December 2, 2013 9:55 AM
Saturday: I had my first
experience teaching a Less Active member. It's a little tricky figuring
out where to start! But it was really good practice, especially now that
I realize, sadly, that's what a lot of our missionary work is.
Sunday: I just love Sundays at
the MTC! We had another enjoyable walk around the temple with our
district. It was also great to have sacrament meeting again! Each
of the districts leaving get to choose a farewell hymn to sing for a musical
number. Our district did the Missionary Medley. It is basically
like the EFY medley, but the sisters sing a version of Sisters in Zion that has
new words just for sister missionaries! It talks about going forth with
Helaman’s Army to share the gospel! I love it! I would definitely
suggest looking it up. The movie we chose that night was the Joseph Smith
movie which is always so touching. I'm amazed by the sacrifices he and so
many others gave for the gospel. It really puts things into perspective
for me. I am so grateful for all of those people, and their strong
testimonies! Through their sacrifices I can live with the gospel in my
life today. That night we said goodbye to "our Elders."
They had become like brothers to us, and to think that the first few days
they wouldn't even talk to us. We said a final prayer together and shook
hands goodbye. Almost all of us (including Elders) were crying. The
best was when we looked over after the prayer and one of the Elders was facing
the window, "just fixing his tie." Well he "fixed his
tie" for a few minutes, then dug around in his bag for another few before
he could face us. When they walked down the hall all of the sisters sat
in the room crying and laughing about how silly it was we were going to miss
them so much when we hadn't even known them that long! The spirit really
strengthens relationships. I know that's true! I've seen it in my
own family as well.
Monday: It was super weird only having
four sisters in class, but it was great to get more of a one-on-one with our
teachers, Brother Windmer and Brother Nottingham. Sister Yeakley and I
were able to talk to the Elders teaching our investigator, Jose and had about
20 minutes to leave him with a few final words of advice and some of our
favorite scriptures. What a sweet spirit he has!
Tuesday: We had to report to
the travel office at 2:30 am! I'll just say we made it! I hadn't
been on a plane since the last time we went to Hawaii (so I was about 8).
I thought I would be fine, but it was a bumpy ride and I felt like I was
back on a crazy roller coaster at Lagoon that was going to drop or spin any
minute. It was pretty rocky, and I didn't get much sleep. We'll
just say it wasn't a fun ride, but I am so grateful we were kept safe. We
just barely caught the second flight in Minneapolis! This flight was
significantly better, and I got a seat next to the window which was so fun!
I was sitting by a sister who had been home for medical reasons and was
returning for the second time! What a dedicated missionary!!!
My first view of Florida, once we
broke through the clouds, was like something out of a movie! I seriously
think the movie Gone Fishing fits pretty well! There are so many trees!
What surprised me the most is the variety in trees. There's palm
trees, deciduous trees (which I hear will stay green until January), and even
coniferous! I didn't even think about seeing pine trees here!
Supposedly a lot of the pines were planted as tree farms so that makes
sense.
President and Sister Craig were
there with the President Assistants to pick us up. We were tired and
hungry (I basically lived on fish crackers, pretzels, and peanuts that day!)
and it was wonderful to finally see our Mom and Dad away from home! :) As
I came out one of the Assistants came to take my bag for me. I realized
it was my FHE brother from BYUI! I was so excited but I asked if he went
to BYUI and he said, "no." Oh, that makes me feel smart.
Then he says, "but my little brother was there and he looks just
like me! Yep! Elder Tuft's little brother, Jake was my FHE
brother!!! It's good to have a familiar face around!
A sweet lady came up to Sister Craig
to ask who we were. An Elder handed her a pass-along card and I realized
I could give her the copy of the Book of Mormon I had from Marisa and her kids
with their testimonies in it! I offered it to her, and she said she
already had one. We talked a bit and then Sister Craig and I caught up
with the rest of the group. We had some time in the airport waiting for
another plane of missionaries so we were told to go to work. Sister
Yeakley and I weren't having a lot of luck finding people who wanted to talk so
Elder Tuft decided to show us the ropes. In the South we use something
called a Harvest Blessing. We simply ask if people would like to have a blessing
upon their home. One woman agreed and we got our first referral!
