Elder Muir's email (dated Monday, 9/9/13)
- What are your highs & lows this week? Unfortunately this week has been kind of
slow. We did not teach a whole lot of lessons, but one high was that I
placed my first BOM on Tuesday all by myself without Elder J's help.
I literally said, “we are handing out these free books, do you want one”
and she said sure. I’m not sure it will go anywhere but we will stop
back and check with her. But hey, I
was proud of myself! Another high was district meeting on
Wednesday. Since it was our last district meeting together because
of the upcoming transfers we had a really good lesson on enduring to the
end of our life and our mission. Also another high was the other
Elders in our district had a baptism on Saturday so we went to that and it
was pretty cool. A low was trying to go visit the guy in jail.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of roadblocks in our way and we are not
going to get in to talk to him because 1) only one person can visit with
him at a time, so we would be breaking companion rules if just one of us visited
with him and 2) we have to be on
his visitor list to see him. In order to do that you have to call the
superintendent and get on that list. So there’s a lot standing in
our way, but just like 1 Nephi 3:7 says, “the Lord will prepare a way to
accomplish the things that he commands”. Overall it was kind of a
slow week, not much happened, so hopefully things will pick back up this
week once transfers are over with. Also, I did an exchange with the
other Elders so Elder J (district leader) could go do the baptismal
interview for the baptism that happened Saturday. Also, I watched some cool videos on the
Mormon channel. The videos are new and it is under introduction to
Mormons and it talks about the temple, family history, basic history of
the church, temple square, and missionary work. They are all different videos. I’ve
also been watching “The District” on the Mormon Channel and I really liked
one of the quotes that was given…the key to know God is to struggle. I think this is a really inspiring
quote. The Mormon Channel has some
great things and would be great for you to watch for FHE or on Sunday
afternoons.
- What are 5 positive things this week? Me being able to
place the BOM. Also I loved getting your BYU package.
The BOM class was fun because it is cool how Nephi is prophesying about
things that are going to come about in our times. I have enjoyed
reading your seminary stuff on Alma and Amulek. Also, I will
sometimes say vocal prayers to help me stay focused and not let my mind
wander.
- What are you grateful for? I am grateful for prayer and how Heavenly Father
can help you when you need help.
- What's the scoop with transfers? So here’s the scoop with transfers…I am
staying in Camp Hill and Elder J is leaving and he’s going to be a
Zone Leader somewhere. He will find out where he is going
tomorrow. I know who my companion is, but I don't think he knows I'm
his companion yet. I will go get him at 8:45 tomorrow morning.
His name is Elder F (FYI, he trained my MTC companion which I thought was
pretty hilarious). One of the sisters is staying in our ward but the other
has finished her mission and she is going home. Her new companion is
another sister that was in our district and I was in the MTC with her and
came out to Pittsburgh with her. The elders in the other ward in our
district are staying the same and one of them will be the district
leader. The sister missionary in the other ward in our district will
be the STL (sister training leader). Her companion was the new
sister that just came to our ward when Sister A went home in July .
So I will get more info tomorrow and next week when president does his
email.
- Who calls and tells you whether you’re being
transferred or not? Well the zone leaders
call and tell you if you are getting transferred or not. We found this out on Saturday. If
you are getting a leadership calling (DL, ZL or training) president will
call you sometime either Saturday or Sunday. So we knew things were
changing Saturday but we did not know if either of us would be in
leadership positions yet. We didn’t get any calls on Saturday from
president, but of course in the middle of sacrament meeting he calls and
we both freaked out. He left a message and we called him back after
sacrament. Elder J found out he was becoming a ZL.
- How does the transportation work for
transfers? Well it is a very
complicated process that the AP's make and send out to the ZL's.
What makes it especially hard is how big the mission is. Basically you carpool with missionaries to
the transfer meeting either in Pittsburgh or Harrisburg, depending on what
side of the mission you are going to and coming from, and then meet
your companion and depart from there.
- I know you share a room with Elder J, but do you
have 2 rooms in your apartment? Yes, we
do have 2 rooms, the other is the study room. I will send some pictures of that in
another email.
- What happened with the BOM and the guy in
jail? Well as I mentioned
above, we sent the BOM off to him and unfortunately it got sent back. It said it is an unreliable
source. So apparently it has to come from whatever ward the guy
is in (I think he is a less active) so we still are trying to
get it to him. I am determined to get it to him before we
leave, so I will keep you posted.
