Happiness and Agency

Hi Family,
Well over all it has been a really good week, though we had to drop some non-progressing Investigators it has still been a time to be happy. This Transfer I wanted to really focus on having a HAPPY couple weeks. In my studies I have been looking at joy, happiness and trusting in the Lord, all have been excellent topics that brought some greater understanding on what it takes to be happy. The answer to being happy is well AGENCY, WORTHINESS, FAITH, and THE ATONEMENT. All these things are gifts from God that we are able to choose to use in effect of our lives or not.

Yesterday in Church a member of the Bishopric spoke on reading our scriptures. He read to us Lehi's dream and how it is by HOLDING FAST to the Iron Rod, not just clinging to it, that we are able to make it to the Tree Of Life. Also the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and how Jesus is the Living Water for our spirits. Elder David A Bednar said that the most precious and essential commodity in life is "water", the same is for our souls they need to be ever nourished by the Word of God. The member put it like this, "if you're thirsty...then Drink, it is that easy!" haha I loved it. He spoke also how we should Read, Study and Search the scriptures. Read it cover to cover to learn context and the basic variables of what is happening to the people throughout the stories. Study by topic and see patterns that the scriptures hold. Finally Search the scriptures and "Liken" them to our lives, when we are reading are we just saying "oh wow I am glad that Nephi was able to have that experience" or are we internalizing it and asking the REAL QUESTION "Wow from Nephi's experience how can I be able to take that and use that same principle, so that I too can have a similar spiritual experience and build my testimony?"  This talk gave me a great look at myself and the appreciation that I have as a missionary to read everyday and apply the Read, Study, Search in all that I do, BLESSINGS!

Something that I have been able to learn lately is that even after being a missionary how important it is to go and continue to invite others to Christ, whether they be Less Actives or Recent converts or New People. We as Latter Day Saints are always to be missionaries with or without the Tag. Another thing I have been able to think a lot lately about in the future is how everything I learn out here truly prepares me for life with every aspect of life, whether it is working with my church leaders and members, my family and also my future companion, so that I have the constant foundation of spiritual support in my life. Really cool to think about. Now that I have been at my (1 year) hump mark of the mission I have been trying to look at what I have learned and pondering how I will use it at the end of the mission and for all my life. 

I am so blessed to be able to be part of the movement of the church and all the members of the church are as well. Are we doing as the Lord has said "Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness, for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward".-D&C 58:26-27

I love you all and I am doing Great! looking to kick this year of the mission in the rear and help the Lord achieve his mighty work. "FOR THIS IS MY JOY" 

Elder Muirhead

Loving My Mission

Dear Mom,

That is so exciting that they brought so many friends to the Baptism and the church it will lead to great things!

Yes I do have Ontario health care, all the Canadians signed up for it on day one. Thanks for letting me know though, I will handle that after the mission, in the meantime I am covered so don't worry. ^_^

This week has been actually amazingly powerful it has been a huge build of my testimony. I went on exchanges and helped our south Elders find 5 new investigators! It was crazy! the Lord guided us to work our tails off and we were rewarded with many sheaves of the day. 

While I was still on the exchange the sister missionaries called us and told us to rush to the hospital to help a sister in the ward with a blessing. We didn't have any oil vials with us so we ran to the grocery store and bought a bottle of oil and just consecrated it in the cap, haha. When we arrived at the hospital we met the members 2 daughters and they told us of the situation. The sister missionaries failed to inform us that it was a sweet lady who was terminal and about to pass away. I went in confidant and happy only to see this weak and tiny little old child of God. Her name is Edith and she served many years ago in south Africa ( President Monson blessed her, so I touched the same head as a Prophet.) I sealed and blessed her and gave her one of the most powerful and reassuring blessings since my Papa was in a similar situation. I commended her on her services to the Lord and blessed her with peace of mind and a knowledge that the Lord is going to take care of her family and that this is Edith's next step towards the Saviour. I finished with Amen and opened my eyes to the tears of the 2 daughters, such peace and love entered at that moment and we left. I won't forget that moment that I was able to assist in that farewell to a beloved sister in Christ.

We had a phone call chat with our Mission President and we discussed some of our trials and feelings. He counselled me to help everyone come to Christ and strive for the whole work of Salvation. I took his advice a little farther and studied the next day about being a Disciple of Christ. I Loved looking at the simple guidance of the scriptures that I was led to, ex) "Be thou an example of the believers, love one another by this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if you continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed."

We ourselves found some new investigators:

Jenny: is from Granada in the Caribbean, she is a tenant at a members home who we met at a dinner appointment. She is 7th day Adventist, but is open minded to doctrine and the Book of Mormon, she even came to church yesterday. 

