Week Forty - We didn't get a letter 6/15

Week Thirty Nine - Not a lot going on 6/8

This week has been pretty great!

Elder Brown is so funny. He just does Puns all day. And we are working hard!

Everyday this week was 95+. It was hot and the Mosquitoes are out everywhere!!

We have this new Investigator named Johnna! She is a single mom, who

is giving her life to God! She is committing to Baptism, and I am so

excited!!

Not much else this week! As a lot of you probably know, Riley Rugg,

one of my brothers, has gone into the Marines. Please keep him in your

prayers.

I know that our Savior loves us, and will help us, if we only ask. I

testify that we are truly of the most worth of any of God's creations.

We must act like it.

I love you all, and you are in my prayers.

Elder Shawn Murray.

Week Thirty Eight - Waffle Love and Transfers 6/1

This week was crazy!  So we got our transfer calls, and I am staying in Amarillo 3rd ward. I have a new companion named Elder Brown. Elder Lund is our new District Leader this transfer.

So I am pretty sore. We moved two people out of their houses on Friday, and one into their new house on Saturday! It was a lot of Stairs, Boxes, and furniture. A lot.

I also got to do my first Baptismal Interview, which went super well.  It is always so cool to see someone about to Covenant with the Lord testify of Him and His power!

We also got to have some Waffle Love! It is so good. Who new that my first waffle love would be in Texas? Haha. The best was seeing those guys in their shorts and T-shirts walk into Sacrement the next day. It was awesome, when we got our waffles the guy (in front of the food network camera) yelled "Woooo! Go serve the Lord! Best work you could be doing!" (I also heard the guy in the back say 'Hurray for Israel')

This week we had two lessons.  One with the Bishop and Stake President and his Family, to a guy named Todd. It was pretty nerve racking. But the lesson went SUPER well. He even committed to be baptized. We are so excited!  The other lesson was during church. The Vivint guys... are awesome.  The last 3 weeks, they've brought 6 non-members to church! This week we taught them the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was sweet. There were 7 Returned Missionaries and their 2  friends. Phenomenal Lesson.

I know that this is the greatest work that mankind has embarked on. We will not stop until it is finished, or we die trying. The Lord is our leader and we will follow His every command. I testify that He lives.  He will guide us through all things, If we will only let Him.

Love Elder Murray

Week Thirty Seven - Goals and Rowboats 5/25

Dear Family & Friends

So this week was pretty great!

  

I taught a district meeting about Goals. It was about how they

should give us the maximum tension we need to propel ourselves forward

(like the oars of a rowboat), they should have also been easy enough

for us to push through, not making our journey too hard, as if to stop

our progress (like the wedged front of the boat.) We then raced boats

we made. My in the only one that actually floated with an egg. (the

unforeseen obstacles we sometimes face:))

  

We also had Baptist Preacher give us a Pair of Pears, then "Pray

over us" for "our Success and our Safety."

  

This week it rained harder than I have ever seen it rain. Oh my

goodness. The Streets are all flooding. It's AWESOME. LIGHTNING STORMS

ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT.

  

Last 'exciting' thing of the week was Sunday. We got a call at

10:15 Saturday asking if I could give a talk in Sacrament. It was on

Daily Scripture study. It was super good. The ward has pretty much

recommitted themselves to the Standard works, and Four non members

asked us for copies of the Book of Mormon.

  

Then we had to teach the 13 and 14 year olds and It was the most

spiritual lesson ever. It was about the great apostasy and how that

make the Restoration more Glorious.

I love y'all.

Elder Shawn Murray.

"Come Unto Christ, and be perfected in Him."

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!!