Barrie Turning to Fall

Dear Family! What an awesome week of emotions, it was overwhelming. unfortunately our investigator Jason dropped us because he didn't yet fully believe in modern revelation, but the real issue was his commitment to change. On the plus side Christine is getting married this week!! Ryan her son and her are getting baptized on the 27th!!!! I'M SO HAPPY !!!

Also on the 27th is our missionary temple trip so I'm going to be spiritually and emotionally explosive haha. We went on an exchange with the Zone leaders, Elder Adams and I went and hit the concrete, though kinda hard to do while the summer is officially over, really...it's fall weather now it left in a blink of an eye, 10 degrees... I asked Elder Adams to give me more instruction on how to continue to improve my questions and contacting people, He gave me the tip to write questions in my study journal and answer them with the scriptures and other resources to be prepared for those moments. We are looking for more families to teach as well as college students to add to the Primary and YSA, the College is actually so much fun to contact people our own age man so funny. We coincidentally enough met a guy named Sunday and he said "college kids I don't think are to into religion stuff" haha "You'd be surprised!" " Oh." 

We met a woman named Crystal on the way Downtown and turns out she was married in our church 14 years ago, we spoke of families forever and she felt the spirit there so we set a return appointment. When we went to the door there was a note on the door, "please don't knock, no jevova's and mourmons or any other door to door religion, we don't want to talk to you and will talk to you when we want in our own time." Crystal and Wes. Well......., We knocked anyways HAHA. no answer but it was still really strange and sad when people turn away after feeling light. 

Other than that it has been kinda slow with lessons and dinners, But the Good Lord provides enough and we are doing great running on the spirit and..universe juice! 

I think it's in Ezekiel 2 were it speaks of us being among scorpions and to preach the gospel to all even if they accept the message or not, which is so true and I am training myself to be of a good courage to do just that.

Congrats to my little brother Brigham going to be a Deacon on sunday WOOT WOOT! atta go bro proud of you!  

I love you all don't forget to take the time to feed your spirits with church, prayer and reading the scriptures, Or as we missionaries call it "spiritual CPR."

Great Love,

Elder Muirhead

Barrie, Nerf Gun Wars, and Mission President

Hello everyone, 

What a crazy week full of yet more exciting miracles, good laughs, hard times, and I receive them all so I may have experience. I had a fun time on exchange in Orillia with Elder Yonalunis, we had nerf gun wars in the apartment, got Tim hortons, pranked each other what a blast! He helped me realize I need to trust even more in the Lord for guidance in my prayers and to ask when ever I feel lost which is something I have been slowly implementing in my routine. There was a huge lightning storm that night while we were at a members house for dinner, we thought that trees were coming down ( some trees did..) But we made it safe and got a cool light show in the sky from the lightning.

Stake conference was very well done on Saturday, the theme is missionary work and President Clayton and his wife both spoke and motivated the stake, I love them. Sunday Kristen and Ryan both came to church! YAY!! They are moving forward so well and finally we have been able to look forward to a baptism or two in the next few weeks.

Amazing enough our first investigator Alec has been miserable without us and we were able to meet with him again and work again on commitment issues. He did not attend church yet...gaaaaahhh, work in progress.

Yesterday we got to teach a addict named Randy, who Used to be a drug dealer in Toronto selling cocaine and pot...nice guy though! He really wants to change his life to feel more spiritual again, so we invited him to go to a addiction recovery program this week which he said he would love to go. 

We went to visit Tara and give her a blessing, as we knocked and were about the leave she came and sat down totally drunk and a man in a truck comes and talks totally rude to us "come on Tara you don't want to talk to these losers, they can take a hike." Elder Baumgartner asked what was going on "I dont see how that's any of you buisness" Then I stepped in and said that we are her friends and want to make sure she is ok, but he took Tara inside and locked up....awkward. 

I still Love being a missionary

Elder Muirhead

Attached are pics of me being a goof ball

"I Am Not Ashamed of The Gospel of Christ"

Dear Family,

This week has been one of miracles and took a lot of energy and effort. We have taught and pushed people to "Come unto Christ",  but had seen no progress for a while. After sadly dropping those who are not yet ready, we turned to those who are, and low and behold Kristen and her 4 kids all came to church for the first time, Also the whole 3 hours amazing! She is now an LDS bookworm and Has almost everything under the sun downloaded on her phone from the App store, Her son Ryan is still totally excited to be baptized, he is so into the Book of Mormon stories, especially when the Lamanites cause trouble, "What the heck people, what's your problem?!" he would say I love this kid. Another miracle one of her daughters opened up and shared that she didn't really know who God was, so as missionaries do we told her "you are a precious daughter of God and he loves you more than you know." we touched on how she can know God for herself and build that foundation in Christ. 