  

Steve: we met Steve walking from a less actives home. He stopped us and asked if we wanted to rent out a room in his house for a deal, we in turn for his offer offered him a Book of Mormon and a prayer. Looking forward to see him on Sunday to share more.

The many prayers of my dear ones at home thank you so much they have kept me a float, I love you all so much and without your support this mission would be a whole lot different from what it is now.

Last night we went to a members home for dinner, we shared a video on mormonmessages.org "The Refiner's Fire" it is a crazy video with great visuals. We testified of the Lord being like a blacksmith beating us and changing our raw materials into the true beauty and potential that only his eyes and designs can imagine in us. I felt the refinder's fire strong this week and I am grateful, that the Lord just loves me so much that he would correct and educate me. Newton's Law is that for what ever is lost the opposite is gained, including negative experiences for equal positive ones.

Mom, Dad and littles I love you all so much and can wait to see those handwritten letters from you all. ^_^

Elder Muirhead

I talk to Everyone

Hey Kids: We have a groundhog living across the street form us, we call him "dead meat"

6 Month Mark - Staying in Sudbury!

Dear Mom, 
I love the family picture you sent to me so much! Just to let you know I shall be staying in Sudbury this Transfer (6 more weeks) at the same address with Elder Bowman! Christmas in the frozen North its going to be a blast! We are getting a tree from our Bishop this friday I think? Exciting!

This week we met a young guy named MJ and he is so awesome. He came on the bus to attend church and I taught him with a member (my companion was helping fix a door at the time - service rocks). Anyway he loved to hear the story of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, He said that "I wish I had known this stuff sooner, I want to hear more." Man my heart melted it was great. He's already set a Baptism date of Dec. 14th! Please pray for him as he prepares for Baptism. 

Also this week I found out that one investigator we had in Barrie that we dropped, the sister missionaries are going to baptize this month!! I couldn't believe it or sleep that night. Blessings!

This week we had two Elders come stay with us due to a special meeting for the leaders, so we went on transfers with them I got to be with Elder Tuilotolava From Tonga for 2 days. He is EPIC! made me feel like "Kolipoki" from The Other Side of Heaven movie. hahaha 

One thing that I really love to do on Mondays is to watch the Bible videos, they make the scriptures just come to life and help me see and feel how they really impact all of us. (there is a new one that is awesome, Jesus walking on water).

NOAH!!! Happy Birthday little man! Wow 10 years old now that went fast. I remember you as a little baby coming home for the first time which was so exciting cause I wasn't able to see you while you were in the hospital NICU (kinda ticked me off). But I got you and I STILL LOVE YA! Have the best day ever!

I'm Going to be burning my 6 month tie today...it's an ugly one.

Love Elder Muirhead

Oh yeah! The Muirhead Building!! Represent

P.S.
Mom thank you for sharing those amazing ideas. I will for sure think on the attitude of gratitude and how it affects our positivity. Love it!

Transfers (kind of) still in Barrie

Serving for 56 Days, almost 9 weeks!

Hey mama 

So this is the start of my second transfer time, but I am staying right where I am in Barrie with Elder Baumgartner! Elder B has been called as District Leader and we are getting all new missionaries and trainers in the District and I can't wait. 

Yesterday was so amazing I was givin the opportunity to give a talk on "Spiritual Protection" based on a talk by President Packer, It went so well. I love this topic so much, to be able to grow to perfection especially in faith, in moroni 7 it reminds us that we all know what we need to do and can judge the difference between good and evil. We also got the chance to finally see 2 less active families who we have been trying hard to meet them. Both understand they need a change, as they say "back to who they were" and we are working hard to pray for their aid. 

I would love to get these photos you included in your email Mom sent to me in photos in a package. So proud of the girls (Tanisha, Shae and Ellen) for their Graduation and they look great and happy, Lola's pic is so cute too, and of course Mama gorgeous as ever - the elders were asking who you were haha "dats my mama!!" 

We met our new Mission President Clayton he is very amazing and you can just feel the love off him and his wife. He is a doctor and delivers babies (9000 to be exact) Sister Clayton has a masters in religious history and women of the church she's really funny. 

quick snapshot today. love you mom!

As far as bugging friends to write me I would say ALL OF THEM! Please bug them. I LOVE mail lol! Nan and Pa sent me a huge box full of just cereal it was sweet!

Glad Brett got my letter, I'm anxious to hear back from him. 

I'm also praying for that other situation you mentioned Mom. I am excited for this next few weeks in Barrie it will be great. I got a message from Sister Cortney Kindt which made me pretty happy to hear from her. 

Mom the Lord has blessed our family So much I can feel it all the way from here, and he will continue to do so as we remain faithful. I am fitting into my routine finally and am excited to meet new people on this Wednesday.

Remember that you and everyone else is loved by this guy! 

Elder Muirhead

I don't have much time today but here is a quick pic!