Transfers this week. WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?
I'm staying hurr in Maize. New comp named Sister Heger. she played volleyball in college. Good thing i'm like SUPER good....like super good...........................................
We are trying to get a lot more involved in the community so we went to city hall and found all these service opportunities.
Rest home looking for "buddies" for the old people who don't have visitors.
Kinda just called the number without even thinking....
"Hi, um ya....we are looking to be a friend with an Elderly person...?
"Ok...um...Who is calling??"
"Missionaries.....we're Jehovah's Witness....."
Jk. no.
but seriously.
NOT the most tactful approach......
Played bean bag baseball at a rest home behind our apartments.
Big black lady in charge just starts like waving to us like mad when we show up.
"SISTERS i'm so glad you are here! we've been waiting for you!"
*neither of us know her*
"where you been gurrl?? when you stopped by my house i was SO sick but I was wishing you would come back! we have missed you! they are all waiting for you!"
just like ULTI-confused. But we just go with it.
Old man Charles "Sister Murray! You're hair has gotten so much longer!"
At this point I'm just like. CRAP. I have amnesia. I'm losing my mind. When was the last time I fell off of something..............never.met.these.people.
just went with it, had their number already in our phone?? FINALLY figured out Sisters used to go like every week and were teaching the black lady?? MIRACLES.
Sunday, we are WAY below our goal for finding new investigators. Pray super hard all day that we would be able to find.
Find out we have to give TALKS in the singles ward that we randomly just unofficially double cover? Bishopric calls us to give talks, we're like "um...we are not even assigned to your ward? we just teach all the females" "yeah that's fine! see you at 11:00"
WHAT.
so had NO time after double church.
1 hour left.
Find some former investigators. 3 all live in the same house. have a really good feeling about it.
start driving there. Realize its like WAY across town??
Show up, its a girls home.
Amy answers door.
We're looking for Veronica, Sarah, and Marissa?
"They don't live here. But Veronica is like my best friend, she moved to the East side."
All clicked.
Does she live here?
Yeah!
TAUGHT HER ON THE EAST SIDE!?!?!?!
Tender mercy since because I "knew" her Amy starts talking to us, roommate Savanna comes out. Just moved there and was so excited to find a new church? BOTH NEW INVESTIGATORS!?
Lord provides.
LOVE YOU ALL
xoxox
Sister Murrr
PICS:
1. Zone P-Day bowlinggggggggg
2. We have to correlate with the Zone Leaders every week so for the Newton Zone we have a "tiny" meeting...Wichita Zone's "giant" meeting.
HA we're so punny. .... such missionaries.
GOSH this is what entertains me now. so pathetic. #conforming
1. Me and mi companera for the last time. Sister Dean
2. Last Zone meeting with Newton Zoneeeeeeeee
Sunday, 3 August 2014
"What's your favorite fantasy universe?" (June 2, 2014)
Ok exchanges! Literally this has been the busiest transfer I have had in a while. FLYING HOW IS IT ALREADY JUNE.
Exchanges with this crazy Sister BLESS HER. Just never.stops.talking.
Laying in bed,
"So what is your favorite fantasy universe?"
wut.
in.
the.
Hilare.
OK BAPTISIMOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
So we are finishing teaching Dayton the commandments last week and the Deacons quorum here is just UNREAL??? Always want to come to be part of the lessons.
So James comes.
Susan (Dayton's mom) always there.
"James, can you explain to Dayton about Fast Offerings?"
-thinking he would explain the like role of a deacon in that.....-
"yes, we don't eat breakfast or lunch. so then you calculate how much money you would have spent for those meals to donate. So like if you have scrambled eggs for breakfast, there are usually 12 eggs in a carton... you divide 2 dollars by 12...which usually ends up being like 12 cents...then like one slice of bread is like 4 cents....plus any milk you might drink......oh yeah and then you just count all that out and give it to the church."
(Confused Susan:)
".............................so wait. What is the point of that?"
Ok yeah...maybe DONT just throw little Deacons under the bus and ask them to explain commandments in lessons with out prepping them. Lesson learned.
BUT these boys really do have like the SWEETEST hearts and are SO tight, it has been the sweetest thing on planet earth.
Exchanges with Sister Nash (WHOA FULL CIRCLE can't believe we have come so far...(MTC comp)
met this first ever like DEVOUT Catholic lady with 15 siblings.
fifteen.
I'm like WHAT THE. freak out about it.
Later in conversation shes like "yeah, it's sad that people have this crazy reactions when they found out how many kids are in our family, because it's just what God wants us to do."
Oh......yeah....I mean...like I wasn't REALLY freaking out about that....it was.....ok, yes, guilty.
Ok out of time, SKIPPING TO SATURDAY
well first FRIDAY.
Had a mini-mission thing and her very first night? Go to the "Riverfest"
Think like Freedom Festival on ACID!?!? like THOUSANDDDDDS of people in Downtown Wichita . Our whole zone AND Derby zone went down there and were challenged to each give out 100 Mormon.org cards. SO FUN. Like best night for sure....SUPER worldly like Sodom and Gomorra style but we had lots of work to do :)
CRISIS when our pones like shut.down. because of how many people are there.
And we are lost.
LONG STORY short...............still can't find n e one.
It's now 9:55.....our curfew is 9:30....and we are 20 minutes away from our house. WUT.
Start panicking.....
MILLIONS of tender mercies LATER.....(i.e. i get this random thought TAKE A PICTURE OF THE PHONE, do it......PHONE DIES one second later. WHOA Lord protecting us.)
It's 10:25........WE are still on the streets of Wichita.
FINALLY got through to the ZL's or are FREAKING out. who get a hold of the Hermanas (our ride) who FINALLY break through traffic and find us.
And we are home.
By 11:03.
WORST.DAY.EVER. poor little mini-missionary is like SCARRED FOR LIFE.
BUT I know that was Satan trying to keep us from having the BEST DAY OF MY MISSION RIGHT AFTER!?!?!
Saturday:
MONICAS BAPTISM!
