Easter Weekend and General Conference

Happy Easter my Beloved Family! Alleluia the Tomb is Empty and HE is Risen.

I am so grateful for the chance I have had to celebrate my first mission Easter which has been surprisingly more exciting experience than even Christmas....yes even Christmas.

I received your packages with a giant grin on my face as I couldn't wait to open such a fun gift, thank you so much for the back roller ;) love it! Sunday morning we had a mission wide call in and we read John 19-20 and D&C 138 to worship and better understand the magnitude of the TRIUMPH of the Lord Jesus Christ. He over came sin in the Garden, He died on the cross fulfilling the prophecies of ancient prophets, and He organized deliverance to the captives in the spirit world including the sinful souls, and the He overcame death itself for us to also overcome it and become glorious in the future presence of the Father of the Universe. AMAZING!!!

General Conference was just amazing, Elder Jefferey R. Holland of course of course was #1 in my book. He solidified the true meaning of the Atonement and Easter weekend. I also enjoyed the story of the Naviho Indian at the hospital "I can teach you to dance, but it is up to you to hear the music", Alma 5:26 talking about the song of redeeming love is a perfect connection and it made me truly think if I am constantly hearing the spirit of the Lord and being continually grateful for it. 

Mom and Dad I am amazed by the loving talks at Papa's funeral, it is a miracle to hear the change and constant growth of your testimonies as you have been in the service of the Lord alongside me. 

When Elder Neil L. Anderson spoke about Elisha and his servant, how God opened the servant's eyes and saw the armies of Heaven behind Elisha. It made we think and imagine the amount of the hosts of Heaven who are behind us every waking moment INCLUDING Papa. Though I haven't felt him or seen him, I don't have too see him to know if he is or isn't with me. I know my Grandpa and I know his boundless love for his family...he never left. (something I prayed about in the Temple that gave me great comfort a few weeks ago.)

We had a miracle happen yesterday, a Less active sister named Sunnessa of 20 years (she left at 14) who we had seen on the bus and never was able to yet meet with was praying for guidance as she is leaving her husband and taking her 2 year old boy Aiden too. Early Easter morning I texted her to invite her to General Conference, she took it as a sign and brought her less active Mother and her son. We talked after and she expressed her situation to us and told us her desire to change and return after a long time. I was so excited to hear that she wanted the gospel for Aiden and to leave her non member husband till she could be sealed in the Temple forever. I commended her for her choice and reassured her that all will be well, I told her of my childhood and how "I was Aiden." She told me "You're just meant to be MY missionary!" I have been praying for confirmation as to why I have been in this area of Don Mills, and I discovered it finally! I also told her that because of the faith and love of my mother I knew the gospel and I knew how to pray at a young age, which I prayed that my mother would find her companion and I just know that Aiden will be the key to that family tie and I am Excited to witness it happen in future years!!

I love you Mom and Dad, Josh, Brigs, Noah, Lola!

Happy Easter!

Elder Muirhead

His Late Grandpa's Missionary Tag in his jacket next to his heart. 

LDS Missionary Elder Muirhead Funeral Tribute to his Grandpa Bernie Wynder

Here is the Video of my son Dylan (Elder Muirhead) currently serving a 2 year Mission. Elder Muirhead shares his personal memories and testimony for those in our family circle. This video was originally intended to be shared the day of his Grandpa Bernie Wynder's funeral but it didn't arrive in time. This video is unlisted and can only be accessed by this link for our immediate family and close friends as well as his blog.

Thanks for letting us share this special video with you, we hope it touches your heart as it did ours.

The Christmas Parade

Dear Family,

Well what a crazy busy week! We had a fun time getting Elder Erueti as one of our new zone leaders, He is from New Zealand (we make fun of his sick accent, we love it)!  This week we had the Zone leaders in our car due to mechanic appointments and we were asking each other what our power animal is (This is where you pick an animal and then look for signs of that animal for 2 weeks and if you see it then it is your power animal).  So, one Elder said moose, Another picked a rooster randomly. And they asked me and I of course picked my favorite animal "a wolf"  then they all said "Man, everyone picks that! So lame."  Not even 5 minutes later a timber wolf runs across the road in front of our car. We all FREAKED OUT! "Ok ok man you're a wolf!" It was so hilarious.

Do You Want To Build A Snowman? 

Elder Bowman and I went contacting for a while and came across a man named Jim who had a Uhaul and was moving his motor bike into it. We offered our help since he had trouble even getting it over the bumps of snow to his street curb. So Elder Bowman goes to town shovelling and I started to talk to him about who we are and what we do. He is a Baptist and loves the Lord and thought that what we were doing was great and he welcomed us back to give him a Book of Mormon and to talk about it. We prayed with him before we left and when I closed my prayer, he then started his own add-on of his own for our sakes and to praise our Heavenly father. I thought it was super cool to have that added blessing from a fellow brother in Christ.