The other President Assistant, Elder Clark, came over and asked if anyone
had a Book of Mormon! I gave him mine and he gave it to a woman who is
about in her twenties. She said she would read it! So Carters, your
copy of the Book of Mormon is being put to great use!
On the way to the mission home the
gps led us astray. So we got to see all over Jacksonville! The
Elder driving the van said we were seeing more in the first hour than most
missionaries see their whole mission! (The Craigs are wonderful!
The seem a little intimidating at first, but they are so loving and so
much fun! We were fed a delicious Southern style dinner: grits, biscuits,
shredded pork, salad, and fruit. YUM!
Wednesday: Sister Yeakley and
I spent the night at the sweetest members house. She and her husband are
recent converts and are just the cutest grandparent couple! They were so
welcoming! And it was wonderful to have a good bed to sleep in! In
the morning we went to the Mandarin church building for some training, and to
receive our assignments! My companion is Sister Hale. She is from
Pinetop, Arizona! She is AMAZING! I had been praying for the
trainer I needed and boy did I get her! She is so happy, fun, sweet,
caring, and she is a wonderful missionary. She has been out for 6 months,
but actually went home in the middle for medical reasons. She's been back
one transfer and this is her first time training. We're basically best
friends already! We find we have so much in common! We love Disney,
organizing, mint life savors :), we both have three sisters and one brother. It's
also really fun that we both have a special someone at home writing us! :D
This is the kind of companion she is: the first night I get in bed
and she says, "Sister Murray? I have to tell you why I love you
today." Every night we tell each other three reasons why we love
each other that day. It was exactly what I needed that first night to not
feel overwhelmed!
Sister Hale and I are opening the
Arlington/YSA area.
Thursday: We got invited to
FIVE Thanksgiving dinners! (you totally called it Alex!) We only
made it to four. They were delicious! The strangest thing was saurkraut,
and apparently everyone here puts pecans in their sweet potatoes.
Friday: We helped a family
move, but we're still trying to get all organized and everything. That
night we went to track down some potential investigators. At the first
one we said a prayer and it felt really weird. Sister Hale seriously felt
someone standing staring at her outside the car. The notes said this
woman might have gone to jail so we decided to try again in the day. We
did find two people who said we could come back. One of them was a sweet
sister named Sequioa. She ran onto the porch and gave us hugs and kisses.
We said a prayer with her, and said we'd come back Monday. (unfortunately
she wasn't there Monday)
On Sunday we were talking to the
Elders and realized we had gone out of our area and were in the place called
Sin City. The one place we're not supposed to go! I am so grateful
for direction that night. I know Heavenly Father kept us safe!
Saturday: We helped a family move
which was really exciting! There was really heavy furniture but the
Elders did it!
Sunday: We went to the
Arlington Ward first. I've got this lovely cold and woke up without a
voice, but I still managed to introduce myself and bear my testimony! The
ward is so great! One man gave us all a huge box of oranges and
chocolates!
In the YSA ward the other Sisters
were teaching a Relief Society lesson on Charity. As an object lesson I
took off my name tag and sat by myself to see if anyone talked to me. Two
sisters in the ward did. One actually took me to my Sunday School class
(before my companion got there! We were both a little worried when we
couldn't see each other!) and picked me up after for Relief Society. The
lesson was wonderful! When I stood up and put my name on in front of
everyone there was an audible gasp. I.t was a beautiful lesson! I'm
not even sure what I said, but I felt the spirit speaking through me as I
testified of Charity. It was beautiful!
Florida is wonderful! I'm
learning lots, like don't drink the water, the roads are super crazy. . . and
it's NOT warm! I've been so glad I have tights and a coat!!! But it
is wonderful! I'm loving the work and the people! I love you all and
you're in my prayers! Thank you for your prayers in my behalf!
Love, Sister Murray
Read Alma 34:38 and live in
Thanksgiving each day!
