Another week older, another week wiser.- January 21 2015

So, this week was pretty normal... But it was cool to see a few of the people progress a little bit more. There is a boy named Edwin, who is 15, that is really interested and really excited about what we do. He went to church on Sunday and is just as excited as he could be! He talks a lot about how he feels like he needs to dedicate himself a little bit more to the spiritual things in the world and we are really excited with him. Also, Gabriela and her little sister that lives with her and Henry went to church as well! Gabriela has already been to church before, a while ago, and she is used to going to church for all 3 hours! How great is that! So, we are just hoping that everything keeps going well with those two. 

As well, we have Jose and Mayi, and Ignacio and Yani who we are HOPING can get a little bit more serious about this things. We cannot decide how fast these people "ripe", in the spiritual prepared sense, but we are just here to harvest the fruits of the Lord's preparation. So, we are HOPING to help them out enough, but we will see what happens. They are really awesome. They want to follow Christ. But still their priorities need a little bit of help. THATS WHY WE ARE HERE!

SO we are just working really hard. I had an interview with President Douglas and he really really loves my companion, and said that during transfers he had us changed, but at the last second decided not to! Why? I dont know. But he said that he felt that Elder Mendez and I needed to be together for some more time to help more people. I take that as a compliment, since Elder Mendez is a real example to all of us, and President sees me as one that can be with him and together we can be a lethal combination (in the most spiritual sense possible). 

Also, President told me that it's sometimes hard to see the change that we have gone through as missionaries since we go day by day, but if I were to take a picture of when I started and now I would be able to see how much I have really changed. I really am thankful that he can see it in me, and I just hope to keep working and keep progressing spiritually. But, all who think about being missionaries, you have to realize that the biggest way to improve yourself is FORGETTING ABOUT YOURSELF and helping others with all you heart! The mission is 100% dedicated to other people and more than anyone to the Lord. Therefore, we cannot worry about how we are doing but more how are the others doing. Pride is the most dangerous spiritual sickness that one can have in this great, wonderful mission work. Watch out for pride!

Love you all! You all are great. I have a lot to improve, but I love the mission! I have never felt better!

Elder Dallin Murphy

Transfers without changes- January 14, 2015

So in this mission, we have a different form of announcing transfers. We get an email with all of the changes in the mission, and we print it out and go to do a zone meeting with the zone and we announce it! Yesterday we printed out the transfers and... there were only 2 changes!! And both of them were in the same branch, La Herradura. So the rest of the zone got changed. But it was all good. That means that I have at least 6 more weeks here in the wonderful world of Bella Vista with my great companion!

In the zone meeting yesterday I got to talk about the atonement. There is an example that President Muir once did, with donuts and pushups. You all can look up the donuts and pushups on youtube if you want to understand it more, i think its there. but I loved it and Elder Santacruz from Arizona did a bunch of pushups in order for every missionary to have a cookie. A good cookie. Then I compared it to the atonement in D&C 19:16-17 and it really makes a lot of sense. He gives us the chance. He did his part. Now it depends on us! we have to quit complaining and just work! How are we going to tell Him to his face when we go before him and he asks why we didnt do everything we could? The mission is great, and I love it. It is just sad to see a lot of missionaries who just waste their time! Who simply do 50% of what they can. I need to be more humble and love them more, but I am also here to help motivate and help them to become the best servants of the Lord possible. 

This week we didnt have too many people in church, but WOW people are going well. Especially Henry and Gabriela (see last email). Gabriela is taking notes every single lesson with a notebook on her Book of Mormon reading and says that she really likes it! We are working with them to get married and her to get baptized on the 28th of February!

Life is good here. Not much is happening, just that we are happy and working hard. It is crazy to see how fast time runs but we just need to walk faster and work harder because this is the only time life will be so centered on the Savior. 

Love you all!!

Elder Murphy!

Look at the lunch my companion and I made for us two! RICE SPAGETTI AND GUANDULES GUISADOS

Milagros Milagrosos- January 7, 2015

We have had a pretty amazing week. We have seen a few miracles and the Lord has put quite a few prepared people in our path, which is just too great. I love being a missionary!