We start out with an AWESOME church tour to a new investigator Sherry. Basically she has a break down in the Chapel and is sobbing, hasn't cried for over a year and just lets our EVERYTHING. Best moment, spirit so strong, leave her in there to start the baptism.
MONICA GETS BAPTIZED.
Thought she was going to drown so FLAILS like crazy first time she is dunked....does it again....still flails but guy baptizing her is prepared for it and like SHOVES her to the bottom.
But everytime, despite the ALWAYS crazy actual baptizing, you can still feel the spirit.
RIGHT after have ANOTHER church tour with TWO more investigators who randomly show up to the baptism?? SO GOOD! tells us she feels a warm feeling in her heart in the Chapel and really impressed by everything so far! SPIRIT ON FIRE!
THEN Monicas mom who has been like ANTI came to baptism and have spur-of-the-moment lesson with her at refreshments where she breaks down from feeling the Spirit and says she's been curious but didn't know if she was welcome or not. WHAT!? *inviting to everything*
NEXT
DAYTONS BAPTISM!
So.good. HE IS SO FREAKIN ADORABLE was like freaaaaaking out so excited! Like a little jumping bean going crazy.
Bishop Broberg welcoming him to the ward... "Church is the same everywhere, family anywhere you go now....I went to Mexico and find this tiny church building and I walk in...and you know what he said to me?"
Dayton: "Hola?"
dyingggggggggggggg
Mom Susan just emotional WRECK cause she is feeling the Spirit SO strong I KNOW it was testifying to her that she NEEDED to be baptized...has LOTS of issues so won't be for a while, but pray for her!
WOW no more time.
ENDING with unbelievable story from members last night.
Sister Beggs met Brother Beggs in high school. She starts dating, he goes home and asks mom "what do you know about the Mormons?" "well, we have their gold bible right there on the shelf if you want to read it!"
Starts reading it, Sister Beggs invites him to take lessons, he is baptized, goes on mission, comes back they get married.
THEN Brother Beggs FAMILY all joins.
His mom like 10 years later comes to visit them in Utah.
She gets that original Book of Mormon they had and finds missionaires name in it. Somehow finds out he is a tour guide on Temple Square so they drive over to find him.
He's not on duty.
They tell the guides why they are trying to find him and freak out, call the guy, he is over there in minutes!
Have an awesome reunion with him, telling story of how they all joined by Sister Beggs.
He asks her, well, were you raised in the Church?
"yes, my mom took the discussions from the misisonaries when she was pregnant with me, but got baptized like 2 years later."
Missionary guy freezes...."what was your moms name? That was me who taught her!"
This missionary had NO idea the success he had.
These two families lived in different towns like 15 miles away from each other.
One he left a book of Mormon with and never heard of again.
the other was an investigator that in his mind "ended up dropping them" but was later baptized.
NEVER KNOW the impact we have on people.
SO COOL!
LOVE YOU ALL
xoxox
Sister Murray
PICS:
1. Dayton and Susan!
2. MONICA!
3. Look who decided to show up! #Murrnia Reep'n the seeds she sowed.
Forcing McKayla to take a picture with us. Classic.
Exchanges with this crazy Sister BLESS HER. Just never.stops.talking.
Laying in bed,
"So what is your favorite fantasy universe?"
wut.
in.
the.
Hilare.
OK BAPTISIMOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
So we are finishing teaching Dayton the commandments last week and the Deacons quorum here is just UNREAL??? Always want to come to be part of the lessons.
So James comes.
Susan (Dayton's mom) always there.
"James, can you explain to Dayton about Fast Offerings?"
-thinking he would explain the like role of a deacon in that.....-
"yes, we don't eat breakfast or lunch. so then you calculate how much money you would have spent for those meals to donate. So like if you have scrambled eggs for breakfast, there are usually 12 eggs in a carton... you divide 2 dollars by 12...which usually ends up being like 12 cents...then like one slice of bread is like 4 cents....plus any milk you might drink......oh yeah and then you just count all that out and give it to the church."
(Confused Susan:)
".............................so wait. What is the point of that?"
Ok yeah...maybe DONT just throw little Deacons under the bus and ask them to explain commandments in lessons with out prepping them. Lesson learned.
BUT these boys really do have like the SWEETEST hearts and are SO tight, it has been the sweetest thing on planet earth.
Exchanges with Sister Nash (WHOA FULL CIRCLE can't believe we have come so far...(MTC comp)
met this first ever like DEVOUT Catholic lady with 15 siblings.
fifteen.
I'm like WHAT THE. freak out about it.
Later in conversation shes like "yeah, it's sad that people have this crazy reactions when they found out how many kids are in our family, because it's just what God wants us to do."
Oh......yeah....I mean...like I wasn't REALLY freaking out about that....it was.....ok, yes, guilty.
Ok out of time, SKIPPING TO SATURDAY
well first FRIDAY.
Had a mini-mission thing and her very first night? Go to the "Riverfest"
Think like Freedom Festival on ACID!?!? like THOUSANDDDDDS of people in Downtown Wichita . Our whole zone AND Derby zone went down there and were challenged to each give out 100 Mormon.org cards. SO FUN. Like best night for sure....SUPER worldly like Sodom and Gomorra style but we had lots of work to do :)
CRISIS when our pones like shut.down. because of how many people are there.
And we are lost.
LONG STORY short...............still can't find n e one.
It's now 9:55.....our curfew is 9:30....and we are 20 minutes away from our house. WUT.
Start panicking.....
MILLIONS of tender mercies LATER.....(i.e. i get this random thought TAKE A PICTURE OF THE PHONE, do it......PHONE DIES one second later. WHOA Lord protecting us.)
It's 10:25........WE are still on the streets of Wichita.
FINALLY got through to the ZL's or are FREAKING out. who get a hold of the Hermanas (our ride) who FINALLY break through traffic and find us.
And we are home.
By 11:03.
WORST.DAY.EVER. poor little mini-missionary is like SCARRED FOR LIFE.
BUT I know that was Satan trying to keep us from having the BEST DAY OF MY MISSION RIGHT AFTER!?!?!