- How are Franky & Sally? Well we have not been able to have a lesson with
them for a while because the kids have had lice. Hopefully we should be
able to go this weekend. However, we stopped by last night so Elder
J could get a picture with them before he leaves.
- What about the M family? They are doing well, we had a good lesson with
them about eternal marriage and getting sealed in the temple. I led
the discussion because that was the day we were on exchanges. It was
a cool experience, the spirit was strong and I think they liked it.
Also, they made it to church yesterday so that was great.
- Any new investigators? No
- Did you get my BYU football starter kit?
Did you like it? Yes and Yes!!!!!!!!!!!
- Did you like Mrs. Wrubell's play by play of the
game? Yes, it was awesome!!! I
just thought of Greg in my head as I read the play by play and his freak
out moments that he has and I loved it. You should apply at ESPN
and become a sports reporter J.
- What did you think of the camping trip?
Wait till you see the pictures :) Oh boy,
what didn't I think…all I can say is that must have been an
ADVENTURE!!! I can't wait to see the pictures. Also I loved the
block “Y” that you wrote the letter on, thanks!
- Are you more comfortable with your
teaching? Yes, I am getting the
hang of things and getting better and more confident.
- How does it feel to be officially trained? Kind of
scary, but it’s also a good feeling. I know now that I'm officially
trained I will do awesome.
- Anything we can do for you or that you
need? No, not that I can think
of.
- What can we pray for? That I’ll be able to continue to progress and
work well with Elder F…wish me luck.
Love,
Elder Muir
Well now that you have the answers to the questions from your email, here are the answers to
your questions from the BYU letter. The reason I asked where the Elder Holland quote
was from is to see if I could find the talk but I figured you found it on Pinterest.
Also, I know a little bit about the BYU vs. Texas game. I know that we won but that is about it.
It sounds like you had quite the rainstorm. Bro. T was telling me they
had like 3/4 inch of rain in an hour before the game started. Also, that Alpine had a flash flood
warning. That is crazy about Kayla’s mission getting iPads and FB already.
We are not using them yet, but it must be soon if they have started in other
areas. So I will keep you posted. That is cool that Andrew is a
zone leader. And that’s a big NO…you never told me about Derek going to
homecoming. Who is he going with?
Tell Kyle "Congrats" on his Eagle and becoming an Elder. I forgot that brother Pugh's dad was mission
President here. The previous mission home is in our area but I don't know exactly
where, but I'm sure I could find a few people that knew who he was so I will
keep you posted. Also Elder Arnold spoke at our MTC Marriott Center devotional
while I was there. He is going to be at
our zone conference next month while he does a mission tour. Which I keep
forgetting to tell you, Elder Bednar came right before I got out here so I
missed it by like a week. He spoke to the entire mission. I have a
picture that Sister Topham gave me even though I am not in it. I will
send it to you.
Also, I read a good Ensign talk by Pres. Eyring. It is called "Be
Ready" you should all read it but especially have Derek read it. http://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/11/be-ready
I don't think Elder J thinks you are crazy. Yes, he is excited to be a
zone leader. I think he is on his way to AP at some point. Elder F (new companion)
has been in Lewisburg (somewhere north of Camp Hill) but I know nothing about
him and I think he has been out about 7 1/2 months. I will snail mail
after I meet him. No, I did not take a pic with Franky & Sally yet
but I will when I leave. I don't know what has happened with the friend
we will ask when we see them next.
Yes, I heard about the rain delay for the BYU game. They can't get away from the rain
it sounds like. That is cool you got to talk to Elder Arnold at the funeral. I will have to tell him that he talked to my
parents at the funeral he spoke at. In the pictures I sent there is a picture of my nametag with my missionary tag in Braille. A member sister in the other ward that is in our district does Braille stuff. The missionaries in her
ward (other Elders in our district) have Braille nametag stickers. We thought they were cool so the missionaries must have told
her and she made us some too. Also, if you email elder Arnold info about
me, tell him I am in the Harrisburg zone so he knows where to look for me. Yes,
I am still happy. I am just ready for transfers and to meet my new
companion. I will keep you updated and write after tomorrow.
Still no info on gpa’s new truck, tell gpa Lewy that I'm patiently
waiting for him to tell me the story. Well, peace out I love you.
Love,
Elder Muir
xoxoxo
Last district meeting together
Study room
Study wall
Braille nametag
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