This weekend we prepared for the Sudbury Christmas Parade and the ward came and made a float! All of the Elders went and handed out candies and pass along cards to kids and parents (30000 of them). There were lots of amazing 50 foot long floats involved and then us with our little trailer float. We actually had more pictures in the youtube slideshow of the parade from the photographers of the parade than other floats. (we watched it in priesthood so don't worry I'm not an apostate missionary - wink) 

So after a busy long and hard working week we were pooped, Elder Bowman fell asleep for a bit during planning as I turned to the map to pick a street to go visit, it took only 10 seconds and he was gone. Awww.

Can't wait to hear from you and love you all my family! 

Elder Muirhead

Survived another Transfer!! I'm a REAL Missionary NOW!

Dear Home 

This is the End of my missionary training yay!! I am now a full fledged Real Missionary!!

Transfers happened but I am still in the same spot and lucky enough to remain with Elder Baumgartner, YES!!! So now we can hopefully get some people baptized!!

Elder Muirhead - bottom right

This week has been crazy we have had no time to go finding people, our schedule was jam packed with lessons and actual TEACHING! YAY. The total of lessons we taught this transfer was 50!! so sick! Yesterday we taught gospel principles lesson "gifts of the spirit." This was a great lesson to learn from others experiences and impressions of the spirit in so many ways. The most interesting is the part where it speaks on satans impressions of Gift of the Spirit. Wait what? he can do that?? Yes he can, as he makes things desirable and at first seem of God but they are not. Moses had to face the sorcerers in pharohs court when they both turned rods into snakes, But the Lord is MUCH stronger. Satan can appear as an angel of light, but we have the Holy Ghost to be able to decipher the difference between light and darkness.

We went and visited an old investigator and her friend next door came and talk to us named... get ready Muirheads "Maximus" he needed some help moving a couch, and we invited him to play some basketball. 

So sorry to hear that our beloved family dog Bailey passed away, Nan and Pa I hope you are doing ok and you know that I am praying for you at this time. We will see her again.

I got a pic of our last district and will get one for our new one soon.

grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ....and Elder Muirhead!!! I LOVE YOU!

The ACTUAL First Letter from the MTC

UPDATE:
Elder Muirhead left the MTC yesterday - Jun 2, 2014 and flew with a few members of his MTC District to the Toronto Canada Mission. We heard from him very briefly at the Minneapolis airport just checking in to say he was travelling, safe and with the best guys in the world. He loves those Elders! He was excited to land in Toronto and finally meet his Mission President. (he had heard from his friends Natasha and Ashley, Thanks for writing to him he was really wanting to hear from his friends!).

Our family, knowing that he was travelling on what would likely be his P-day (preparation day when they can write home) anticipated we wouldn't get a letter from him for another week. However the tears flowed when the mail came because there was a handwritten letter there from Elder Muirhead in our mailbox.

When Missionaries first arrive at the MTC they write home, so THIS was that first quick letter. As a Mom, I can tell you that it came at the perfect time! I was definitely missing my kid and wondering if I could survive this whole week without his email. What a blessing to hear from our boy, here's his letter from Day 1 at the MTC - can't believe he's already out in Toronto area serving! - Elder M's Mom!


"May 21, 2014
Well day one complete success! As I was dropped off I was the only one at the curb, but I got a little more time to say goodbye to Aunt Marlene and Uncle Cornell.

First thing they took me to the front desk for my tag, then dropped my things in a room till after lunch and processing. The FOOD is really good here and you get as much as you want!

After getting my booklets and the rest of processing I was directed to my room/residence building. Class orientation was after, where we met our District and my Companion Elder Munyer. He is my comp and he is from Riverside, California going to serve in Salt Lake South. My comp. and I get along just fine and we were able to work pretty good in our investigator training.

When we did our investigator training their are about 50 missionaries. Everyone has a great excitement and spirit here, making it more like HOME.

Overall it was a great day with no anxiety, no worries, just laughs and testimonies. I AM EXCITED to see what the rest of the week will bring.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Remember that Elder Muirhead loves you my family!

Feel free to ask questions!

God Bless,
Elder Muirhead

P.S. Our prep day starts Thursday and we get 60 mins for Emails :) "

He Has Written! - MTC

Hey Mom (and everyone),  I'm doing awesome! Thursday is our P day here and man oh man have we been busy.

Our district is so much fun and super hilarious, we love each other like brothers. On Tuesday we had practiced to be in choir for the devotional (which Elder Russell M. Nelson came for!) The message he gave us was so simple yet powerful "Your missionary purpose can be answered in 4 words 'We Serve Jesus Christ'."