There is a family named Jose and Mayi, who have a son named Jose Angel, and it is just SUCH a good family. They have a baptismal date for the 21st of February and we are SO EXCITED and they are SO EXCITED as well!! We talked about marriage yesterday with them and Mayi was 100 percent and Jose needed a little bit of time to think, but I am sure he will. They just have a little bit of problems with his work, but Mayi is just so happy and he loves it too. He reads more than her, but she went to church on Sunday (he was working). What a miracle!

There is also a family named Henry and Gabriela, which is a partial member family. Henry is a less active member and Gabriela has gone to church a few times with her Mother in Law. They are really just hoping so much that this is all that they search for in this life, and they are doing everything possible to know. He knows its true, just needs a little help to get reactivated. Who would be better than his wife! They are willing to do what it takes to find the truth and find the happiness that they need in this life. What a miracle!

Henry's sister, Rosy, isn't a member but she lost her son 8 months ago when he drowned. He was the man of the house and she doesnt understand why God took him away. She is angry with Him, and really cannot be comforted. But we have been going and she opened up to us. I explained to her that when I passed for hard times and people told me that they understood what I was going through, I would just get frustrated. She felt that same way, but when I explained that the same Jesus Christ does understand, and that she wants to help us, and that she may not have her son for a wise reason of God, she began to understand. Now she is saying that she feels like this may be what she needs to do. What a miracle!

Also, Ignacio and Yani are progressing well. I love that family! They went to church on Sunday and their 10 year old daughter wants to be baptized! She says it ever time we see them. They are just super great, but with that whole VISA deal its hard to ge them. But they want to be part of this church. They want to participate in Christs church! What a miracle!

Jeremias is a less active who testified of the truth of this gospel and is sure that this is what he needs! He is coming back! And bringing with him a cousin who isnt a member! What a miracle!

Roberto is just as always excited, but waiting on a few papers to get married! WHAT A MIRACLE!

I love this work. I love being a missionary. Next week is transfer week and we will see how it goes, I am hoping that all goes well!

Love you all!

Elder Dallin Murphy

2015- December 31, 2014

WOW, 2015 snuck up on me. I remember yesterday when I got my heart broken by the Zone Leaders in Cien Fuegos when they said that I was being transfered from Villa Gonzalez to Hato Mayor... In February. NOW IT IS JANUARY TOMORROW!! That is just insane. Its been a pretty happy time, Christmas was a lot of fun. Also, we were able to find a lot of new people and help the old ones progress on little bit more. The time moves fast, but I just need to try and move faster! 

This week we were able to put a lot of baptismal dates with people that we have been teaching for a good while. We should have done it sooner, but the past has passed, we are in the present and we just need to act instead of wait. Yesterday we shared about the parable of the 10 virgins with Ignacio and Yani, the family we love so much. Ignacio said that he is in the VISA process to go to the USA, and thats why he cannot get married. With that, theyll change the VISA and then theyll have to go wait 7 more years, more or less. SO we werent too suprised, because there are a lot of people that have that worry, or that situation. Not just with the VISA but EVERYONE. There are some things that we just want to put on hold, We just want to wait to complete with the commandments! We can do it tomorrow but today I am fine. It is kind of hard when people dont understand it, but our job is to invite and exhort, not to compell or force. 

This new year I am putting a couple goals down to be able to finish my mission FUERTISIMO and get on into the normal life FUERTISIMO as well. Some of them are (not in order of importance):

1. DUNK

2. Continue with a constant and efficient scripture study every day

3. Open my mouth and share the gospel with everyone!

4. Live in such a way to be able to say that I am worthy of the blessings that God has promised me. 

5. Learn to develop more of the Christ-like trait of Charity in my life. 

That last one is so hard... for me. The pride is a poison and I just need to think more about others. Its the last step to perfection, and someday we all need to arrive to that point. 

Love you all, and I hope that 2015 goes great for all!!

Elder Dallin Murphy