, excited :)

I love you all immensely. It's a short one this week, and I feel the need simply to share the following scripture from 2 Nephi 10:20

"And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge..let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off...but we have been led to a better land."

Keep feeding His sheep :)

With love,

Sister Murphy

Now spread your wings, and fly.

Hello hello dear familia!!

I am sorry we could not email yesterday! I guess it's important to honor Presidents and stuff (GO PREZ BELL!!). I have A LOT to share today: three specific epiphanies with three particularly important moments! So bear with me, it's been a week for the books :D

EPIPHANY NUMERO UNO

After zone conference on Tuesday it is tradition that the departing missionaries bear their testimonies. I had been anticipating this all day, and had been resenting it totally and completely. When the AP Elder Budge stood at the podium and announced it time for us to go up and share, my heart sunk deep. I did not want to.

For weeks I have been heavily contemplating my mission, and myself. I have become so caught up in analyzing way too much, and applying doctrine too extremely, and at that very moment I felt the harrowing realization that my heart, was indeed withheld. Many missionaries there were emotional in anticipating their returning home to their families within the week. The details of my concerns were different, selfish,and insignificant. At the moment I approached the mic I lost all train of thought and even the feeling of the Holy Ghost. My words were empty, my face red. All of the great missionaries I've served along and loved watched as I bore fruitless testimony.

The next few days I was in angst wondering why, after so many miraculous changes here in Kansas, that I would just tank in an opportunity to bear witness to the Savior to his beloved missionaries. At long last, after much prayer and conversation, Christ's beckoning words to Peter made it clear what I needed to do to change. "Feed my sheep. Feed my lambs."

EPIPHANY NUMERO DOS 

We arrived at the church to meet some sisters for a mini exchange. I say hello to President Bell, who just finished a conference call with trainers and trainees. He mutters a quick hi and re-engages in his computer work. Minutes later I hear him say, SISTER MURPHY! Will you follow me please?? And he jets out of the classroom. I follow him, smiley and just pleased at how great the day is going. I step into his office, which was really just the quarters in between the exterior and interior weather doors of the church's west wing. It's cold! I thought to myself.

"Well, we want your last transfer to be EXCITING!!" he starts. "So, we are sending you to open a new area to sisters in Scott City, Kansas! It's in the Garden City zone, wayyyyy out west. Good for you! You will be with Sister Deppe, and she's had a rough mission. We know you will do a great job helping the area liven up and loving your new companion. Okay? Sounds great!!"

And the Spirit was like KABOOM into my heart and I just knew, so instantly, that this was going to be the transfer my mission has prepared me for.

EPIPHANY NUMERO TRES

The next day at church we went early and camped out in our car, awaiting Rita and her boyfriend to arrive. They had not responded our calls and we had no idea if they were really planning on coming. Yet, Sister Heger diligently insisted that we go to the early ward just in case. Ten minutes after and nothing. Then, a man, out of the blue, emerges from some parked cars in a bolted run, towards the chapel doors. I point and yell, "WHO IS THAT?!!" Sister Heger turns and yelped "It's Carson!!!"

We leap out of the car and rush after him, beaming :) He came to church!! Rita was not there, but her boyfriend came. As we sat in the pew and he anxiously listened to the speaker, the Spirit began to swarm around us, for the speaker was testifying of the talk on the Plan of Salvation. Our phone gives a small beep, and we see a text from another investigator we have been teaching for months, Chelsea, and her family. She says: "Thank you girls for all you've done for my family but after much thought we've decided to go back to our old church. The Bel Aire ward is great and has so many really wonderful people but the more we learn the less comfortable we are there. I'm so sorry."

And for the first time in a very long time, I hung my head down, and cried. Hot tears. I clear my head after a moment and refocus on the inspired talk. It pierced my heart again, the Plan of Salvation... I glance over to see a single man, tall, white, droop his head down low and his daughter leans toward him and begins to comfort him. After a minute he lifts up and he too was in swollen tears. I felt, whether it was true or not I don't know, that his wife had recently passed. Then the Spirit impresses the thought: Chelsea won't be able to be sealed to her deceased husband, her children will not receive the blessings of eternal families.... we failed them, for they do not understand what they truly just gave up.

CONCLUSION

We are being saved by a loving Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. When we get caught up in ourselves, like I did, we build walls between us and others, losing trust from the Father that we will look outward and bring souls unto Christ. This plan, the great Plan of Happiness, is the reason WHY we must share the gospel with them. If we do NOT, then these numberless families in pain and anguish from the difficult adversary and his world will not receive the liberty and peace that eternal salvation brings to our lives here. We are responsible, it is us, His children of the promise, blessed with truth and love, that can give it to the world. Never have I seen and understood how intricately the Plan is woven into this work... and I am just SUPER EXCITED to do better at sharing it with the world!!

My new goal: FORGET YOSELF. Hahaha, I think WAY too much about me. This whole shpeal of a plan and a hastening is so not about me, I just get to fight at the forefront, another soldier, so loved equally by a loving Heavenly Father. IT'S AMAZING!!!

There are great, great weeks ahead for all of us. I love you all significantly and endlessly, thank you for keeping in touch!! I invite you to consider the covenants, promises and blessings that our Father has made with us and desires to freely give to us if we act and turn outward. I KNOW it will bring the utmost joy into your heart and into your world.

LOVE YA MILLIONS!! :)

Best,

Sister M