Saturday:
MONICAS BAPTISM!
We start out with an AWESOME church tour to a new investigator Sherry. Basically she has a break down in the Chapel and is sobbing, hasn't cried for over a year and just lets our EVERYTHING. Best moment, spirit so strong, leave her in there to start the baptism.
MONICA GETS BAPTIZED.
Thought she was going to drown so FLAILS like crazy first time she is dunked....does it again....still flails but guy baptizing her is prepared for it and like SHOVES her to the bottom.
But everytime, despite the ALWAYS crazy actual baptizing, you can still feel the spirit.
RIGHT after have ANOTHER church tour with TWO more investigators who randomly show up to the baptism?? SO GOOD! tells us she feels a warm feeling in her heart in the Chapel and really impressed by everything so far! SPIRIT ON FIRE!
THEN Monicas mom who has been like ANTI came to baptism and have spur-of-the-moment lesson with her at refreshments where she breaks down from feeling the Spirit and says she's been curious but didn't know if she was welcome or not. WHAT!? *inviting to everything*
NEXT
DAYTONS BAPTISM!
So.good. HE IS SO FREAKIN ADORABLE was like freaaaaaking out so excited! Like a little jumping bean going crazy.
Bishop Broberg welcoming him to the ward... "Church is the same everywhere, family anywhere you go now....I went to Mexico and find this tiny church building and I walk in...and you know what he said to me?"
Dayton: "Hola?"
dyingggggggggggggg
Mom Susan just emotional WRECK cause she is feeling the Spirit SO strong I KNOW it was testifying to her that she NEEDED to be baptized...has LOTS of issues so won't be for a while, but pray for her!
WOW no more time.
ENDING with unbelievable story from members last night.
Sister Beggs met Brother Beggs in high school. She starts dating, he goes home and asks mom "what do you know about the Mormons?" "well, we have their gold bible right there on the shelf if you want to read it!"
Starts reading it, Sister Beggs invites him to take lessons, he is baptized, goes on mission, comes back they get married.
THEN Brother Beggs FAMILY all joins.
His mom like 10 years later comes to visit them in Utah.
She gets that original Book of Mormon they had and finds missionaires name in it. Somehow finds out he is a tour guide on Temple Square so they drive over to find him.
He's not on duty.
They tell the guides why they are trying to find him and freak out, call the guy, he is over there in minutes!
Have an awesome reunion with him, telling story of how they all joined by Sister Beggs.
He asks her, well, were you raised in the Church?
"yes, my mom took the discussions from the misisonaries when she was pregnant with me, but got baptized like 2 years later."
Missionary guy freezes...."what was your moms name? That was me who taught her!"
This missionary had NO idea the success he had.
These two families lived in different towns like 15 miles away from each other.
One he left a book of Mormon with and never heard of again.
the other was an investigator that in his mind "ended up dropping them" but was later baptized.
NEVER KNOW the impact we have on people.
SO COOL!
LOVE YOU ALL
xoxox
Sister Murray
PICS:
1. Dayton and Susan!
2. MONICA!
3. Look who decided to show up! #Murrnia Reep'n the seeds she sowed.
Forcing McKayla to take a picture with us. Classic.
Adam-bi-Diana (May 27, 2014)
SO.MUCH.TO.SAY.
Buckle up.
Beginning with LAST Monday. After we emailed we went to the ZOOOO for P-Day.
Holy Turkey Darlin'. <---new investigator TRACY from Nashville, best accent, trying to quit swearing, comes out with JEWELS like all.the.time.
Had like a spiritual experience....with a gorilla.
ok ok ok. So we go to the Zoo. I'm like wow, why am I not at the Zoo like on the daily??? FREAKIN LOVED IT.
So we go to the gorilla exhibit. This GIANT like Planet of the Apes style King Kong one just all of a sudden, like out of a movie, runs across the whooooooole mini jungle banging his chest and jumps on this "throne" rock and just stares at me. Literally, it was almost weird, I'm like...I think he is a human in costume.
....which led to a whole debate with one of my Zone Leaders, Elder Heath (who RANDOMLY was in Aunt Holly's 4th grade class????? SHOUT OUT TO THE WESTONS)
about evalution.
So I have a pretty convincing theory about Science and Religion arguing the same thing just using different terms...so I'm explaining this to Elder Heath....he's not buying it. Blah blah blah.
THEN. We go inside. It's like this fake African safari tent with windows all around, fake birds chirping, like you are living with the gorillas. One is leaning against the window.
I go up to it.
Sit back to back with it.
Have a mini freak out cause I've never been that close to a gorilla.
T I M E S L O W S D O W N
And the gorilla turns.
We are now FACE TO FACE, faces smashed against the glass like a little 4 year old toddler drooling looking into a fish tank.
And we just sit there.
And stare at each other.
For a SOLID 20 seconds.
................and I can't really explain it, but all I know is that he spoke to me telepathically and confirmed to me that my theory about evolution was true.
So I told Elder Heat that I was going to teach it as part of the Plan of Salvation if that was ok................."WHAT? No!"
Obviously he didn't have a spiritual moment with a gorilla. OBVIOUSLY.
Ok next day went on a 3 day exchange with my favorite Sister in da zone. HOW did we swing that, we.will.never.know. She was trained by Sister Runia...and Sister Bell was there for a meeting we just had.....so she may or may not have taken us to the edge of our zone so we could have a rendeveous with Sis Runia????? I DONT KNOW. It all happened so fast....Sister Hymas was crying...HILARIOUS. But it was the GREATEST. Miss that lil munchkin. #Murrnia
OK.
Me and Sister Hymas. Going to dinner appointment. Literally like FAMISHED because we spent the like million hour long car ride talking, spent ALL of our energy.
Show up.
Single old lady.
"I know its SO hot so I wanted to make something light.......haven't made this for a while, its a gelatin dish..."
*quizzical looks*
*trying to define gelatin in my mind*
..."ok so its tuna, lemon jello, whip cream...miracle whip, .....oh yeah, and walnuts! served over lettuce."
Before I could contain it just word vomit, "Well, wow! Those are all of my favorite things!"