We watched a message from Elder Bednar as well on Sunday, that changed almost our whole view on what we know so far on our work. 

 Just a little taste of our day to day schedule, 6:30 we wake up, either get gym time or get ready for our first class studies. Then we have personal and companion study, class instruction is a little later but lasts hours. During class we are able to learn from PMG and role play investigators to prepare for our actual investigators. The first week has been hard, but we all have grown so much on our understanding of gospel principles, also most important how to reach the investigators soul with the spirit. Yesterday me and Elder Munyer my companion Finally found out how to reach deep and teach an amazing lesson, We almost cried after we were so ecstatic! 

To answer some questions from everyone:

- I am definitely used to wearing a suit all day, but nothing beats a pair of sweat pants later in the day!

- I read scriptures all day and all over the place depending on the topics that will help my understanding and answer our investigators

-the food here is actually really good my favorite so far in that we had sloppy joes one day mmmmmm

- One of our inside jokes we have as a district happened when we got our tour of the grounds, in one of the buildings we found that one of the bathrooms have the number 007 therefore when ever we need to go we call it "the James" or "the bond". I'm sooooo using that in the field its hilarious

- My companion and I get along greatly and we can teach, talk, and share on the same page and with unison its pretty sweet

- OH yesterday I found Sister Karli Bosler (my second cousin) and got to take a pic with her and talk, she is so cool and we decided that after our missions we would hang out and try to get a Reunion engaged!

- Wednesdays are when all the New missionaries come and after my class in the evening who should I see but Elder Shaefer!! We gave the biggest Hugs and.... I didn't have my camera on my person but don't worry moms I'll get the pic!

Thank you all also for the sweet letters and the deliciousness in those packaged the elders all say thank you for being so awesome!

Can't believe only 4 more days till Toronto, My district has 2 others coming with me and that will be nice to know people to start the journey together.

Time flies when working for the Lord, remember to continue learning and to share characters of Christ while at home. 2nd great commandment LOVE thy neighbor!!! 

So happy to hear about the "heart attack" on the house mom haha so cute you are so loved and looked after. I miss you all so much but at the same time they keep us so busy we don't even have time to think about home.

My Brothers Josh, Brigs, Noah, I love you all and miss you remember to help Mom and to clean the toilets....just kidding, but please take the time to read your scriptures and tell mom and dad what you learned about Jesus. That book will help you sooooo much even more if you start now!

Lola bug, Dylan loves you soooo much and can't believe i've been gone away for a week without your snuggles, kisses and yes even a kick to the groin but oh well.

Mom Dad thank you for being so loving and patient with me while I was learning to not be such a dummy and just listen to the teachings of Christ. 

I love you all and unfortunately the MTC computers would not let me access my camera so you may have to wait a bit to see pictures but I am excited to share the moments! 

Love, 

Elder Muirhead

umm Im pretty sure I have hayfever? but I found some drugs to help out so still recuperating. 

PS: 

My district you can look up on their lds pages 

Elder Logan Munyer

Elder Ty Beyeler

Elder Aaron Fjeldsted

Elder Austin Scarlett

Elder Kalin Despain

These are my home boys!! 

My Comp (Elder Munyer) is from River Side, California and he is going to Salt lake south. He loves music and is an adrenaline junky. He as well as everyone else thinks of me as having an accent from being in Canada....eh..

Such punks so instead I did an American accent and got them back hahahaha i love these guys! 

PPS:

********

If you could do me a favor and ask people again to send letters/ emails that would be amazing!!!!! 

I haven't heard from ANY of my friends and just remind them that I love them and WISH TO HEAR FROM THEM!!! Tell them if they love me... WRITE ME!! haha

BUT I am so happy that my family writes me ^_^ 

PPPS:

oh our travel plans are that we leave monday and fly to Minneapolis, to Toronto nice and early with yes another layover! 

Well my hour is up and I have some laundry to do! talk to you Monday! love love love ya. Going to the temple today, I'm super stoked

And He's Off!

Last family pic for two years. We all piled into the van to take our Missionary to the airport. 

Off to the Provo, MTC (Missionary Training Centre) where he'll stay for two weeks.

Aunt Marlene and Uncle Cornell picked him up at the airport in SLC and had a fun evening with him before he reported to the MTC the next morning. 

Lovingly dropped off at the MTC by Aunt Marlene and Uncle Cornell. He ADORES them, and can't wait to visit them again when he's finished his mission. He already told me about how cool they are and how much he loves them.

 AND HE'S OFF!! Two weeks in the MTC and then he'll wing his way to the Toronto Canada Mission to serve others for two years.

I'll be updating this blog with his letters as they arrive to share with our friends and family. - Elder Muirhead's Momma. D.