Hello me familia!!

Hello me familia!! 

Well another new area here in Bowmanville. It is a little more east of Toronto, so not so far north this winter so far, YES!!! I am still District leader here, and I have Elder Brand as my companion. Elder Brand is from outside of Las Vegas Nevada, he is a Goliath at 6'5 tall. He is so funny and we love our companionship so far. We live in a basement suit of the Johnston family which is very different then always being in an apartment, it is smaller but it is enough for us to get everything done. This area covers a few little towns and Oshawa as well, because Bowmanville isn't too too big. The ward here is fantastic! I don't think I have met a friendlier ward in my mission so far. A lot of the members here are European- England, Scotland, Portugal, and Greece, Super cool. The ward here is super missionary minded and works really well together which is a huge weight off of our shoulders compared to previous areas. Our WML is Brother Sherlock (coolest name ever) is a business man and works this ward mission effort very thoroughly with mission plans and actions. 

One of the COOLEST things about this area is that there is a member here who is a retired private investigator who owns a Jiu Jitsu dojo on his property and he invites the missionaries to come and participate in the classes for free and chat with the students if they so desire. A lot of members attend there too so it is a good ward "bonding experience". I loved it so much, plus on Mondays we have free access to their gym all to ourselves, which was fantastic today. Quickly becoming one of the best areas ever!! As far as the work goes we haven't found much investigators but Returning members are popping up here and there which is amazing. One Brother after 5 years called us telling us he wanted us to help his family return to activity! Amazing right! 

The Leaves are falling and are so beautifully colored.

Oh and there is a homemade zoo here that is super tiny but we walked by it day 1 and we saw Giraffes peeking over the fence to see us. SOO COOL...who knew that a small town like this would have monkeys, elephants and stuff? Pretty sweet! 

We saw this on a church sign this week "Fall for Jesus, because he never Leaves" hahaha

Sooo Liberal Government huh? A lot of the members are ticked...me too but that's okay we have next election...No offence to liberal voters. ^_^

In my studies I have been focusing on one or two Christ like attributes and going deeper into their meaning and application for me specifically. I look for similes, scripture references and then look for what keeps me from living up to those things and then ways that I can improve in them.

Love love love you all and I was so happy to see pictures of you all from Nana and Papa.

Elder Muirhead

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN!!

I'm Transferring Again!

Hey Mom and Dad!

What an amazing week that we had, first off President let all the new missionaries and their trainers go to the Toronto Temple. "YES!" It was so fantastic and this time I was feeling more comfortable and able to go and feel the spirit more profoundly. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had to go there for now 3 times thus far. 

Starting with some scary news....It snowed this weekend ahhhh!! just kidding I was like a small child on sunday as I came out of PEC meeting and saw it dumping fresh snow. I just had to go out and nail Elder Toly with a snowball before church...so I did. 

Well we had out transfer calls last night and Elder Toly and I shall be splitting ways, he will stay in London and I will be going to Bowmanville....No idea where that is but I believe it is a branch oh man out in the boonies again for winter. I will be serving with Elder Brand and he is a Goliath of a man... when I show you pics you will understand more. I served around him when he first came out here in Don mills. Super Excited!! So those post cards may get to me a little later than expected but I shall receive them eventually!

I was so happy to hear about your new company membership and that the products were able to do miracles for you. What a blessing it is for me to hear that you are feeling cloud 9 right now. I myself am doing fine my back isn't killing me and my pills are still working 100%.  No worries for me at all. 

I saw that you said that I sent you a great christmas idea and then I looked back and found ....I didn't send you one hahaha I AM SORRY! AHHH gift ideas are not my forte.

I love you all SOOO much and hope that your prep for Halloween goes super sweet!!!  Halloween up that ride out guys and send me pics of trunk or treat from Sidney Ward! 

Elder Muirhead

Ps. I gave a Book of Mormon to a Whale...winning!

Happy Thanksgiving 2015!

Hey family! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We all had a fantastic time so far. We had a dinner last night with the Yawney family they have the most adorable kids ever!!! Their little man is always crawling on me and I keep wishing I could just scoop him up. Tonight we have another dinner with Dustin and his mom with some members it is going to be yummy for sure. 

Today we had a stake wide Turkey bowl, epic games of football total blast. we had a 2/3 winning streak which wasn't to bad. 

The colors of the leaves are changing and it is so beautiful I love the fall time, but the aftermath is something I am dreading....