*Wut.*
#Biggestserving #VOMMMMMMM
Street contacting afterwards. Felt impressed to try this house with people out on porch. Awkward chain link fence that is LOCKED....they are watching us just awkwardly stuck there...not moving....."can I help you?"
NOT a good sign.....millions of awkward comments LATER our mission decided to REALLY humble us and requires us to be rejected THREE times before we can leave????
"look, there no real easy way to say this........no."
"mhmm ok...bye."
#Humbling
Our investigator Dayton's little sister McKayla has down syndrome and is freaking ADORABLE. She always asks me to braid her hair....and in return braids mine...which is fine....until she just got back from playing in the MUD and has it all over her face and hands....and comes up and braids my hair....just washed it....it's fine.
They have this AWESOME little baseball league called "the Miracle League" for kids with specials needs to play on a team. Went to her last game, seriously best atmosphere, such a special spirit around these kids, LOVE THEM.
MIRACLE SABBATH:
Tammy and Teah didn't come to church which means they can't get baptized Saturday. :( We had this MISSION WIDE FAST for miracles in May and Saturday is the last day so we were SUPER bummed to end on such a sad note.
NOT that its for the numbers but we have this specific goal we have been trying to hit as a mission for MONTHS and we were DETERMINED May was going to be the month, and with our investigators on date we were going to hit it! But I prayed super hard the night before and felt like total peace about the whole situation.
After Church we were all worried Tammy and Teah had been anti'd because we had like 4 different appointments that week that she canclled on. Show up to her house that night, ready to just drop her basically, turns out she has been hard to get a hold of because she has been having massive head aches from trying to keep the Word of Wisdom!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?! like WHO ARE YOU WE ONLY MENTIONED THAT IN PASSING NOT THINKING YOU EVEN REMEMBERED YOU HAD TO QUIT ALL THESE THINGS!?!?!
Set for June 7th. HOLY PRAY FOR THEM.
NEXT Miracle,
Monica.
Was supposed to get baptized May 17th and a bunch of CRAZY weird things happened where she was coerced to postpone (lamest) so she prayed and felt like June 7th was better.
Goes to Missouri this weekend with the Singles Ward for a conference.
Calls us Sunday.
"Ok, this is the LAST time I'm changing it, but I need to be baptized May 31st"
Jaw. Dropped.
WHHHY.
"Went to the Temple and since I couldn't go in I decided to sit outside and PONDER the whole time and I asked God to show me a sign if I should switch it, few minutes later my boss called me and said they had to switch the schedule and that I couldn't have next Saturday off but I had the 31st off."
YEAH LORD ANSWERS PRAYERS because she was ready for either date and her salvation was the same but the Lord cares about a tiny mission in the middle of Kansas reaching their goal they set for People saved in the Heartland.
MURRCLES.
Classic quote of the week from Monica:
"So basically, now I want to become homeless and live by the sacred land, Adam-bi-Diana or get a box to live in outside of the Temple."
The New Jerusalem is hard to spell. I don't blame her.
Lastly, Ward Council. The Elders are teaching someone from Syria named Sylvia. #thatshard Ward Mission Leader loves to mention the fact that the only time he met her she was smoking a Hookah.
*Cue 5 min long conversation of the Bishop and Elders Quorum President explaining in detail to the Relief Society President what a Hookah was.*
"Ooooh, so it's like an e-cig?"
What.the.unexpected.
If I could relive any moment....THAT would probably be one of them....
I feel like I've SUPER slacked in detail lately so there is enough to basically fill you until I get home. Sorry about the novel! Expect an extremely crappy letter next week.... with my track record....its bound to happen. #sorrynotsorry
LOVE YOU ALL!!!
xoxoxox
Sister Murray
PICS!
1. First encounter. *realizing the monumental occasion
2. ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE
*Due to the sacredness of the occasion, no documentation could be recorded of the encounter*
3. Afterwards....I like this shot of Tyson the monkey pulling away because if you tilt your head and squint a little bit, it is as if our souls have been combined for a split second and my image is super imposed onto him; and it looks as if he has become a missionary.
THIS ONES FOR THE BOOKS PEOPLE. For.the.books.
AFTER the event with the monkey. I turn back around. And part of my soul had been left on this animal.
FIRST POSE HE DOES.
Holy of holies this ish is real.
stole.my.move.
Buckle up.
Beginning with LAST Monday. After we emailed we went to the ZOOOO for P-Day.
Holy Turkey Darlin'. <---new investigator TRACY from Nashville, best accent, trying to quit swearing, comes out with JEWELS like all.the.time.
Had like a spiritual experience....with a gorilla.
ok ok ok. So we go to the Zoo. I'm like wow, why am I not at the Zoo like on the daily??? FREAKIN LOVED IT.
So we go to the gorilla exhibit. This GIANT like Planet of the Apes style King Kong one just all of a sudden, like out of a movie, runs across the whooooooole mini jungle banging his chest and jumps on this "throne" rock and just stares at me. Literally, it was almost weird, I'm like...I think he is a human in costume.
....which led to a whole debate with one of my Zone Leaders, Elder Heath (who RANDOMLY was in Aunt Holly's 4th grade class????? SHOUT OUT TO THE WESTONS)
about evalution.
So I have a pretty convincing theory about Science and Religion arguing the same thing just using different terms...so I'm explaining this to Elder Heath....he's not buying it. Blah blah blah.
THEN. We go inside. It's like this fake African safari tent with windows all around, fake birds chirping, like you are living with the gorillas. One is leaning against the window.
I go up to it.
Sit back to back with it.
Have a mini freak out cause I've never been that close to a gorilla.
T I M E S L O W S D O W N
And the gorilla turns.
We are now FACE TO FACE, faces smashed against the glass like a little 4 year old toddler drooling looking into a fish tank.
And we just sit there.
And stare at each other.
For a SOLID 20 seconds.
................and I can't really explain it, but all I know is that he spoke to me telepathically and confirmed to me that my theory about evolution was true.
So I told Elder Heat that I was going to teach it as part of the Plan of Salvation if that was ok................."WHAT? No!"
