Finally here in the DR- August 29, 2013

Hello! I´m here! And it is way hotter than anyone could have described it. Well, it isn´t that hot, but the humidity is killer and I have a constant sweat going on. Not much happened in my last little while in the MTC. It was sad to say goodbye to all the friends I had made, but it had to be done unless they really wanted to go to the DR because I was no way going to spend more time there than I needed to.

It was awesome to be able to call from the airport on Monday and talk with the fam, it sounds like not much has changed. Alyse still LOVES to talk about Dane and Bethany really only can build her sentences around movie quotes. Just kidding, but it really was super awesome. The family I have is best, and I am also so happy that I finally have some pictures to show people what my family looks like. Being the best looking family out there, I feel that it is necessary to show off our looks.

So I arrived on Monday night and got off the plane to see 5 men in white shirts with black plaques waiting for us outside. It was President Douglas, and 4 office missionaries. President Douglas is awesome. I got to talk to him for a good while, and he really is great. He is a soft spoken man, but really is straight forward about things. I got to spend 2 nights there then we were all supposed to leave early wednesday morning for our respective areas. My trainer is Elder Cannon, a great missionary from Pleasant Grove, who has me as his last companion since after he trains me he will go home. But he had to help drive around on wednesday all the new missionaries so I stayed at the mission home and hung out until like 7 pm. It was nice to sit in AC for the majority of the day, but at the same time I wanted to leave.

We got to the house about 9pm, and since it is a brand new apartment, we had to build the apartment. Everything from the refridgerator to the beds were all still in boxes, and there was dust all over the floor. We cleaned and set stuff up until around 11:30 until we decided it was time to sleep and were in bed at 12. We were about to get in bed, I had just about set up my fan, when the power shut off. NOOOO it was so sad. I was so ready for a fan but then I just got in bed. At some point in the night I felt the fan come on and it felt SO GOOD. But I decided that this was going to be a fun 2 years with that electricity. And dad, I still wrote in my journal. and mom, thanks for the flashlight!

We cleaned some more this morning, ate, then now we are here. Our p-day is actually wednesdays, but we had no time for internet yesterday so the Assistants to the Presidents decided it would be ok to email today. Thank Goodness!

One cool thing was when I went out to place a Libro de Mormón on my 2nd day here with an Elder Florentino from La Vega (about 20 minutes from Santiago, he had some health problems so he stayed in his home mission). We began talking to a man on his patio about things, and I couldn´t understand most things he was saying since he talked SO FAST. I could tell, however, he wanted to Bible-bash. I knew it was important not to, so I did all I could to keep my cool. After a few minutes, I realized that I didnt even want to bash. At home, I often would, but here I didnt really want to and I knew that it was the Spirit working in me. I know that bashing gets no where and I really want to be able to keep my cool while i´m here because that is the way that people will be willing to talk if youre non-hostile.

More on Elder Cannon: He worked for 9 months in the office. We are in an area in which there were not elders here for a long time, so that means that there are no records for us to have. There have been sisters but we haven´t talked to them much. Hopefully there are some people that want to talk, but if not we´re just going to knock doors! YEAH!! or actually walk up and say ´buenos dias´because thats what people do here. He has 6 kids in his fam as well, with 3 boys and 3 girls. I´m really excited to work with him. He came out of high school and left in october of 2011.

I love you all, and I cannot wait to hear from you.

The mailing is a little bit whack. There are 2 different ways:

1. Send it to a private company in Miami. They will take longer, but are safer. For letters it is just like sending to someone in the states, but for packages it is pretty expensive but you can track them over the internet to make sure they werent lost. that address is:

8368 NW 66 Street

Miami, FL 33166

AREX00216

2. Sending it straight to the mission office. YOu can do Fedex, DHL, or USPS to send it. It is faster, but less reliable. and it is cheaper. I will pay for packages with my debit card, but it isnt too much. it is like 3 dollars for up to 10 pounds haha

Avenida Estrella Sadhala (number sign)10

2o piso Enfrente de Univ. UTESA

Santiago, Dominican Republic

51000

Pick your favorite one, but I want to hear from everyone! Love you all, keep reading your scriptures and working hard, the Lord blesses the humble and the focused.