Although Christmas is around the corner and I still have my stocking and nativity waiting and ready to be unleashed. The difficult thing is I have no idea what I really want for Christmas..such a challenge on a mission, sorry Mom I'll think about it more. 

Transfer calls will be on Sunday and I am thinking that I may be going another round here in London but hey you never know right. 

I was able to go and attend a specialty training meeting ( all the leaders meet with each other for a conference), It took several hours but I learned so much. I learned that I really need to focus on the doctrinal points of my lessons and not just hit the topics in each discussion. As I do that I am able to better teach by the spirit. I made a great district meeting on that principle that I will throw on dropbox...along with a few things I forgot to do.

I love all the pictures that I have been able to get it is always a joy to see all your faces! And that the food is looking super tasty ;) 

Love you all so much and hope that you remember that we should always give thanks to him that gives us all!!

Elder Muirhead

Conference was AMAZING and a letter to Josh

What a fantastic week of inspired messages from what Elder Bednar would say "men that I love!" I began my week writing down questions of my soul that I had a desire to know and to look forward to achieving in my life and not to distant future. I know for a fact that the church is true and that prophets and apostles are under the direction of Jesus Christ, I know this because all of my questions were answered all the way through to what I desired and more in depth. Conference on a mission is a spectacular thing to look forward to "Missionary Super Bowl" for sure. I am so glad to hear that you guys went down and witnessed it in person, I remember doing the same when I was JJ's age and it is one of the best feelings being on those grounds of sacred history. Amazing to hear that so many friends and family gathered together to join in, wish I too would have been there but alas I watched from our little chapel in London Ontario, either way the Lord spoke to me. 

We in the Canada Toronto Mission made a focus to invite as many people to watch Conference with us as possible and trust me that is a lot of invites from a ton of devoted servants anxiously awaiting the blessed weekend. I pray that many even watched from home and may have built their faith even a little bit. 

The greatest thing that I think I will work on from hearing all the wisdom is to simplify the gospel in my life and enjoy it more thoroughly. As well as Strengthening my roots of faith, thus being able to better support my foundation of Christ and enlarge the branches of my testimony that I may be fruitful in sharing the truth to my fellow brethren. 

We have lost our summer what in the world!? Time just flew on by. To be honest it feels very strange going through another upcoming cold winter (my last one for a while hopefully.)

I thought I would try to work on the PONDER-IZE idea each week and see how it goes. Going to start with my favorite Book of Mormon Scripture- Moroni 10:32-34. 

I pray that the Lord may be able to help me see where I lack yet and help strengthen me to accomplish the things he has called me for. 

Another weird thought that I have in my mind is that my trainer Elder Baumgartner will be going home. (dying in mission lingo) 

One goal that I will be working on is the long awaited missionary challenge "6 months to sexy challenge" missionaries go and work out hard to prepare for the end of their missions and be ready for YSA hahaha. stocked up on whey protein mix and now I need to set up a could routines and go hard at it! Stoked! 

My dear family and friends I love ya and hope that you may continue to ponder over the many wonderful things we have heard and been commanded to follow by God himself. Doctrine and covenants 1:38- "whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." 

-Elder Muirhead

JOSH!! I am so grateful to have gotten you letter thank you so much it was a huge treat to my week. 

I am so proud of who you are and how the Lord is shaping you I heard from many people about you sharing your testimony and how you did wonderfully. Some even compared the spirit you had to how you may feel in the apostles presence. I cannot wait to go and bear testimony with you when I return! we will take the world by storm! 

Isn't Conference awesome! Although I always make fun of Utah for how weird the missionaries are and some of the people there, I do have a huge love for the Salt Lake City Temple grounds and the Conference center. 

Keep up with seminary and don't slack in it like I did! go all out and build your testimony not because I want it but because the Lord wants it.

Remember that you are a son of God and as you go throughout high school, keep away from the dangers that you already know lurk there. Like peter says in

1 peter 5:8- "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

High school is FULL of LIONS! Drugs, immorality, drinking, bad words and habits, and the most difficult....girls :p 

Keep true and strong and wait for girls when your 16 (just group date then)! You will be blessed. Focus your time to your family, schooling and the most important the Lord! 

What was your favorite talk in conference? what are you learning in seminary? favorite scripture at all? 

OH how I love you lil' man! I am proud to be your brother and always will.

Elder Muirhead