29 June 2015 -- Garden City -- Spanish

Buenas everyone!! Como estan?
Una obra maravillosa esta a punto de aparecer entre los hijos de los hombres.

A great start to another great transfer! It has definitely been a different experience this transfer, since I've stayed in the area, rather than being transferred. It was a little more responsibility to carry over what I learned about Garden City from Elder Packard, but it was and is only possible in the strength of the Lord.

We were able to get in contact with Ivon for the first time since we met her and gave her a Book of Mormon, and she told us that she's read it almost everyday since! She says she's posting her favorite scriptures on Facebook and talking to her friends about it. She loves the Gospel and all she wants to do is come closer to Jesus Christ. I
know as we have a sincere righteous desire and work toward it, the Lord will provide us with milagros.

On Wednesday night, we had a Zone Pow Wow and afterwards went on splits throughout Garden, since the District Leaders had a meeting. I went with Elder Lemon who'd gotten here from the Provo MTC less than
27 hours before. I felt a renewed "greenie Fire" in my heart and we did all we could to find someone who was willing to listen to our message. As we went out, we both had a feeling to talk to a family and this park we walked by. We met Allen, who'd met with the missionaries (another Elder Murphy and his companion) a few years ago. He's been thinking of coming back to church, but just didn't know where to begin. The Lord is in every single detail of His work.

That's about all the time I have for this week, but I love you all and I'm so grateful for all you do! Les testifico que el Evangelio de Jesucristo nos Bendicira y nos dara esperanza en nuestras visas. Have an amazing week!

Love,
Elder Murphy

22 June 2015 -- Garden City -- Spanish

Hey everyone! Buenos dias! Espero que tuvieron una semana fantastica!

Transfers are this week, and since Elder Packard has finished his mission and is headed back to Arizona, I knew I'd most likely be staying in Garden City. And Elder Downs will be my companion! I'm so excited to spend another transfer with that guy! It will definitely be the best transfer yet!

About a week ago, we were looking for a street and decided to ask someone for directions. I saw this guy, Tim, sitting on his porch out of the corner of my eye and we decided to ask him. He was kind of "not in the mood to talk" at first (we found out it was because he thought we were the bike police), but soon opened up after he told us where the street was. He's been through a lot, but his only desire is to change. He wants to change completely and not go back to his old life; no fence sitting! I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that is possible! We can completely leave behind the past and become a new person because of Him.

At Zone Conference last week, they expounded on what Elder Holland taught us about having a sense of urgency. I feel like they helped show us the meaning of haste, especially as we went out and applied it. I feel like sometimes, we don't realize how short time is and how fast it really flies by. When Elder Bednar came to the mission last year, he said, "When you are feeling the Spirit, time no longer exists." I know as we seek to reach our potential, our Heavenly Father will guide us through the Spirit and it will seem as if time just slips through our fingers. I know that as we act, Heavenly Father acts immediately. 

Se que por medio de la Expiacion de Jesucristo, cambiaremos y tendremos la capacidad a ser nuevas personas. El nos quiere y quiere que regresamos a Su presencia.

I love you all so much! Thank you for all of your examples! Have an hermosa week!

Love,

Elder Murphy

15 June 2015 -- Garden City -- Spanish

Buenas tardes!! A utz a wach?

Mirad que le sirvais con todo vuestro corazon, alma, mente, y fuerza.

So, we've been working a lot with Daniel the past few weeks and he has expressed to us that he wants to change. All he wants is God in his life, but he doesn't know if he'll be able to. For a while, he wasn't able to walk and after the missionaries started visiting him and he started coming to church, he was able to walk again. A true miracle! But last week, his ability to walk went away again. He didn't know why, but we testified to him of the Atonement and that if he had the faith in Christ and His Atonement, only striving to be a disciple of Jesus Christ the rest of his life, he'd be able to walk again. On Saturday, we stopped by his house and he was out sitting on his porch as usual. As he saw us, he stood up and walked up to us. It didn't even register to me that he was actually walking until he got up to us. Such a huge miracle! He told us, "Words can't even express how much I want God in my life right now." I know the Atonement can enable us with the strength beyond that which we even know, and it comes from a pure love from our Savior Jesus Christ.

Friday was Zone Conference and the training was really focused on Elder Holland's visit from the beginning of May. Nothing has meaning except for the meaning you give it. As we find our purpose in doing or seeking to accomplish something (the why) we will love it more than anything else. In Mosiah 5:7, it talks about how out hearts are changed through faith. If we were to serve Christ with our heart before our mind and our strength, we would never be tired. Start fast, run hard, and to the tape. You can rest later. I know that as we exercise faith in Christ, we will be enabled to accomplish what needs to be done.

I found this poem by President Henry B. Eyring the other day and absolutely loved it! It was definitely motivating for me to do more and give more each day. "I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tainted visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on his presence, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast and my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough. My companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the fare of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear."

