Week Thirty Six - Zone Conference and Being Sick 5/18

Dear Friends and Family,

This week…

   

So we had a Zone Conference where we got to learn from President Heap and Elder Backus/Elder Spencer (his assistants) a little bit about Accountability, Goal Setting, and Planning. It was very inspired. I loved what they had said. They are such great, inspired guys.

  

Then the next day was rough. Elder Newberry and I both got sick, and had to stay in and rest all day. We also found out that the other two Elders in our district were also sick. Wow!  It was rough. I was out.

  

Thursday we stayed out in one of the outlying towns and knocked and knocked.  The houses are like a good 100-200 yards apart, and there was like 50-60 mile an hour winds the whole day. 

  

All in all it was a super great week! It was Thunderstorms the WHOLE WEEK. I am pretty sure lightning hit our apartment complex.

I love you all and hope its a good week!

Elder Shawn Murray!

p.s. When you are doing an object lesson with 1 Nephi 3:7, Make sure

you don't say 3 nephi 3:7 It brings a whole different impression…

Here is a picture with me in a real gas mask with my favorite member Brother Kenny.  He is awesome!  I love him. He's an old War Vet that just builds things cause he's retired. 

Week Thirty Five - I am a Sith Lord from Star Wars 5/11

Some explanations to the pictures:

First off. I HAVE OCD.

Next Elder Newberry's parents were on a trip to Europe, and heard it was my birthday, so we got some birthday presents. Sweet slippers.

Lastly. I am a Sith Lord. Elder Newberry is a Jedi. You can do this by using the crayola twistable crayons, a little flash photography and a flashlight (for the Handle). It's Hilarious.

Anyways! Well this week was AWESOME.

First off, we got to teach three Restoration lessons! and All three became New Investigators! They're awesome! Ones a mom, who is looking for a church for her family, one is an ex-military man that lives in our apartments, and one is a super cool guy who wants to know

EVERYTHING.

I taught a district meeting this week on being leaders and the role of a good leader. We spoke alot on Christlike Leadership. It was fantastic! We also did an exchange with the Zone leaders who are spanish Elders, so that was interesting to try to teach with a translator!

Lastly, I got to call home!! It was grand!

I wish I had more time to write, but we have an Appointment! Gotta go!

Elder Murray's half of the room.  

Love y'all!

Elder Murray!

More Random Pictures:

Week Thirty Four - Moms are the Best 5/4

Dear Friends and Family,

So this week was fun.

First off. We had a lesson with this guy who said he'd only listen to our message if I won at chess. I didn't know how to play. But apparently the spirit plays a mean game of chess, because we ended in a stalemate. (It probably helped my side that the guy was plastered, But lets just say it's the spirit...) The Restoration went really well with him!

  

Then I taught my first district meeting and it was titled "...Men are, that they might have Joy." (2 Nephi 2:25.) It was all about dealing with stress as a missionary, and choosing to be happy, no matter the circumstances. I had some pretty appreciative feedback. It was super cool! The spirit was so strong!

  

We played speedball this week with a few of the guys in our ward, which is a game just like Frisbee-football but with a Dodge-ball. It was a lot of fun. Then they invited us to the Pacquiao/Mayweather fight at Buffalo Wild Wings... Those turds. But now I also have been told of every movie that's coming out in the next century.

  

I also went down to Lubbock this week for a special leadership meeting which was super cool! We learned all about becoming better leaders and it was all about being a shepherd, not a sheep herder. (Ezekiel 33-34) I got to see Elder Backus (who is seriously just a phenomenal teacher, leader, missionary, and man), my two companions Elder Darby and Mangum (who are now companions), President and Sister Heap, and many other friends.

  

I love this gospel and the joy it brings to my life. I am so thankful for my family, and this week the women in my family are on my mind. Grandma's, Sisters, especially my Mother. I love her with all my heart. She is my most devout, trusted person, who has loved me from the beginning, through thick and thin.

  

I hope y'all are as appreciative as you should be for this wonderful blessing of a Mother in your lives. Please do something nice for her this week. Go out of your way. Take Time.

Sincerely,  

Elder Shawn Michael Murray (the best oldest son ever)

I think we literally chased these guys down for 20 minutes to get pictures!!!

