Barrie - Rolled Ankle, Getting Fed and Narnia - BONUS Birthday Message for Josh

Dear Family, has it already been 6 weeks? It's nuts!!

This week has been HOT HOT HOT the humidity is crazy! But it is super fun to see Barrie set up for a summer carnival with rides and music fun stuff. The apartment is something I have now gotten used to and love the moment of the day when I get home and am able to just put on my moccasins and just chillax on the couch, read the bible ect. Right now I am doing my personal studies in the New Testament and have started from the beginning and now am in John so good learning of the life of the Savior and his apostles. In my spare time I read Old testament and have gotten to Exodus with Moses throwing down on Pharaoh! woot woot! 

Guess what?! Our investigator Alec finally came to church yesterday he was so excited he even knew people there and was just a champ. We have also met with a lady Brenda who is a newly widow and is kinda...not all there I think, but she has the biggest garden ever and gives us fresh veggies and herbs. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and I think it went well, so loved when she heard she can be with her husband again. 

I am so happy to hear from the Wynders, Muirheads, Larsens, Cranmers and friends! It has been so great to hear from all of you and again thank you so much for your love and updates on life while I'm away. Nana I have been trying to do those exercises from your buddy Jeff and it is so helpful, would you ask him for something to help relax my neck and shoulders for me? that would be such a help. I think my favorite part of reading letters is hearing how my little cousins are getting such strange injuries, as bad as that sounds! But either way it brings me close to home in some weird way haha. 

The members have been inviting us for dinner every day this week so nice, I feel I may start to gain some weight soon...hopefully not to much. Our fridge is now packed and hardly needed to shop today. 

OUCH!

Last Preparation day I injured my ankle in Basketball and rolled it so bad = sprained it! 

But still as my foot increased in size and pain I also increased with my determination to press on with a "Steadfastness in Christ" and pushed on anyhow. It is now normal sized and just a little sore but The lord has sped up my recovery thankfully. 

My favorite quote from someone so far is from Alec our investigator he is reading the Book of Mormon and we followed up with him and he said "Hey the Book of Mormon is good, like almost as good as Narnia!" HAHAHA we died! He has come a ways He believes in the Prophet and the Book of Mormon and loves church so exciting.

Another strange thing we get alot is people yelling out of there cars at us saying "hail satan!" or " I worship satan!" to which we use the following saying after "We know, that's why we are here!" We were happy to hear one or two shouts saying "praise Jesus" or "God rules!" haha so just a little look into the Barrie area.

My testimony of the prophet Joseph smith has been strengthened so much I know for a fact that he is a man called of God and that this is the restored Church of Jesus Christ. 

A few new goals I have been setting lately, I read the points on prayer in 'Preach my Gospel' to build my conversations with the Lord, and I read at least once my Patriarichal Blessing a week. Such a help but I think the best help for myself that I've done is read my favorite scripture Matthew 11:28-30. 

Elders in my District - Pyramid of Success HAHA!

I am going on another Exchange to Orillia this evening with Elder Gartner this time, they're putting the greenies together it will be sweet!!! 

Thanks Mom for the family pics today, Sweet!!

Continue to send me updates!
With Love

Elder Muirhead

P.S.
Oh and tell the Sisters and Cheyenne thank you for the letters!
P.S. Our new Mission Pres. President Clayton from Salt lake sounds pretty cool. Can't wait to meet him someday. 
ps.....running out of Birthday oreos lol

Oh Mom I would love to try that natural sleep stuff you mentioned! You asked about what music I'd like and I feel like some bagpipe music for some reason....anyways think you can look something up for me that would be sweet!

It's Elder M's Mom here, when I saw his pic this week I said: "I think you're even better looking now kiddo - holy smokes! Keep that gorgeousness under a bushel. HAHA" I told him that I Love his Guts and he replied "Hey my guts are pretty loveable I guess. Not that I have seen them but I still appreciate their presence."

JOSH!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO!!! Finally "13" I hear. It's so great you are now among teenagers my friend, that means a few more things to do and watch out for. Here's a few tips on the life of a teen put into 3 main lessons I learned...maybe even the hard way.

#1- Mom and Dad are always right!!!! We come from a righteous family J that means the the Gospel is in our life to help in guiding our decisions including our Parents. Whatever they ask you to do whether it is a chore, curfew or maybe a little talk too, it is out of love and is for your growth into manhood from the help of the Holy Ghost.

