The Final Week Begins

This will be my last email of my mission. 

I don't think I will be sending a letter home next week. It will be a little bit of a difficult day getting all my bags ready and everything. I am writing a little bit earlier because today as a district we went to Lima Central. The last change, our mission president gave us permission to go to Lima Central, which is where all musuems and other cool sites are located. It is the first time in all of my mission that I have had the chance to go there and see how it is. 

I'm writing from an internet cafe in Lima Central and don't have much time left. 

I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to be a missionary. It has been very difificult at times, but I'm very grateful for the people I have come to know and the things I have learned. 

I just want to share something that came to me this week as I was studying. When Alma the Younger is talking to his children, to Helaman specifically, he mentions that he always had in his mind the mercy the Lord showed to his ancestors. He mentions how the Lord saved them from the Egyptians. I'm sure he also had present in his mind the stories of Nephi and his own father, who was saved by a miracle of the Lord. [see Alma 36:2, 26 - 30.]

As I thought about these things I thought about the stories that you all have shared with me about the blessings you've received from the Lord. He has been so merciful with our family. If we have those stories in our mind, if we remember the Lord's mercies in our lives, I think we will be able to overcome more easily the obstacles we face. This is not a new idea, but it is something I wanted to share with you all. 

I'm so grateful to have you has my family. I'm so grateful that Im going to see you in a week. I love you all so much. 

Love, 

Elder McMurray

Two Weeks Left

Just first off, I don't want to make Mom sad by saying this, but my love of soccer has not died. It is very strong. I love the sport and doubt that I will ever stop loving it and loving Manchester City. I'll show you just how much I love them when you come and get me. 

The bishop already talked to me about the talk that I will be giving the 21st. He said the topic is sacrifice. 

It sounds like you are all very occupied with different things in life. School, work, church callings. I'm willing to help with whatever you all need of me. 

It feels like I'm not going to be finishing very soon, to be perfectly honest. It does feel like I have been here for a long time, but it feels weird to imagine that I won't be living here in Perú. Ive gotten really used to this place. I'm very excited to see you all, though. I don't want there to be a lot of special things done when I get home. I would just like to start getting adjusted to everyone else´s routine as soon as possible. 

I didn't respond to your email last week Dad, but I would like President Smith to set me apart, even though you can do it.  I don't mind waiting for him to get beack from his business trip. I would like to spend that first day back with the missionaries, if they are able to have me accompany them. The other days we can be together. If you all are against that though, that is completely fine with me. 

I don't think I understood very well the importance of the gospel before my mission. I know that I talked maybe a little bit about this last week, but it is something that has been going through my mind a lot. Being here has helped me understand how much suffering there is in the world. I don't know how a lot of people make it through the day. Understanding that someone died for us is important. Understanding that we can start over and be healed spiritually is important. 

Understanding this will help people get to the point we I feel that we are as a family. We are not perfect but we have a responsibility to share the light and truth of the Gospel with those around us. If we are bold in our testimony, loving in our actions, and overall examples of what a Christian should be, we will be like a light on a hill. People are drawn to light. It provides warmth and insight. People will come to us asking us questions and wanting to know more. And then we pass the reference to the missionaries. It is so important that they have references. That is all I have to say for today. See you all in two weeks.

Love,
Elder McMurray 

P.S.  Here are some photos, including shots from a recent service project.  We dug holes!

Three Weeks Left

Dear Family, 

I'm so grateful for your emails. I'm very grateful to hear that everything went well with Mom`s surgery. It is very good to hear that her health problems are finally going away after a long time of fighting. 

(There is a problem with the keyboard I'm using so sometimes the T doesn't type. Dad, please fix the typos -- thanks!)

I too believe in the power of the Priesthood. I believe in the power of faith. I think this experience can teach all of us a lot about patience. This is something that I have had a very hard time doing during my mission, trusting in the Lord and learning to wait upon the Lord. 

I have realized that I have a hard time being patient. I feel the need to have things done in the moment. It is frustrating to me when the Lord, who has all power, doesn't use that power or permit us to use that power to do miracles in a short space of time. I have been reminded many times though that the Lord doesn't work like that. He allows the effects of time to help mold and form us into better, more righteous people. He allows us to get as low as we can go, helping us gain a truer sense of compassion and humility so that we can be better followers of Christ. 

I know that Mom has received many priesthood blessings during this time, but the Lord waited until just the right moment to form Mom and the rest of us into better people. We all needed this time during which Mom has been sick to grow. 

I have fear letting go and trusting completely in the Lord, even though I know that He will only do what is best for me. It is still scary for me at times to show hat confidence. But the Lord always follows through. I know that. 

This week we had a baptism. He dad was a reference, but he is a heavy drinker. She has progressed really well, though. Her name is Brenda. I'm hoping that we can help her dad to stop drinking, too. 

I hope you all have a great week. This week we also did a service project digging a hole in my area. 

Love, 

Elder McMurray