Obviously he didn't have a spiritual moment with a gorilla. OBVIOUSLY.
Ok next day went on a 3 day exchange with my favorite Sister in da zone. HOW did we swing that, we.will.never.know. She was trained by Sister Runia...and Sister Bell was there for a meeting we just had.....so she may or may not have taken us to the edge of our zone so we could have a rendeveous with Sis Runia????? I DONT KNOW. It all happened so fast....Sister Hymas was crying...HILARIOUS. But it was the GREATEST. Miss that lil munchkin. #Murrnia
OK.
Me and Sister Hymas. Going to dinner appointment. Literally like FAMISHED because we spent the like million hour long car ride talking, spent ALL of our energy.
Show up.
Single old lady.
"I know its SO hot so I wanted to make something light.......haven't made this for a while, its a gelatin dish..."
*quizzical looks*
*trying to define gelatin in my mind*
..."ok so its tuna, lemon jello, whip cream...miracle whip, .....oh yeah, and walnuts! served over lettuce."
Before I could contain it just word vomit, "Well, wow! Those are all of my favorite things!"
*Wut.*
#Biggestserving #VOMMMMMMM
Street contacting afterwards. Felt impressed to try this house with people out on porch. Awkward chain link fence that is LOCKED....they are watching us just awkwardly stuck there...not moving....."can I help you?"
NOT a good sign.....millions of awkward comments LATER our mission decided to REALLY humble us and requires us to be rejected THREE times before we can leave????
"look, there no real easy way to say this........no."
"mhmm ok...bye."
#Humbling
Our investigator Dayton's little sister McKayla has down syndrome and is freaking ADORABLE. She always asks me to braid her hair....and in return braids mine...which is fine....until she just got back from playing in the MUD and has it all over her face and hands....and comes up and braids my hair....just washed it....it's fine.
They have this AWESOME little baseball league called "the Miracle League" for kids with specials needs to play on a team. Went to her last game, seriously best atmosphere, such a special spirit around these kids, LOVE THEM.
MIRACLE SABBATH:
Tammy and Teah didn't come to church which means they can't get baptized Saturday. :( We had this MISSION WIDE FAST for miracles in May and Saturday is the last day so we were SUPER bummed to end on such a sad note.
NOT that its for the numbers but we have this specific goal we have been trying to hit as a mission for MONTHS and we were DETERMINED May was going to be the month, and with our investigators on date we were going to hit it! But I prayed super hard the night before and felt like total peace about the whole situation.
After Church we were all worried Tammy and Teah had been anti'd because we had like 4 different appointments that week that she canclled on. Show up to her house that night, ready to just drop her basically, turns out she has been hard to get a hold of because she has been having massive head aches from trying to keep the Word of Wisdom!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?! like WHO ARE YOU WE ONLY MENTIONED THAT IN PASSING NOT THINKING YOU EVEN REMEMBERED YOU HAD TO QUIT ALL THESE THINGS!?!?!
Set for June 7th. HOLY PRAY FOR THEM.
NEXT Miracle,
Monica.
Was supposed to get baptized May 17th and a bunch of CRAZY weird things happened where she was coerced to postpone (lamest) so she prayed and felt like June 7th was better.
Goes to Missouri this weekend with the Singles Ward for a conference.
Calls us Sunday.
"Ok, this is the LAST time I'm changing it, but I need to be baptized May 31st"
Jaw. Dropped.
WHHHY.
"Went to the Temple and since I couldn't go in I decided to sit outside and PONDER the whole time and I asked God to show me a sign if I should switch it, few minutes later my boss called me and said they had to switch the schedule and that I couldn't have next Saturday off but I had the 31st off."
YEAH LORD ANSWERS PRAYERS because she was ready for either date and her salvation was the same but the Lord cares about a tiny mission in the middle of Kansas reaching their goal they set for People saved in the Heartland.
MURRCLES.
Classic quote of the week from Monica:
"So basically, now I want to become homeless and live by the sacred land, Adam-bi-Diana or get a box to live in outside of the Temple."
The New Jerusalem is hard to spell. I don't blame her.
Lastly, Ward Council. The Elders are teaching someone from Syria named Sylvia. #thatshard Ward Mission Leader loves to mention the fact that the only time he met her she was smoking a Hookah.
*Cue 5 min long conversation of the Bishop and Elders Quorum President explaining in detail to the Relief Society President what a Hookah was.*
"Ooooh, so it's like an e-cig?"
What.the.unexpected.
If I could relive any moment....THAT would probably be one of them....
I feel like I've SUPER slacked in detail lately so there is enough to basically fill you until I get home. Sorry about the novel! Expect an extremely crappy letter next week.... with my track record....its bound to happen. #sorrynotsorry
LOVE YOU ALL!!!
xoxoxox
Sister Murray
PICS!
1. First encounter. *realizing the monumental occasion
2. ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE
*Due to the sacredness of the occasion, no documentation could be recorded of the encounter*
3. Afterwards....I like this shot of Tyson the monkey pulling away because if you tilt your head and squint a little bit, it is as if our souls have been combined for a split second and my image is super imposed onto him; and it looks as if he has become a missionary.
THIS ONES FOR THE BOOKS PEOPLE. For.the.books.
AFTER the event with the monkey. I turn back around. And part of my soul had been left on this animal.
FIRST POSE HE DOES.
Holy of holies this ish is real.
stole.my.move.
Ok pics for real now.
1. Me and Sister Dean with McKayla at her baseball game! Obsessed with her.
2. America house. Seriously WHAT THE. I.love.America.
3. The gelatin concoction. Delicious
Brush up on your Bible, it prevents Truth decay (May 19, 2014)
Born again Christians. Gotta love 'em. ^^^
Only in Kansas/the Bible belt will someone accept to be BAPTIZED before they will commit to come to church.
WHY IS THAT HARD. they are willing to make ETERNAL COVENANTS WITH GOD? before they will walk in to a Mormon Church and test out Relief Society.
Yeah, milestone commitments are hard.
NOT.