#2- Your friends are nice but sometimes their habits are Not. Be careful who you spend your time with and always remember who you are and who you represent, the Lord and  Muirhead family members! If someone asks something of you that you know to be wrong don't even think about it!!! So not worth it! Dare to stand with the armour of God (ephisians 6: 13-18) look up the mormon message "Dare to stand alone" by Pres. Monson he really sets a great point.

#3- you may be a teenager now and feel pretty high and mighty or even invincible this does not mean that girls on on the table right now! I would ask you to not worry about that till 16+ when you can actually date, because now is the time when you need to learn how to be responsible and set your standards and potential in life, and that comes with dedication and focus! 

BONUS #4- You are a child of an immortal being our heavenly father who loves you no matter what happens!! PLUS you are a brother to Elder Muirhead and someday I hope that you will aspire to reach and claim that title of Missionary as Dad, Papa, Uncle Conor  etc. and I have now done! So many blessings come from preparing to serve a mission, start now read your scriptures, say your prayers and know that I may be far In Ontario but my love Trancends Distance for my family members that means you too!!!

I love you Josh and wish to know how you are doing in the world of a teeny bopper. ;) 

keeping you posted on the Lords work

Your Bro 

Elder Dylan Muirhead

Barrie - Tornado, Oreos and Miracles

Dear Family,

We had an exchange on Monday and Tuesday in Orillia with Elder Teatao from New Zealand it was so much fun, we taught a FHE lesson and rocked it! This was also the day where a Tornado warning came in the area, a member actually called us saying, "Don't go out, I know you won't listen but careful." He was right, we totally ignored that haha. It was so sunny for the morning, then it poured with rain. The whole day we made jokes saying that everything that happened to us was a sign of a tornado, we laughed all day!

Week 3 In Barrie has been very slow in our efforts, we have tried very hard but our appointments bombed and no one wished to meet with us. Alec didn't make it to church and scared us with his comment basically saying he is feeling so good he sees no need to be baptised, Not on my watch! I told him the importance of Baptism and Patience, I promised him many more blessing awaiting the end of the tunnel. Later In the week we had a discussion about his issues and concerns with commitments. The spirit was so there and helped us to knock the ball out of the park, he is now so excited to come to church and make those goals achieved. We met a man named Adam this week and he studies religion, science and the world news 4-5 hours a day!!!! OH NO!! or so we thought he was actually facinated by the lessons and things we told him and we will see him later in the week again. 

Another miracle was a man named Chris who just got let out of prison that week, most humble guy I've ever met! Amazingly he contacted us from the other side of the bus stop. He is prepared to change his life for his family and find God so he can prove it to the world and himself. He's so cool. 

At the start of my mission I got a blanket from the Mission President and his wife, and I put it in the wash and ever since I have had puff balls all over my stuff it is so frustrating, but I finally after 3 weeks of laundry I have resolved the issue!

Recently I have been studying for our Zone conference topic "light vs dark" It is incredible to learn about both sides of the coin, and I also have been learning more about Joseph Smith with Elder Baumgartner listening to a few lectures my dad sent me by Truman Madsen, so well done.

I am doing so great Mom! My testimony is increasing, my influence in teaching is growing and I am Happy most days, It's such a blessing. I love the messages from the kids and you and Dad so much I look forward to reading them each night I can. I'm Now enjoying the Field bad times and all! I'm finding its worth in my refining!! Thank you family.

Friends and Family I love you all your messages and prayers are felt and I return them with my own. I am excited to continue the next 23 months left on the mission and see the miracles and works of God. I continually pray for our family Mom and those who need the Lords influence. Thank you for the package of Birthday oreos and fuzzy peaches! Plus the superhero card was awesome!

Love, 
Elder Muirhead

PS: We'll got some appointments to go to LOVE YOU MOM!!!!! I'll hand write you this week promise!!! TALK WITH YOU SOON <3 

PPS: Tell Brigs I'm printing this right now and making it a planner cover to carry with me. haha I love it Brigs!

Brigs note to Elder Muirhead said: "Dear Brother, you are awesome! Eat pie and teach the gospel. I miss you beating us up. Love Brigs!"

Barrie - Happy Father's Day!

