HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHANYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- May 28, 2014

I hope that you all tell Bethany to have a happy birthday!!! On Facebook or over telephone would be best, she deserves it. Who knew she was so funny?! I love Bethany because she is just a real BEAST!! She rocks in everything she does. She is just super funny and once Austin left the house I had to talk to SOMEONE so I began to talk to her and shes not too bad! HAHA just kidding, she is just a stinker winker mixed with a Lisa Leslie and man I dont know she is just too cool. She really became one of my best friends in the whole world, and is still up there. KEEP IT UP SIS!!

Dad, that is so cool. You´re really a prepared and capable man to complete with whatever calling you are given, just keep working hard and do all that you know that you need to do, and trust in the Lord. Pray for charity every day to be able to help all of the people recieve all they need from you. Youre the man!

This week was a little tough, but thats nothing that we cannot really handle. We had talks with 3 of our investigators that have been progressing a lot, Gladis, Brayanli, and Luis and have told us that they don't want to continue and they want to take another path. It was pretty hard for me, but it is their decision. I am not going to go into the details of exactly why, but they were good, interesting conversations. I love being able to sit there and testify and speak perfect (not perfect but pretty good) spanish with these people and just testify and feel that the Lord is pleased with what I am saying. I feel good about the future we have with the people we have, and Elder Simonis and I are going to keep working SO HARD to get these people all the blessings the Lord has reserved for them. I feel pretty happy with the future we have in this work here.

We had 0 investigators and 0 less actives in church, but hey the Lord makes us humble so that we recognize our weaknesses, just like he gives us weaknesses to make us humble. We have had a lot of self inspection (I have officially lost english as my native tounge, I dont know if what I am saying is really what is said in English) since we know that the Lord wants us to improve. I am really trying to do all I can to help these people progress, and I know that my companion is trying hard too. But I am really excited, I cannot wait for the miracles that will happen in front of our eyes here in Hato Mayor in the near future.

A friend sent me a letter recently with a few questions and it made me go to the 13 Articles of Faith. I love how precise and simple they put everything. We believe in this, this and this. If someone tells us we believe in something, they can look at the 13 Articles of Faith and there you have found your answer if it is true or not. But the most basic and important thing that we believe in is that Jesus Christ is the only way to get to the salvation. And that is what we preach.

I am pretty content, we are doing work out here in Hato Mayor. This Ward needs our help. And we are here to help.

Love you all!!

Elder Dallin Murphy

Another week in the wonderous world- May 21, 2014

Hey fam! Whats Up?? I Hope All Is Well Out There In The United States. It Was Cool To See Pictures And Hear About Big Brandon Running A Half Marathon And All. Way To Go Bud!!

Umm this organization that I am not in charge of is called Accion Callejera. Which is like this place that street kids go to so that they dont have to go to another worse place. I am not sure, but it sounds good. There are a few events that Sister Douglas has set up to be able to have her friends come and do medical and dentistry things, so they called me... To keep the relationship well mantained with them and keep contact. That means like 1 time a week I am going to go to do service with my companion and the other 2 missionaries in the district of Hato Mayor. I am not sure why she called me... But I guess I have to do it. I dont even live that close, but its ok. I am down!

But this week was pretty good. Gladis and Brayanli and Luis Vasquez came to church this week, which was really cool. I am always SUPER stoked when people come to church. We are working hard with these people and a lot of them didn't compete with their promises, which were that they would come to church, but I don't get suprised anymore. Just disappointed. That's all. But Gladis and Brayanli are going to see when they want to get baptized, since they are in a sticky situation. But It will happen soon, I really know it. Luis has had a few doubts, which are really little things like about Joseph Smith and why his name isnt in the Bible. But its ok, we help them understand that they only way to know these things is read the Book of Mormon and pray. If they do it, they will be able to get an answer. And until they do it, they cant tell us we are wrong because they havent experienced anything, just heard and believe. We want them to FEEL that it is true. Galatians 5:22-23 or something like that really explains how they can know IF it is true. We are willing to learn all of the things we preach on the Book Of Mormon. 

It is a pretty wonderful life out here. It is a little different teaching with someone that hasn't taught before, but he is coming along well and I am really excited to keep seeing him progress. I am not the funnest, coolest, or funniest companion he could have had, but he is going to work and work and work. I don't know... it is kind of weird. A lot of missionaries say that they want to get out of the routine. But I love the routine!! My life is get up, write in my journal or work out, shower, get ready with my white shirt and tie, study, study with my companion, go out or go to a meeting with other missionaries, go home, eat, do something for like an hour then go out to work for 7 hours then we get home at 9:30 and then plan, write my journal or eat or something then we go to sleep. Then I get up again at 6:30 and it is the same. THIS IS THE LIFE!! AND IT DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS. I don't have time to change it up! But its ok, he loves the work too. It is a pretty intense lifestyle but pretty fun. 

But yeah this week I had an exchange with my zone leader, Elder Saucedo and for the first time in a while the people were IN their house. We taught 7 good lessons, and it was super cool. But its raining a lot, and the umbrella I have is still in the little bag that it was bought in in my luggage. Oops! HAHAHA

Love you all, and I cant wait to hear about the wonderful miracles you guys make in the mission work in this next week!