It's because we don't sell Coffee and give out free doughnuts and have blue lights on our steeples and electric marquees outside our churches....but hey. We're fighting back the competition with hand made "church tours HERE" signs on the front lawn..............THAT and the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ which leads to your salvation....I mean..........."you still don't have free donuts..?.."
*sigh*
Monica.
Postponed baptism because the family that fellowships her hates America.
TERRORISTS of SALVATION.
ToS's.
THEY told her she wasn't ready yet.
Which whatever, I'm not reopening the wound....but she is back on date for June 7th.
So we are teaching her, reading the Book of Mormon yesterday.
1 Nephi 4 (HARD....Nephi kills a person....)
"So does that make sense Monica?"
"Yes, totally."
"What did you learn from Nephi's example?"
"Yes, like if there is a party pooper somewhere, you know that one person that just sucks out all the fun, just get rid of them! cut them out of your life, destroy them, like whatever it takes! Just keeps you happier....."
"..........................................................................yes. that is right....................................."
Tammy and Teah.
BOTH getting baptized May 31st (ULTIMATE PRAYERS NEEDED)
Tammy has to keep living the WofW as of.....2 days ago to make it on her date....but we have faith!
Took her on a Church Tour with a lady in the Ward, had to go on splits because too many appointments. (SHOCKING that even is a problem. always laughed at the white handbook when they give the requirements for that....#Hastenin'datWork) she served a mission back in like 1837 so was PUMPED to be my companion. Love her. <3 <3 <3
LOVE Church Tours cause i'm like FREAK OUR CHURCH ROCKS like we have EVERY.CONCERN.COVERED. always. auxiliaries out of our ears. Walking around, Spirit so strong, just hit the baptismal font, they both agree to be baptized....right on cue....Sister Bennett...."and HERE is the Mothers lounge.....my favorite room....where if you get kind of tired or like overwhelmed, just come in here, SUPER comfy chairs...take a nap...... "
...............yes and HERE is where the Spirit just left....
Haha so classic.
Go to the Chapel, SPIRIT LIKE ON A HIGH best ever, Joseph Smiths First vision, everyones emotional..........
Sister Bennett...."and if you would like to check out the bathrooms, they are also really well done.....I don't know, I always like to check out the bathrooms in a place... "
And as weird and random as I was.....SHE WAS PERFECT! Tammy and her like BESTIES of all time.
And you know what, she LOVED those bathrooms.
*EDITORS NOTE: as we were taking them through the Chapel, explaining the sacredness of the Sacrament and showing her the Sacrament table....crumbs...everywhere..from Sunday. Sp sloppy. It was Wednesday. SO disappointed, she was like "oh....hm...looks a little dirty..."
PREISTS: ALWAYS clean up. everytime. even if there is a Ward after you. maybe even go at the end of the day and make sure it looks nice. SERIOUS buzz kill but Spirit was still there, saved us.
DAYTON! like SUCH a champ. He is literally worlds-cutest-12-year old of all time. He is just like single handedly hossing his family around in the gospel. HE comes to church. every week. BY HIMSELF. because he loves it. AHHH I love him. Teaching him about Priesthood and his duties, Sunday just like BEAMING as he is watching the Deacons, leans over, "that will be ME!"
Heart.melting.
LORD is seriously Hastening HIS work. PRAY FOR THEM PLEASEEEEEEEE
love you,
love me.
PICS:
1. Lunch is hard. We tried to make a green smoothie....but we didn't have ice....so it was just luke-warm blended spinach and blueberries smoothie.......and burnt sandwich.
2. ...........So now we live on Cuties............. #literally
Only in Kansas/the Bible belt will someone accept to be BAPTIZED before they will commit to come to church.
WHY IS THAT HARD. they are willing to make ETERNAL COVENANTS WITH GOD? before they will walk in to a Mormon Church and test out Relief Society.
Yeah, milestone commitments are hard.
NOT.
It's because we don't sell Coffee and give out free doughnuts and have blue lights on our steeples and electric marquees outside our churches....but hey. We're fighting back the competition with hand made "church tours HERE" signs on the front lawn..............THAT and the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ which leads to your salvation....I mean..........."you still don't have free donuts..?.."
*sigh*
Monica.
Postponed baptism because the family that fellowships her hates America.
TERRORISTS of SALVATION.
ToS's.
THEY told her she wasn't ready yet.
Which whatever, I'm not reopening the wound....but she is back on date for June 7th.
So we are teaching her, reading the Book of Mormon yesterday.
1 Nephi 4 (HARD....Nephi kills a person....)
"So does that make sense Monica?"
"Yes, totally."
"What did you learn from Nephi's example?"
"Yes, like if there is a party pooper somewhere, you know that one person that just sucks out all the fun, just get rid of them! cut them out of your life, destroy them, like whatever it takes! Just keeps you happier....."
"..........................................................................yes. that is right....................................."
Tammy and Teah.
BOTH getting baptized May 31st (ULTIMATE PRAYERS NEEDED)
Tammy has to keep living the WofW as of.....2 days ago to make it on her date....but we have faith!
Took her on a Church Tour with a lady in the Ward, had to go on splits because too many appointments. (SHOCKING that even is a problem. always laughed at the white handbook when they give the requirements for that....#Hastenin'datWork) she served a mission back in like 1837 so was PUMPED to be my companion. Love her. <3 <3 <3
LOVE Church Tours cause i'm like FREAK OUR CHURCH ROCKS like we have EVERY.CONCERN.COVERED. always. auxiliaries out of our ears. Walking around, Spirit so strong, just hit the baptismal font, they both agree to be baptized....right on cue....Sister Bennett...."and HERE is the Mothers lounge.....my favorite room....where if you get kind of tired or like overwhelmed, just come in here, SUPER comfy chairs...take a nap...... "
...............yes and HERE is where the Spirit just left....
Haha so classic.
Go to the Chapel, SPIRIT LIKE ON A HIGH best ever, Joseph Smiths First vision, everyones emotional..........