Se que Jesucristo nos quiere perfectamente y gracias a que El nos quiere, tendremos la fuerza a vencer los desafios y las problemas personales que todos tenemos en la vida. El vive!

I love you all! Thank you so much for each of your individual example to me! Have an amazing week of miracles!

Love,

Elder Murphy

Trip to Oklahoma City Temple on June 2nd.

8 June 2015 - Garden City - Spanish

Buenos dias everyone!! I hope you all had an amazing week!

El campo blanco esta ya para la siega.

On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to go to the Oklahoma City Temple! It was such an amazing experience and the Spirit that is in the house of the Lord is so powerful and real, even outside on the grounds.

On Saturday, we went to try Jaime, who we've been trying to contact for a couple of weeks. He was there and was fully on board to learn more and come closer to Christ. About halfway through the conversation, Carmen pulled into his driveway, came up to us, and the first thing she told us was that she's been looking for a church. She told us that she had gone home for the night, but for some reason, Jaime had texted her and told her to come back. She didn't know why, but she acted. I know that as we act in faith, blessings will come into our lives and we will be changed and blessed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

As a mission, we've really been focusing on what we learned from Elder Holland's visit: How we can have progression through spiritual power, loving our mission, and having a true sense of urgency about the work. As I think about it, these all fall under serving with all of your heart, might, mind, and strength. I know as we strive and do all we can to become true disciples of Jesus Christ, we will be enabled to reach our potential.

I know that it's almost natural for us in life to feel as is we are surrounded by a mist of darkness. But what I've seen and learned in my short time is that God's light is literal and full of hope. As we seek to grow it and integrate it into out lives, we will feel the peace and true happiness that comes from out Heavenly Father, who loves us more than we can ever begin to understand. And that love enables us to push through trials in life.

I hope you all have an amazing week! Thank you for everything! Love you!!

Love,

Elder Murphy

3 June 2015 -- Garden City -- Spanish

What a week!! And a great way to start off the summer and transfer!

Elder Packard and I definitely hit the ground running this week and were able to see so many miracles each day! 

On Wednesday, we were riding to an appointment and this guy, Daniel, stopped me on my bike in the middle of the road (and Elder Packard didn't notice so he kept on riding). He told me that he had been meeting with the missionaries a few months ago, but they'd never come back and he wanted us to come back and teach him! When we went back, he told us over and over again that he wants to change his life, start over and just do what God wants. He said he was actually supposed to get baptized awhile ago, but ended up being on a plane to Arkansas that day, and wasn't. But he's ready now! The Lord definitely prepares people for specific times. And when we are all ready, He places us in each others' paths at such a specific time.

While we were weekly planning, we were pondering about if we should stop seeing someone who we hadn't been able to contact in a few weeks. When they first met her, she accepted a baptismal date for May 30th. About 10 minutes after we had decided to not try and see them for a while, she texted us and asked us if she was still good to be baptized on Saturday. We definitely didn't expect it, but made contact with her and she is so ready to follow Christ's example and be baptized. The Lord is always preparing us.

Our work and burdens will be light and easy to bear if we will depend on the Lord. We are going to be successful, there is no doubt about it. The Lord does not expect us to fail. He doesn't call anyone to fail. He expects us and will provide a way for us to succeed. When Elder Bednar came to the mission last year, he said, "when you feel the Spirit, time no longer exists." That's a lot to think about. But when we are constantly relying on the Lord through our trials and challenges, we'll see the eternal perspective and realize that they are only a moment in the grand scheme of things and will only help us grow and progress. 

Have an amazing week and remember that the Lord is always by your side! Thank you for everything! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Murphy

Bump Day Ritual -- 6 months

25 May 2015 -- Garden City -- Spanish

Buenos dias everyone!! Greetings from the Land of Milk and Honey! How was your week??

I am absolutely loving Garden City! We see so many miracles each day and I know the Lord has big plans in store for the next month.

Elder Packard and I started out this transfer in a trio with Elder Leishman from Ulysses, since his companion didn't get here until Sunday. It was definitely different being in a trio and driving back and forth an hour each way from Ulysses to Garden, but we saw muchos milagros!! It was pretty crazy the first couple of days, especially since Great Bend was a mostly English area and Garden City is all Spanish all the time. I love it!! And Elder Packard is practically fluent! It's awesome!

Elder Packard served here 23 months ago when he first came out, so we've been contacting a few people he'd talked to who'd fallen through the cracks and miraculously found Carlos. He's from El Salvador! Elder Packard said that he had so many sincere questions the first time they met him that they taught him all of the lessons in the first contact! He is so excited to learn more and grow closer to Jesus Christ. He has a lot of faith and has a true desire. Miracle.

I don't have a ton of time today, but that's just a quick update for the week. I hope you all have an amazing week!! I love you all and thank you so much for all that you do and the examples you are to me!

Love,

Elder Murphy

Kia Kaha