Sincerely,

Dallin Murphy

P.s. I cant figure out how to send pictures yet

p.s.s. Way to beast it up in vball bethany!

Almost to the field!- August 23, 2013

Not much happened at all this week... I am loving it here but I am more stoked than one could imagine to get out of here and get into the DR. While it is always fun to be able to hang out with only missionaries for 6 straight weeks, but sometimes good things need to end. Actually, on Saturday, I started getting super super sick. My throat started hurting, and my head felt like it was going to explode. I have a big head, but I felt like it was 10 pounds heavier and I decided to go to the front desk. They sent me to urgent care, because the clinic here is only open Mon-Fri, and I spent a good 3 hours out of class. They did all these tests on me, then gave me 3 Ibuprofen! Then I started feeling a little bit better. That night I slept better than I ever have, but I still have felt a little bit under the weather over the whole week. But hey, I'm alive and I look good and that's all that matters! haha just kidding, but really I am fine. Thanks for checking up on me mom!

That was an awesome thing that Dad and his siblings did for Grandma and Grandpa Murphy, I can only imagine that beaming smile from Grandpa and Grandma when they saw them sitting there in Tucano's. Tucano's will always have a special place in my heart since it was the last dinner I had with G&G Murphy before I came out here. Good people, good food, GREAT jokes from Grandpa, what could get any better? Sounds like heaven on earth.

Today I got to go through the temple, and it was miraculous once again. I sat for a little while and read in the Bible, John 19 and then Isaiah 53. John 19 is about the events that occured after Christ is convicted by Pilate. It pains me time and time again reading about the scorn that Christ went through, physically and emotionally, by the people that lived in Jerusalem back then. I wish Pilate was more sympathetic and followed his heart instead of his fear, but I blame the Pharisees and Sadducees for his conviction. In Isaiah 53 it talks about how he is despised and rejected of men, then bears our sorrows, griefs and pains so that we are healed in his stripes. I mean really? Do the people who time and time again reject him and mock him deserve that? NO. But we have it to our disposal and we cannot take that for granted. It is an infinite atonement, and everyone can take part in it if we are prove ourselves through our faith, works, commitment, and desire. All four of those things are the same when you get down to it. 

I'm excited to share the gospel to the Dominicans down there in a couple of days. It will be hard, no doubt in my mind, but VALE LA PENA. (It will be worth it) that is my favorite phrase since It is always about Enduring to the End in life. Matthew 10:22. 2 Nephi 31:19-20. Ether 15:34. 

Hay muchas cosas que yo necesito aprender pero nunca he sido más animado para algo.

I dont think that was even a real sentence but I dig it.

Gracias por todos, vida es dificil pero vale la pena. 

Love you all, 

Dallin

Love at home- August 16, 2013

Today was my first time getting to go to the temple while I was at the MTC! It was really great. The most amazing thing is the fact that I was praying that I would be able to feel my family's and friends' presence and love for  me while I was in there. I was about to leave, and as I was sitting there I seriously never felt so at home being gone for so long. I have 10 days left here in the MTC and I have been gone for a month, but today I was able to see that I can feel your love when I really need to if I am at the temple. I have felt your love this whole time, don't get me wrong, but I really just needed a little bit of a pick me up. I thought of the rendition of "Love at Home" that Cole played at my farewell. I was a little homesick then I got over it and realized that I can see you guys soon enough. But I love it here. 

Guess who got to sit 5th row while one of the 12 apostles spoke in the first live broadcast to all the MTC's around the world! Your main missionary! I sat there and I saw the setup was a little bit different so I suspected something big. Sitting next to Elder Jones, we guessed who it could have been, and BAM Richard G. Scott walked in. You could feel his presence as he stepped onto the floor that BYU usually plays on for their home basketball games. He stood up with his 5'4" (or he looked that short) frame to speak to us and talked about how prayer is a golden opportunity and a sacred privilege we have to speak with the Almighty, Perfect Father of Heaven that we have. One thing that he said that I loved was that sometimes answers to prayer are left as "small messages along the way". I immediately thought of my time when deciding to go serve a mission and how I was looking for the answer to come all at once, but instead I received little nudges along the way as I looked for when to serve my 2 years as a missionary. Remember that conversation we had mom? I just had the feeling that all the things I had studied and seen were sending me in this direction. I cannot imagine doing it any other way, I am so happy this is the direction I went. He also said that maybe answers had already been given. I really liked that because all too often I looked for an answer to a question when I already know what I am supposed to do or what is right.