Sister Bennett...."and if you would like to check out the bathrooms, they are also really well done.....I don't know, I always like to check out the bathrooms in a place... "
And as weird and random as I was.....SHE WAS PERFECT! Tammy and her like BESTIES of all time.
And you know what, she LOVED those bathrooms.
*EDITORS NOTE: as we were taking them through the Chapel, explaining the sacredness of the Sacrament and showing her the Sacrament table....crumbs...everywhere..from Sunday. Sp sloppy. It was Wednesday. SO disappointed, she was like "oh....hm...looks a little dirty..."
PREISTS: ALWAYS clean up. everytime. even if there is a Ward after you. maybe even go at the end of the day and make sure it looks nice. SERIOUS buzz kill but Spirit was still there, saved us.
DAYTON! like SUCH a champ. He is literally worlds-cutest-12-year old of all time. He is just like single handedly hossing his family around in the gospel. HE comes to church. every week. BY HIMSELF. because he loves it. AHHH I love him. Teaching him about Priesthood and his duties, Sunday just like BEAMING as he is watching the Deacons, leans over, "that will be ME!"
Heart.melting.
LORD is seriously Hastening HIS work. PRAY FOR THEM PLEASEEEEEEEE
love you,
love me.
PICS:
1. Lunch is hard. We tried to make a green smoothie....but we didn't have ice....so it was just luke-warm blended spinach and blueberries smoothie.......and burnt sandwich.
2. ...........So now we live on Cuties............. #literally
This one goes out to da Muders (May 12, 2014)
Ok I feel like I told you everything yesterday.....BEST EVER!!!!
HIGHLIGHTS:
-exchanges to Pratt. Middle of NOwhurr. Senior Couple driving us out "gotta run a few errhands..."
#HobbyLobby
We are in the Hutchinson "MALL" which includes Hobby Lobby...if that fills you in on the caliber....so somehow the rest of the mall which EVERY store is closing or shut down except for the token pretzel place--is connected to Hobby Lobby. so we get our stuff...she needs to run to "Penny's"...so we just walk through this glass tunnel...shopping cart in hand....into the mall?? Cruising the mall. With a stolen shopping cart from Hobby Lobby. All wearing missionary tags.
She has NO idea.
Leaving JC Penny's....."just leave the cart by the door. They can figure it out."
...........bolting to the car.
-Raining buckets. but we are also in a drought.....? #Kansas
-LOVIN da mish. West side is weird...but i'm learnin to love it. Miss my hoodrat friends but the West side is FULL of country bumpkins so LITERALLY can't complain about that trade-off.......so many mission teeth...so little time.
LOVE YOU!
xoxox
Sista Murr
HIGHLIGHTS:
-exchanges to Pratt. Middle of NOwhurr. Senior Couple driving us out "gotta run a few errhands..."
#HobbyLobby
We are in the Hutchinson "MALL" which includes Hobby Lobby...if that fills you in on the caliber....so somehow the rest of the mall which EVERY store is closing or shut down except for the token pretzel place--is connected to Hobby Lobby. so we get our stuff...she needs to run to "Penny's"...so we just walk through this glass tunnel...shopping cart in hand....into the mall?? Cruising the mall. With a stolen shopping cart from Hobby Lobby. All wearing missionary tags.
She has NO idea.
Leaving JC Penny's....."just leave the cart by the door. They can figure it out."
...........bolting to the car.
-Raining buckets. but we are also in a drought.....? #Kansas
-LOVIN da mish. West side is weird...but i'm learnin to love it. Miss my hoodrat friends but the West side is FULL of country bumpkins so LITERALLY can't complain about that trade-off.......so many mission teeth...so little time.
LOVE YOU!
xoxox
Sista Murr
Is that what you wanted? RIP Murrnia (May 5, 2014)
So.....................FALSE ALARM.
I'm actually nooot going to Salina.
HA.
AP's called lated Monday night and said JK you are actually going to Wichita. The Maize 1st Ward. which is right across the river.
Which is fine. Different stake, different zone, NOT that I am all in to this East v. West side thing......but the West side totally blows.
Jk. I've just been on the East side for so...long....it's hard to make the transition.
Sayin bye was hard.
No it wasn't i didn't even do it! I KNOWWWWWWWWWWWW im a terrible person but i got SO overwhelmed with all I had to do and i kept being like K gotta go say bye...k gotta go call people cause no enough time to say bye...ok gotta go text people cause not enough time to call...ok i'm driving away in a car and realizing i never said bye...ohhh................
But i went to the Geriatric Key 3.
Mama Harris.
Carol.
Judy.
All in tears.
Sis Harris was like WAILING at the doorstep when we pulled up because someone had leaked in advance I was leaving. She thought i was going to outer darkness aka Salina so when i told her i was just going to the west side she was instantly fine. #faketears I'm like oh..k...glad...you..are...sad?
RIP hardest to leave them, but Judy asked for my number to call me WEEKLY so i gave her yours....JOKES ON YOU! enjoy those weekly phone calls. "I have free long distance phone calls any where in the country so we can talk for hours".
But Maize really is da bomb. they are SOOO missionary minded. like They have Ward Council 3 times a week.....and the WHOLE meeting. I repeat. THE.WHOLE.MEETING. is about missionary work. They are like unreal so I know we'll have some miracles this transfer.
MONICA: she is getting baptized on May 17th. It's so weird cause this will be the first baptism that I am like coming in half way and I was super bummed about it cause i'm like I feel like i'll be disconnected from her....turns out we are re-teaching her all the lessons cause she hasn't even had the discussions yet! She just has a bomb member fellowship and reads a TON on her own so she has learned so much just from Mormon channel etc and the missionaries have only known her or like 2 weeks!!! She works at Starbucks and has to "taste test" the coffee..we were super nervous to talk to her about it on Sunday and she's like "oh yeah, I told me boss I can't do it anymore" was she ok with it? "well yeah, I told her she better be or she needs to find a new employee" ....
WHAT.
seriously unreal. LOVE HER. AND she bore her testimony yesterday?? haha like WHO IS SHE?? love her.