Dear Family,
Well everyone this is my 2nd week in Barrie, Ontario. This place is very different than home for sure. The weather is usually 25-20 degrees Celsius and all ready I got sun burnt, HURRAY for being so white (not)! There are so many different kinds of people here already I have spoken with Catholics, Protestants, muslims, coptic (Egyptian christian), several christian faiths, buddists, atheists, and more! I am very certain that 90 percent of people here smoke and drink, this is a collage town and has 3-5 bars per street in my area downtown. Our apartment is luckily across the street from the grocery store, barber, post office, and the lake. Our favorite place to tract is a trail by the lake so peaceful, surprisingly there has been quite a few people there who like to stop and talk.

One couple we talked to enjoyed talking to us and the husband has read many different bibles, and asked "how would you describe God?" I took the challenge head on. "We believe that God created us in his own image and he has a body of flesh and bone." He liked the answer then sent a curve ball, "In Ezekiel:1 it describes what many believe is God, and it makes it sound alien like with spaceships, what do you think?" as we read the passage and the description of it, the spirit helped in my answer. "The thing the comes to mind is not God but a cherubim. It makes sense and I'll search for an answer." later that night I discovered Ezekiel:10 held the answer and shared it with him the next day. I was so excited to answer his question and wish to talk with him about it soon.

The first week of the mission was so hard!! But through the Lord, my companion, Mission President, and my family I was able to take a breath and move on. My growth has been great and though I get nervous talking with some people, I am able to do quite a bit which is exciting. Me and Elder Baumgartner started doing split contacting which gets us on our toes when we talk to some people by ourselves. 

Later today we are doing an exchange and I will be going to Orillia with Elder Taotau till tomorrow exciting! 

One miracle happened for us in week one, as we were going door to door knocking we were about to leave when a young man Alec came up on his bike and said "Hey I'm glad your here, this is my house come sit down." We were shocked, and we taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ and committed him to Baptism. Right as we pulled away he was reading the Book of Mormon, we freaked out! Unfortunately he has yet to come to church but we are still seeing him though.

Thank you all for all your prayers and letters! please continue to send messages to me it brings a smile to my face each time. 

To my Dad I wish to say HAPPY FATHERS DAY, I love you so much! I want you to know how much you have helped me in this process, even though it may look small you have been motivating me the whole way. I send you the biggest email hug. ps. I am now expecting those fuzzy peaches you took from my box. haha! 

Josh, Brigs, Noah and Lola kids the church is true, I want you to know that as you work hard with the Lord and say your prayers, read your scriptures and go to church you are then spiritually filled and it is so important. I think of you kids a lot and miss your faces, remember I love you and can't wait to hear from you soon. Challenge for you: this week draw me a picture of your favorite Book of Mormon story and send it to me in the mail! 

Mom and dad, the Lord is here, he is helping me as I learn and grow. He has comforted me and is still increasing me daily as his followers to gather his sheep. By tonight I will have finished the book of Mormon again and will move to the Bible next, I am also reading "Jesus the Christ" and "Our Heritage" Great books and so helpful.

I felt the same way as I read Moroni: 1. Though I am with a companion, the world is scary and the adversary wishes to destroy me, but I will not deny the Christ I am his missionary and took upon me his name to share for the aid in our Heavenly Father's plan " to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." 

I love you all and have each of you in my prayers, never lose the faith!

Love Elder Muirhead

Week 3 of Elder Muirhead's Mission - 1st week in Barrie

This was a TOUGH first week in the field for Elder Muirhead. No letter to share, we were just able to email back and forth. He loves his companion and his Mission President. He loves the Lord.

A few people physically threatened him on the street, another person sicked a dog on him. Lots of people are quite mean to LDS missionaries. But his faith is strong and all he wants to do is serve the Lord and others. He is so kind and loves everyone.

Thanks for your prayers on his behalf, and any letters that you can send to brighten his days in his new surroundings.

Companion and 1st Area

Today our family received the most incredible and touching letter from Elder Muirhead's new Mission President. He arrived safe and sound in Toronto on Monday, and was assigned to serve with his new companion Elder Baumgartner in Barrie, Ontario for his first area!


What a TREAT to have a Mission President take the time to send such a kind letter and pictures of our boy!

First companion in Toronto: Elder Baumgartner and Elder Muirhead

Mission President Brent Scott and his lovely wife with Elder Muirhead

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