AUSTIN GOT TO MEET DANE?!?! NO FAIR! I want to see him now. Can you have a Statistics conference, Tommy, in the DR? On baseball statistics and stuff? I miss that little boy already. But Austin seems so happy and I am so glad he had the opportunity to meet him because Dane is the most perfect thing! Cafe Charlie seemed good too, that is perfect for our hometown boy headed for Lyon, France, Charlie Bollard!

Mom, I like your Book of Mormon goal! Do it until I get home! That is what I am doing every day, the MTC president says that we should spend 30 minutes AT LEAST in the Book of Mormon each day, but I am going to spend at least that and more in the Book of Mormon and New Testement especially. Jesus Christ never really stops teaching us, so I am really glad we have the scriptures to study daily. And once I finish, I just need to start over! My goal is to obtain the best of the Christlike Attributes. Faith, Hope, Charity, Love, Humility, Obedience, and Diligence. If I can refine myself with all that to the best of my ability, then I will be set. But that is a lofty goal that takes consistent focus that I am going to try and remind myself all the time. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW MOM! I love you so much! I really can't describe how awesome you are as a mom. What I love about you is that you put in your whole life into making me the best disciple of Christ possible, then put some more into it too. On a scale of 1-10, you don't have a rating. You are the scale. Keep it up Madre! Te amo con todo mi corazón. 

Bethany, keep working hard in volleyball! Since you and Liam had a connection at the concert, I think that the distraction of being a superstar will be high. But just like with the tempations of the devil, you have got to focus on your true purpose. (I hope you know what zoolander quote I was about to put there). I miss those conversations too much, no one here is as funny as I am! just kidding, but really it is pretty sad to not have anyone that will know my batman quotes or zoolander quotes the way that you do.

Cole, keep it up. Write me! I think I'm supposed to write you... but you write me then I'll respond. 

Dad, thanks for the letters and I will respond asap!

It was a rather boring week, but I learned a lot and am excited to get out to the DR in 10 DAYS WOOOOOO!

Live Long and Prosper!

Elder Dallin Murphy

Email #3/104- August 9, 2013

I've endured eternity in 3 weeks.

HIYA! It was a really long week. I have to say, it has been pretty insane how slow the days go by. I teach a mock investigator in the morning and by dinner I feel like I taught them 3 days before. It is basically the same schedule daily and it is hard to recount what happens.

But last saturday was a pretty crazy day. We ended up going to play basketball for gym time, then I went to play volleyball, and when I came back, turns out that Elder Jones had reinjured his ankle. he already had 2 torn ligaments in his ankle but he was able to play and stuff, then he twisted it again and he couldn´t walk or anything. The next day was fast sunday, so as a zone we decided that it would be a good idea to fast for him. I fasted from 5:30 saturday night to 6 pm sunday for dinner. But by the end of sunday, he was walking around completely fine. It was a pretty incredible miracle. I'm not sure what would have happened in result of us not fasting, but we did and that is not what happened so we will never need to know. but he has to do physical therapy 3 times before he leaves so he gets to go out of the MTC boundaries to the hospital to do so. How fun!

It was great seeing Bekah that one day. I can't remember when it was but I know she came in the last week. I was just marking up my scriptures then it was so amazing to see a familiar face! She told me that you all were just waiting outside and it was weird to think that my mom and dad were a 30 second walk away. I feel like I haven't seen you all in forever! The cinammon bread (i cant spell but hey its whatever i'm a missionary) was amazing and so was the Caramel mashamellow on a stick. I havent eaten the other things yet because I got SO MUCH FOOD this last week. Well at least I got my package with LOTS of food from Alyse, then 2 things of food from the fam back home, and then a 10 pound package from in Cole's words, my "friend", with loads of good food. You can keep them coming if you want but I am pretty set as of right now.