Jason, Another miracles, refused alcohol on the weekend at his families home so he can stay on his path to quit it and smoking. Last night I gave the most spiritual blessing I have given or heard, my soul was touched and I felt the genuine love God has for his son. He wants to quit smoking on Monday the 8th so proud!

We found a chinese young man named Brian, and he is Christian. So we ask him about prophets and gets actually really excited to hear it and gave his address to us. Check this he lives downstairs to a man we previously tried to teach and he denied us. hahaha when we went by "hey Jack, do you have an exchange student living here with you" " yes I do want to talk to him guys?" SOOOO Mind blowing.

The week has have BC rain weather like mad and I finally only today got a rain jacket with a hood for the hours of proselyting time we do. I also have a confession to make... I now have a tie addiction I love ties now and am stoked whenever a missionary and I trade to spice up the one thing we can. 

So if you want to freak my mind out in joy and laughter = ties are perfect hahaha

This church is so true and I made sure my investigators know it as I testify to them in their homes, on the street, or in testimony meetings. I now feel as Paul the apostle said " I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ" Family and friends we are of the most true church in the world the only fully true one and because of that title we must share it with our brethren around us. I challenge all that read this to bear testimony to a non member of the church this week!!! Blessings


will pour upon you I swear by it. 

Love your Missionary

the book is blue the church is true 

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!

Happy Birthday Brigs and Driving the 401

Dear Family,
I'm glad you all got to meet up In Victoria lately. You haven't sent me pic of the new house yet Mom and Dad! I love the pic of me and Taryn as little kids, that was so great to finally see though haha she sent it to me too. 

This week has been so rainy I thought I was home, and because of the rain we have been kinda slower with our findings. On the other hand we have been seeing Jason who is working so hard on his Baptismal date we set with him. He has cut down on smoking to only 10 a day and got himself medication for his anxiety so he is a lot more receptive to people and especially to the Spirit. He recognizes the change and thanks God for it, really amazing humble prayer yesterday from him. Help us pray for him to make it to church! 

I was kinda concerned with a question I had with the Lord this week, "Am I really being inspired by the Spirit to speak and go where he wants me to or is it just me?" Yesterday we went to go see Matt and Smith, and Smith had some health issues and asked me to give him a blessing. I was excited to offer it and I listened to the words from heaven patiently, and then I got my answer that although the words I may speak sound normal to me, but to others it is what they need at that present moment and heaven sent. I testify that missionaries are ordained of God and have the authority to do his work on the earth which cannot be stopped until the coming of our Savior.

Today I have to drive all the way from Barrie to Brentford which is two and a half hours drive both ways and through Toronto 401 highway....YAY! rush hour will be great on the way back haha. 

I wish invite you to reflect on your prayers each day, are you saying them as a conversation time with the Lord, are you asking specific questions so you may recieve revelations, and are you at the close waiting after listening for the spirit to answer you?

As you do so your prayers will become more of a joy to you, and you will understand to things the Lord wishes for you to know and have at the present moment. But we have to "ask" and "recieve" it to gain that answer! This I am learning.

To each of you I wish the best week ever! Especially my little brother Brigham!! Happy Birthday this week buddy I love you so much and am thinking of you I will look and see If I can't get a little "something something" for you. 12 Years old wow Deacon time woot woot, these are the times to look forward to Brigs and I hope you and Josh learn more as to what the Priesthood means and how you can use it, let me challenge both of you boys to Pass the Sacrament Each Week! As you do, you will feel the spirit and will be able to fullfill some of your responsiblities as a Deacon. 

Breaking for the drive now.

Made it back, the road was pretty busy but nothing I can't handle. The doctor wanted to learn more on my history, I'm doing good.

Sunday is end of transfer Mom so if you are going to mail stuff try to do it before like Thursday at latest I think, Or wait to see what happens. But you can send it tomorrow or the next day and it should make it. I am so beat from driving for 5 hours haha man oh man. I hope you have a great week Mom and Dad love you lots!

Love 

Elder Muirhead

Squirrel in the Coat Room - (Barrie)

Dear Family,
Well this week we finally met a member a famous Canadian wrestling family. He is the most hilarious guy ever! He talks about the most random things, on Sunday he was walking to church and saw a dead squirrel and decided to bury it. Then 5 minutes later he found a baby squirrel half dead twitching and figured that he would just put it in his bag and bring it to church so he can make sure its ok. Turns out the squirrel was JUST FINE and went all over the coat room and some members had to catch it, SOOOO funny!!!