Also DAYTON little 12 year old boy who the Sisters were teaching his mom, he sat in on a few lessons, went and prayed and came back and told them God had give him the answer that he needed to be baptized and so set his own baptismal date! NEVER been taught the lessons. WHO IS HE!
Literal miracles here in Maize.
Miracle May in Maize.
Pray for it.
LOVE YOU ALL!
xoxox
me
Sista MURRRRRRRR
SHOUTOUTS:
HAY BAY BAY got yo letter OBSESSED WITH YOUR LIFE. writing back today!
Sis Reeves! Love your updates!!!
PICS:
1. My faves....also potential husbands for Joss......
2. Our last match. RIP.
I'm actually nooot going to Salina.
HA.
AP's called lated Monday night and said JK you are actually going to Wichita. The Maize 1st Ward. which is right across the river.
Which is fine. Different stake, different zone, NOT that I am all in to this East v. West side thing......but the West side totally blows.
Jk. I've just been on the East side for so...long....it's hard to make the transition.
Sayin bye was hard.
No it wasn't i didn't even do it! I KNOWWWWWWWWWWWW im a terrible person but i got SO overwhelmed with all I had to do and i kept being like K gotta go say bye...k gotta go call people cause no enough time to say bye...ok gotta go text people cause not enough time to call...ok i'm driving away in a car and realizing i never said bye...ohhh................
But i went to the Geriatric Key 3.
Mama Harris.
Carol.
Judy.
All in tears.
Sis Harris was like WAILING at the doorstep when we pulled up because someone had leaked in advance I was leaving. She thought i was going to outer darkness aka Salina so when i told her i was just going to the west side she was instantly fine. #faketears I'm like oh..k...glad...you..are...sad?
RIP hardest to leave them, but Judy asked for my number to call me WEEKLY so i gave her yours....JOKES ON YOU! enjoy those weekly phone calls. "I have free long distance phone calls any where in the country so we can talk for hours".
But Maize really is da bomb. they are SOOO missionary minded. like They have Ward Council 3 times a week.....and the WHOLE meeting. I repeat. THE.WHOLE.MEETING. is about missionary work. They are like unreal so I know we'll have some miracles this transfer.
MONICA: she is getting baptized on May 17th. It's so weird cause this will be the first baptism that I am like coming in half way and I was super bummed about it cause i'm like I feel like i'll be disconnected from her....turns out we are re-teaching her all the lessons cause she hasn't even had the discussions yet! She just has a bomb member fellowship and reads a TON on her own so she has learned so much just from Mormon channel etc and the missionaries have only known her or like 2 weeks!!! She works at Starbucks and has to "taste test" the coffee..we were super nervous to talk to her about it on Sunday and she's like "oh yeah, I told me boss I can't do it anymore" was she ok with it? "well yeah, I told her she better be or she needs to find a new employee" ....
WHAT.
seriously unreal. LOVE HER. AND she bore her testimony yesterday?? haha like WHO IS SHE?? love her.
Also DAYTON little 12 year old boy who the Sisters were teaching his mom, he sat in on a few lessons, went and prayed and came back and told them God had give him the answer that he needed to be baptized and so set his own baptismal date! NEVER been taught the lessons. WHO IS HE!
Literal miracles here in Maize.
Miracle May in Maize.
Pray for it.
LOVE YOU ALL!
xoxox
me
Sista MURRRRRRRR
SHOUTOUTS:
HAY BAY BAY got yo letter OBSESSED WITH YOUR LIFE. writing back today!
Sis Reeves! Love your updates!!!
PICS:
1. My faves....also potential husbands for Joss......
2. Our last match. RIP.
SALINA (April 22, 2014)
hahahah seriously I don't really know even what to SAY right now. Being transferred. Murrnia is being broken up (R.I.P.)
and I'm going to .................. Sis Runia's old area!!!! haha literally when we come back to visit....we can just go to all the same places. #besties
But f'real.
Pray.for.me.
All I know about Salina is that they are literally in their own WORLD. They eat weird kind of meats and there is nu.thing.there. NOTHING. I mean Kansas has nothing, but Salina...is like nothingx10.
WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I have been in Bel Aire for 5 transfers....same time as Lawrence...yet I feel like I just barely got here! like SOOOO not ready to leave. SOOO much work here I feel like I still need to do, and just yeah. Saddest.day.ever.
But I'm excited....??? I have been like WEIRDLY calm this transfer (mainly because we had this UNREALISTIC expectation that we would be staying together....)
Anyway, Come What May and Love it.
My mantra.
As of 3 seconds ago.
Mainly I have nothing to say other than I have like SO much to do...like SOOO much.to.do.
So more later......?
Considering in Salina there is NOTHING....i'll have lots more time to write.....
BYE.
Love,
Sister So-Depressed-Leavin-Mah-Peeps
PICS:
1. Murray Street. Runnin dis place.
2. Ashamed.....just a taste of what I need to go do.............................................#beentransferredONCE....obviously....
and I'm going to .................. Sis Runia's old area!!!! haha literally when we come back to visit....we can just go to all the same places. #besties
But f'real.
Pray.for.me.
All I know about Salina is that they are literally in their own WORLD. They eat weird kind of meats and there is nu.thing.there. NOTHING. I mean Kansas has nothing, but Salina...is like nothingx10.
WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I have been in Bel Aire for 5 transfers....same time as Lawrence...yet I feel like I just barely got here! like SOOOO not ready to leave. SOOO much work here I feel like I still need to do, and just yeah. Saddest.day.ever.
But I'm excited....??? I have been like WEIRDLY calm this transfer (mainly because we had this UNREALISTIC expectation that we would be staying together....)
Anyway, Come What May and Love it.
My mantra.
As of 3 seconds ago.
Mainly I have nothing to say other than I have like SO much to do...like SOOO much.to.do.
So more later......?
Considering in Salina there is NOTHING....i'll have lots more time to write.....
BYE.
Love,
Sister So-Depressed-Leavin-Mah-Peeps
PICS:
1. Murray Street. Runnin dis place.
2. Ashamed.....just a taste of what I need to go do.............................................#beentransferredONCE....obviously....
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