Elder Murphy,  2nd

Now I Am the Big 1-9!- May 14, 2014

It was a pretty fun birthday, not the most exciting one but definately the most spiritual one. Kind of. We had a zone meeting in the morning and they put up a few balloons then sang happy birthday! And that was basically it. But one specifically awesome lesson I had on my birthday was a great gift the Lord gave us. Remember Jose and Cristy? Well we shared with Cristy, a member, and her son Noel. We talked about baptism baptism baptism. About what it is, how it should be a change in our lives, how it needs to be by the proper authority, and how important it is. We were just on a good role. Then I asked my favorite question: What are your thoughts about what we have said? I had had a couple of worries about Cristy. She really is awesome but I didnt know if she was really going to be down to make that change in her life.  Then  she told us about how she wants to do it. And she is just really excited but needs to go to church more and get married and stuff. The spirit was super strong, and I was super content. Even though it was a slow day in which we walked for a while and didnt teach much, it was all worth it through that lesson. 

That was basically my birthday. We are really busy, Elder Simonis and I, and it is really hard to find time to make that cake that you sent me. But one of these days it will be made! It was super cool to talk to the whole fam about life as a missionary.  I am not overwhelmed by the responsibilities that have been given to me, just it is something new as a missionary. A new kind of patience and diligence is needed. It is just what I was asking for and I got it. Sometimes we dont know exactly what we want but the Lord gave it to me. Also, President and Sister Douglas called me to be in charge of the relationship between the mission and this one organization, and I wasnt to stoked but I am going to do all I can to do it. I want to be able to complete with the assignments that are given to me, and I will give it all I can. 

hmm...  oh yeah Gladis and Brayanli are progressing  really really well. They are trying to do everything to be able to complete with these requirements of baptism, and the Lord will bless them soon enough with the ability to do it. They came to church, and also Arismendi. Arismendi comes a lot, just has a few problems with his wife, and we are hoping he keeps it up to be able to  make this covenant with the Lord as well. He already is decided, just needs some preparation. 

But yeah. this week was ok. Elder Simonis (my trainee) is a good new missionary, willing to learn and listen, and just pushing himself a lot. I am just here to guide him and help him become the missionary that the Lord wants him to become. 

Well, thanks for all the birthday emails! You all are great! The next time you all write me I will have.... 10 MONTHS AS A MISSIONARY! It is moving way too fast. But as they always say, Time flies when youre having fun. And I am definetely enjoying myself. 

 Love you all!!!

Training a HAITIAN!!- May 7, 2014

I am training a Haitian!! His name is Elder Simonis, a pretty good kid. He has lived here in the DR for 3 years with his family. His whole family is members, and he is a 21 year old guy, but it will be a good experience. He is a good example to me, a really humble guy that is just here to work. It will be a really good experience!! I am stoked out of my mind.

But this week was pretty good. We had 3 investigators in church, Gladis and Brayanli and Laura, a sister of an hermana in the ward that is 15. Luis had to work (he doesnt work much so when he has work he needs to go) and a lot of people just HAD to do stuff. And a bunch of people just talked big and didn't deliver. But our purpose isn't to accuse or criticize, but more to help them be complete with the Lord and his commandments. Gladis had an operation on her mouth, so for like 2 weeks she doesnt have her 4 front teeth. She wasn't going to go to church, but then Brayanli said he would'nt go without her so then she decided to go so that he would go! What a great lady. Her husband lives in NY and she wants to get married before baptism so that she can obey the law of chastity to the letter.

This week was pretty good. Nothing too crazy, but it was a good time. I was pretty happy to get the call to train, I have only had old missionaries as companions and now I have more responsibility, which is always a good time. Also he gave me the title of district leader, so I am going to have to get a lot of spiritual strength from the Lord to be able to complete TO THE LETTER with both of these responsibilities.

Well, we will have more miracles next week. Just this week we talked about a lot of marriage. A LOT of marriage. Really, it is a big problem in this country. Because it costs 3000 to get married and 18000 to get divorced. But we will make it work with these people, there are some good vibes between a few of these families and it will happen.

The Lord blesses us according to our obedience D&C 132:6( I think that is where it is) . It is the ONLY way that he blesses us. 

Love you all, thanks for everything! 5:15 on sunday I am going to be waiting. I am going to use that elderdallindr thing that you guys made for christmas! It is going to work and I am going to be excited! I hope you all are excited too! The next time that you all read from me I WILL BE 19! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Love,

Elder Dallin Murphy

 J-Piki, a good friend of ours. He talks about how he wants to get baptized, and we hope he will!

I love mom because:

Well how do I even start. Mom is the woman who gave birth to me and gave me everything I needed as I grew up into the man I am today. I feel so greatful for the firmness that she has in the true Gospel of Christ. I love my Mom because she loves me and she does everything for me. I love my mom because she worries about me even when she knows I am all good. I love my mom because she IS THE COOL MOM. She often says she doesnt want to be the cool mom but SHE IS THE COOL MOM (repeated for emphasis). I love her so much! She has taken a little naughty yet silent boy and made him into what I am. I cannot say that have reached what she wants me to be, but after my heavenly father, I want to make her proud. I love my mom because, in all reality, she loves me.