I have been thinking a lot about Grace lately. And the relationship between the grace of God and the works we perform on earth. I found out, what I think, is a really cool analogy. I wrote this more in depth to Dad in a letter today, but Grace is a train, the final destination is Eternal Life and Exhaltation, while our works are the ticket on board. Works are basically Enduring to the end, the 5th component to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I think it is Matthew 10:22 that says those who endure to the end shall have eternal life. It is pretty simple. Our works don't get us to eternal life, but that get us on the train that carries us there.

Our devotional on tuesday was by this Emeritus General Authority named Elder Jensen. It was all on how to study your scriptures more effectively. I don't remember much about it, but Mom asked about it so here you go. I just love the topic of scripture study because the scriptures are how I gained my testimony of the truthfullness of this Gospel. In reading the Book of Mormon, I have come closer to Jesus Christ than I thought I could. The Bible is just as incredible and I love it. I am marking up my scriputures like crazy, I will send a picture home of what they look like because it looks really cute. XD just kidding but I really have done a bunch.

Jacob may be my new favorite writer in the BoM. He is so straight forward and basically says that all the people at his time are more or less going to be thrust down into eternal despair if they don't pick it up.  I compare him to Jeffery R Holland of the Quorum of the 12, he just tells you how it is and how you can be better. My favorite scripture of his is Jacob 6:5, which states "I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repend, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you." CLEAVE MY FRIENDS! CLEAVE! I am pretty sure that it means something to the effect of hold on no matter what circumstances arrive. No matter what.

Alyse, I love the pictures on your blog, but can I at least get a few photo credits? I am pretty sure that the best pics on that blog were from ME!

Camille, hey! Keep working hard, I love the emails BUT USE DEAR ELDER WHILE I'M HERE! It is so fun reading all these things from people back home during the week.

Austin, you still havent responded to me once. But I hope all is well in good old canada.

Bethany, how was the HSM marathon with Kayla and Cole? I want to hear all about it. Good luck at the 1D concert, just remember who you are and just because you're the prettiest girl there and if Liam wants to jump off the stand and tell you to run away with him doesnt mean its ok. Ok? He may be a little bit good looking but he can wait for after your mission! WRITE ME. and get on varsity

Cole, you're a silly boy. but really sincere. Keep writing me, I love hearing from you. Keep reading and running, then you'll be the smartest and fastest kid in town!

I was in the bookstore the other day and I was prompted to buy an Iceland Shirt. Best investment I have ever made! I am wearing it right now and I wear it as proud as I could. People ask me if I am going there, but I have to tell the truth because I'm a missionary and stuff!

Well buenos suertes, me encantan sus cartas cada semana.

Peace!

Dallin

Email #2/104- August 2, 2013

Dearest Diary,

It is awesome to hear from you all. Although I am loving it up here, it is kind of sad thinking I will not be able to see all of your beautiful faces for a while. But, luckily, I got a little taste of home when Elder Riley Jones was moved into our district/room from the beginner class. He had his farewell in the RSM stake at the same time as mine, so our couple of mutual friends had to choose between our talks. Some chose correctly, some didnt! Haha just kidding, he is a great guy. He played for Tesoro volleyball and I knew of him and he knew of me, but now we are homies and I'm so glad he got moved in on Friday.

Also, last week Elder Parker Gentry (President Rassmussen's nephew who played vball for San Juan Hills) was put into our zone, and I became pretty good friends with him too. But he left Tuesday morning for the Madrid MTC since he got his visa. The other members of my district are Elder Warnes from Bountiful, Utah, Elder Rincon, Elder King from the old district, Elder Jones, and then 3 sisters. Our teachers are awesome! Hermano Johnston is a super funny guy who went to Guatemala on his mission and Hermano Basuth went to Chile. They are super awesome. They act as investigators for us, and for Elder Rincon and I, Hermano Johnston is Pedro Quejiú and Hermano Basuth is Franco.

