A Day Full of Possibilities!

Hey, Dad.  I guess this'll count as the weekly email (with pics!):

Welcome back, Bill Watterson!  He's still got it!  Now show us your face!(Notoriously reclusive artist Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes, made a surprise return to the comics pages this week, as a guest artist on the comic strip Pearls Before Swine.)

Both, "Pearls Before Swine" and, "Calvin & Hobbes" are great comic strips.  Despite the fact that tangible, paper newspapers are becoming increasingly archaic, comic strips are an art form that still have resonance.  Shawn and the band are great; are they planning on any more gigs?  The Rangers-Kings game sounds amazing.  I'll definitely have to check it out when I get home.  Hockey is the most misunderstood of North American sports; those who understand it realize how truly great it can be.

The tie and the concert sound great and I guess that I knew that the Saturn was getting close to its end. (Mom made Dad a quite lovely necktie for their anniversary; they attended a Houston Symphony concernt to celebrate; the Saturn in question in Mom's 11 year old Saturn VUE, not the planet.) Bishop Bassett does have a great point about self-reliance; it's unfortunate that people who needed to be reminded of it didn't hear it. (News from Alief Ward...)

I'm appreciating more and more the importance of rebuking with love, rebuking without being preachy, rebuking as Christ would rebuke.  People respond when they recognize that you love them and want what's best for them and you're right, they will listen.  I'm grateful for the ability to discern that. 

It was a busy service week.  We did a lot of yard work, volunteered at a community cancer relay/activity day, and taught.  I've grown to love this area and the people in it and I know that they want to do the right thing. 

Thanks for continuing to email.  I'm grateful for your continued thoughts and prayers and we're continuing to see good things and even great things happen here.

It's just one pic for this week; more will be coming soon:

Elder Bywater

Safety for the Soul

Dear Mom and Dad:

Wow, that's quite a bit of news.  It sounds like everyone's continuing to do well.  To answer your questions and comments, here goes: 1. As for contact from extended family, Erin emails me occasionally, but I haven't heard from her in awhile.  2. If you're talking about my mission release date, it's Wednesday, November 11, 2015.  3. I'm glad you're studying Preach My Gospel with the sister missionaries. It's amazing how all-encompassing, Preach My Gospel truly is, isn't it?  4. Good luck with the 5K.

Things have been going really well this week.  I've felt the genuine and fundamental importance of love and that through love, great things happen.  Right before we parted ways, Elder LeFevre told me that I was about to do something great, or rather, be a part of something great in Glenwood.  We've had some great lessons and some great opportunities to do service.  We visited a recent convert named Ian  (the guy who was standing next to Max Manley in one of his baptism pictures; see the blog for details) and were prompted to share with him a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland regarding his divine witness that The Book of Mormon was true. Ian is solid in the Gospel, but it has been awhile since he'd read.  The Spirit was not only extremely strong, but much more easily distinguishable and uniquely recognizable.  I bore my Testimony of it this past Sunday; it's all of the good of the world magnified by Infinity.  All of the good intelligence, love, wisdom, happiness, all of those things beautifully fused and magnified Infinity-fold; that's how I can describe the Spirit and it comes through simple and sincere teaching.

The ward leadership is more excited about missionary work than ever before.  Bishop Jacob has proposed and formulated some refreshing and bold ideas for galvanizing the members to do more missionary work.  This is probably the most bold and excited I've seen him about it.  Pray for us that we can have the strength to avoid temptation and discouragement, and to strengthen this enthusiasm in simplicity and love.  Have you ever listened to Elder Holland's talk, "Safety for the Soul?"  I highly recommend it.

I'll be sending some pics your way next week; I promise.  I love you all and I hope that all of you have a happy and wonderful week.

Love,

Elder McMurray

Warm, Yet Pleasant

Iowa Wildflowers in the Springtime

Hey, all!

Yeah, the sudden transfer of Elder LeFevre was perplexing to both him and me, but it sounds like he's doing well in the Winter Quarters Singles Ward.  Elder Bywater is wonderful; he's quiet, dry-humored, and hard-working.  He's been out for about 15 months and was transferred from Hastings, Nebraska.  We're trying hard to get service opportunities established among the non-for-profit organizations in the area.  I don't need anything right now, I'm feeling alright, and Iowa spring is warm yet pleasant.  It's wonderful to hear the news from back home and see pics; it sounds like everyone is doing well and everyone looks great.  Naomi has a birthday card coming her (actually, your) way soon; please forward it to her.  We, the Glenwood missionaries, gave talks and bore our testimonies on the importance of missionary work this past Sunday.  I really appreciate Dad's email and I thank him for those words of wisdom.  Unfortunately, our investigator dropped us; he's living in a toxic environment and his enthusiasm for learning more about the Gospel is waning.  All we can do is pray at this point.  Thankfully, we've found some potential investigators and are trying to make contact with some young single adult less-actives.  I texted the Formhals about the Mothers' Day call and I'm still waiting on a response. 

I appreciate your words of wisdom, kindness, and love.  I look forward to this every week.  I love you all and I hope you have a terrific week and I appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers.  I extend mine in return.

Love,

Elder McMurray