We met a man named Jason who was kind of looking low and we said Hi and started to talk with him. He loved that people noticed he existed. He has depression and anxiety, He said that he knows he wants to go to church and be saved. The problem is that when we go by his house he is most likely past out from alcohol which he uses to self medicate, I really want to help him out. Good news he has a Baptismal date though....I wonder if he remembers? 

One companionship had a Baptism, it was awesome, all the Missionaries participated including me. I spoke on Baptism briefly which was such an honour. It's just amazing the choice he is making to follow Jesus Christ, I talked about how the blessings of my own Baptism affect and help me in my life.

Our song last week at our Zone meeting went really well. We sang "Lord, I Would Follow Thee" with 3 Sister Missionaries and one other Elder and me. So that plus a talk on Baptism and more wow busy. But I am always busy talking to people.

Zone Meeting

I have been wanting to do more family history lately, so I've been asking for help with that from Muirheads and Wynders super excited!

Well next week I will be a bit later on writing to you due to a road trip I have. I'm just going to visit the mission doctor, but it's no big deal just about my medication. So yeah, just know I love you all and enjoy every single Monday when I get to hear how you are doing and all the crazy stories of your adventures.

With great love,

Elder Muirhead

*Elder Muirhead also wrote some personal emails to each of his siblings this week, but those won't be posted. The kids are thrilled to hear notes specifically to them. 

Miracles in Barrie

Hey Mama, Dad and family. Sorry we had P-day moved due to a holiday on Monday, so you get me today! yay! 

I did as you asked me Mom and sent you my written letter and my testimony in the mail today! This week has been interesting for sure, we went to visit non member friends of a sister in our ward, "Flo and Hubert" they are an older Jamaican couple and they are so awesome! We went to do some service and pruned their trees they in return gave us jerk chicken. She then said " My friend made it for you, not me!" I then returned with "You could have put it on a plate and we would have thought it was you haha!" She then laughs and slaps my arm and says" I"m no Fake!" lol We love her, I decided to call her Grandma Flo when I talk about her with Elder B. 

Elder B. Is doing great as a District Leader, his lessons and the way he focuses on goals is actually quite inspiring. Our last District meeting was in Orillia and we went on a finding hour to help them out. We came across a man named Mike who is Baptist, he called us a cult a few times to which we asked "do you know what a cult is?" no answer but just debated to how to be saved by the blood of Christ alone and had no interest in listening to anything we had to say even though we used all Bible references. Oh well, it's sad when people won't talk with you.

This weekend we had a crazy experience, it was Fast Sunday and we needed to find some new Investigators to teach so I prayed for that in my fast. We went to go visit an investigator we have right now and park, as we did a lady is walking by, I get out of the car and she say to us " holy **** I think i'm in the wrong place?" We thought she meant cause of us but she eventually told us she had brain damage from drug over dose and doesn't remember too well but wanted to say thanks to God for her life! So we gave her a Book of Mormon and taught her how to pray and walked to her friends house which is next door to where we were going (What??!) Our Investigators Mom was outside and we gave her a Book of Mormon also and prayed with her SO SWEET 2 miracles in 5 mins! GRIN

Yesterday we were walking back to the apartment and I decided to walk on one side of the street where we found (not a minute later) a man who stopped and talked to us and told me that he has depression and anxiety issues and thought it was cause of his sins and that God was punishing him. I told him it was just a normal struggle and that the Lord loves him, he feels people look down on him alot. He also said he wants to be saved and we offered to come teach him to which he accepted, so we shall see how he does.

Miracles are unfolding In Barrie!! Thank you for your prayers for me and my companion they are of great importance to us.

The Gospel is true, and by faith and diligence the Spirit is able to guide us in our life and to reach our goals.

I love you like souls need saving 

like Moses needs his rod

like John Tanner needs his leg

like Thomas S. Monson needs to wiggle his ears and more!

Love you all!

Elder Muirhead

P.S. - hey I forgot to mention that tomorrow it is our Zone Training and I am singing in the musical number with other missionaries the song, "Lord I would Follow Thee." it will be great.

P.P.S.-

Can you and Dad help me with my Family History info and send me some names to look up? I asked both sets of my Grand parents today to help me as well but I looked and listed there is only up to 4 gens back on dads side. I felt like we can do better then that..... LET DO IT TOGETHER K !!!

Josh, Brigs, Noah and Lola - I got a "must have shirt" haha nanananannana BATMAN! love ya!

Hope you all get my letter soon.

Dad, what was your biggest fear was on your mission and how did you overcome it? and What was the weirdest or funniest moment you had on your Mission?