One cool experience was when Elder Rincon and I were trying to prepare for a lesson, we could not get anything done. We weren't agreeing on anything and we needed help. Elder Jones said we should go say a prayer to begin our study, and we agreed so we went to an empty room and sat there and I said a prayer. It was the first english prayer I'd given in two weeks, which was a little refreshing, and it was like 5 minutes. After that, we both just sat there and thought about what would be best to teach our investigator. I was flipping through my scriptures when I came across a scripture about the priesthood as described by Paul, and I said that we should talk about the priesthood. Turns out, that he had written the same thing down on his sheet of paper. The Spirit testifies to us at all times, in our mind and in our heart (D&C 8:2-3).

Our Branch President is President Tyler, a great old guy who is a real scholar of the scriptures. Turns out he is from Long Beach, and he said something like his sister or son or something married a Dougherty out there. I'll have to ask Bishop Dougherty about that, because he really rocks. He has a certain spirit about him and really is able to testify and use the scriputres easily. He has a bunch memorized. Hopefully, through my study of the scriptures I can have a kid email home about how good I am with my scriputres.

Umm let's see, I am not sure what else happened this week. Out here, it is kind of all a blur. We do the same thing all day every day. I have gained like 3 pounds but that doesn't count for anything. I wish I could recieve Austin's emails, so hopefully he emails me because I emailed him. What an espuma haha just kidding but the guy that hosted me the first day is going to Montreal so I told him all that I knew about it.

My spanish is coming along pretty well. I felt like for a couple days I hit a little bit of a plateau and wasn't progressing at all, but after a while I saw myself improving. Mrs. Kirkpatrick and Ms. Heck helped. I didn't realize this but the teachers at Northwood are actually pretty good compared to other schools. I'm starting to realize when to use Subjunctive in my speech and I am loving it. I really believe that God is helping me a lot because I am becoming more and more comfortable with my spanish and doctrinal knowledge.

Bethany, how is volleyball? Are you going to be on varsity?? Ron needs all the help he can get. Especially Wonder Woman herself. How are the boys?

Cole, keep working hard. Tell me about how your life is going and how many pushups you can do! HAHA!

I liked the boxes of Food that I got, and the letters inside. Cole's letter was so sincere and thoughtful and made my heart melt a little bit. Cole, you're quite the wonder kid. Then theres Bethany. haha just kidding, bethany your letter made me laugh so hard. I miss you two so much, the Big 3 will reunite again. Dad thanks for sending my Line of Authority thing, and your letters are always splendid. Mom, I sent you a letter today but you are the greatest of all time! Alyse your food was great even if it was all on sale, I was suprised you could get so much food for 23 dollars!

Yeah this week was a little boring. Oh yeah during Gym Time we played volleyball and since we had Elder Jones, Elder Gentry and I and a few other guys, it was actually legit. Jungle ball was getting old, so it was a lot of fun being able to play real volleyball. These hands still distribute butter like no other, they call me the milkman down here.

In my scripture reading this week I have been reading the Book of Mormon, and reading about when Nephi quotes Isaiah. I loved it when it talked about how bad and wicked the world would become, but it also talks about how Satan wouldn't win. He never does! Jokes on him haha! XD God always has a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, all the way to Plan Infinity so that his work will continue, no matter who falls away or what people do. God will always win. He's the best! His grace is sufficient for all men, but we have got to work hard as well.

We listened to a talk by Elder Jeffery R Holland on sunday from a while ago called "Missions are Forever". It talked about how missions arent meant to be easy, but theyre real life. he said "You don't get off the mission and go back to real life... THIS IS REAL LIFE!". It was so legit, I was so happy when I heard it. He said that the reason that our missions are so hard is because in order to be here for Jesus Christ we must go through a little bit of what he did in Gethsemane and on the Cross. It isn't easy for us because it was never easy for him.

Friends and family, keep working hard. Life is a lot easier when you're following the commandments of God. Just remember that and you'll be SET! No matter what we go through, it will be worth it if we are saved in the Kingdom of God.

Have a good week

Smooches,

Dallin Blake Murphy

p.s. people start sending me more letters. like people that havent! and I'll send pics later today but I forgot my camera 

 

 With Elder Jones and Elder Gentry.

Sister Izu at devotional!