Dad - I thought you'd like this!! It's not me by the way!

 Look Cameron,  Murray Bros Landscaping has gone National!!

Week Thirty Three - Huge Pizza and a Birthday 4/27

Well, This week went by so fast! WE received a HUGE PIZZA Monday from my Mommy!  It was Elder Bladen’s last night before heading home, so we had a little party at 9:45pm and ate and prepared for the next day.  

Then we did service for an older sister named Sister Butler with like 30 little 12-14 year old scouts, which was hilarious teaching them how to Mow, Edge, Rake, Trim, and all the other stuff. We also helped at a women’s center and the Cancer Society.

Then other than that we knock for 6-8 hours a day. My knuckles are getting huge.

Oh, and as most of you know I had a birthday!   We ate dinner at a members home named the Higbies.  Sister Higbie made a cake for me with candles and everything. 

Thank y'all for all the birthday wishes! I ended up getting 56 birthday emails, It made it so much better! I love that the age for this glorious work changed to 18, because It helped me to have the opportunities I've had thus far in this great journey.

I love you all and am so grateful for your support and service!

I love y'all! Elder Shawn Murray!

Week Thirty Two - Those Poor Soles on my Shoes 4/20

Dear Friends and Family,

So this week we knocked so many doors. We just knocked all day. I

have calloused knuckles and blisters on my feet. And there were a few days where we

were literally drenched head to toe from the 45 mile per hour winds

and the rainstorms that never seemed to end. But they ended... So we're all good

now. Haha. We just happened to be on our bikes that day.  We were so soaked and so dirty.  

We were all having trouble with our bikes after that and Brother Turpin helped us tune them up. 

They all worked fine after that.  It was weird that all three of us had the same problem, the same day.  

Then we got our Transfer Calls! Elder Newberry and I are both

staying, and we're going to ROCK Amarillo.  I am so excited!  I love

this place!  Now, Utah is still better, but my heart is being taken

over by these darn Texans and New Mexicans... It's like the Alamo War

all over again.   

Also, this week I was made a district leader.  I really wish that I knew all my responsibilities... 

But I train, teach, and help other missionaries live the rules, and help them

receive more blessings because of their diligence. I get to teach five

other missionaries once a week!

I love Y'all so much!  Keep up the good work, Read your scriptures,

stay in school, don't do drugs...

Love, Elder Shawn Michael Murray!

Week Thirty One - A Week Full of Service 4/13

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was Awesome!! It was a week full of service. We helped

move three Families; One into a house, One out of a house, and One

into a Storage unit. Then also, every week we work with the Salvation

army, so this week we got to go be a part of their Annual Banquet and

we were in second place of being the honorary guests. (Those are the

one's who gave the most service!) Our trio received t-shirts as a reward.  

I love being able to serve others! I love that as you serve them,

you can be God's hands for them!

Love - Elder Shawn Murray

PS - A few days ago, Elder Newberry and I had some fun. We decided to barricade our district leader, Elder Bladen in the bed room because he wouldn't let us listen to his super secret District leader conference call he was making on our phone. (the bedroom door is on the left of the hall way.)

We used all of the furniture in the apartment. We locked all the chairs together in a way that made them very hard to move.

PS - these pictures are from a Presbyterian Church.  Some of the other missionaries don’t have a church house right now because theirs is under construction.  This is where they meet. 

Week Thirty - The Restored Gospel 4/6

Hey!

Did y'all Realize that One-Hundred and Eighty Five years ago today,

The Lords Church was restored to the Earth? Did you realized that

because of His holy Prophets in whom he has called, we can all

eternally live with our families? Do you realize how much your Father

in Heaven loves you!?

I bear testimony that He has given us the means to find true

happiness. He has given us a modern day prophet, and modern day

scripture to help us become happier and closer to our Savior. I know

Our Savior lives. I know Father wants you and me back safely. I know

the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, And each person in Jesus Christ's

church, has been called by His holy name. I love the Book of Mormon

and Bible with all of my heart. I say these things, I the name of our

Risen Savior, Jesus the Christ, Amen.

Love Elder Shawn Michael Murray