CRAZY FIRST EXCHANGE!!!!!

What is going on party people!!! Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and remembered everything that they were grateful for. Everything up here is going super awesome but enough about that, it is STORY TIME!!!!!! Time to talk about my first exchange. 

For those of you who don't know what an exchange is it is basically when you swap your companion with someone else's companion for a day. Anyways let us just jump right into this. So I had the exchange with one of the zone leaders and his name is Elder Lemon and he is super awesome, very spiritual and also laid back. We made the exchange Wednesday night and exchanged back on Friday at our district meeting. So let me tell you about my Thanksgiving Day on Thursday and explain the madness that took place. 

So the first thing we had to do was at 8:30 in the morning the Ripley's family asked us if we could help them with moving out of their house. We went over there and helped move things around like dressers and couches and a freezer. There was one point when Elder Lemon and I were carrying a dresser down the stairs and I all the sudden it felt like I was carrying the whole thing by myself. So I was like "Umm Elder Lemon?" because I wanted to know what he was doing so I wouldn't DIE! All I see is him peek around the corner of the dresser with both hands in the air and just says to me "I don't know what to do." So then I yelled at him, "Well you better do something before I just sit here and drop this thing!!!" I couldn't believe it, what a guy am I right?! Around 11:30 we left and got lunch at Kettles with the Cepeda family. Once again I would like to say how they are a gift sent from heaven. After we ate we had a meeting with a less active member named Scott and that went really well. We were able to talk and he showed me his hot wheels collection and you already know how much I love them hot wheels! After we got done with that it was around 2:30 and we decided to try and drop by to see some people but nothing came out of that because most of them were not home. Then around 4:00 we get a call from Bro Dunning saying that the Ripleys needed another trailer and we needed to help him get it and load the rest of the stuff. THIS IS WHERE THE STORY GETS WILD! 

So Bro Dunning lives about 40 minutes away so we got up there and changed back into our service clothes and we were off to go get the trailer. The trailer is an open trailer so we were hoping it wasn't going to rain but we brought tarps so we would be fine either way right....WRONG!  We arrived at the Ripleys at 6:00 and just started putting the rest of the stuff they had onto the trailer and of course it started to rain. Now we had to put a tarp over everything. We got everything on and got a tarp over it and tied down and we were off once again. We driving down the highway when all the sudden THE TARP WENT FLYING OFF THE TRAILER!! We pulled over real fast and we were chasing a tarp down the highway. We finally got the tarp and found out that the rope that we used to tie down the tarp snapped so that is why it flew off. We came to the agreement that there was no point of trying to put the tarp back on so everything was going to get wet. We arrived at the new house in Markdale at 7:00. The driveway that they had was all covered in snow and was long and had an incline. Bro Ripley was driving a U-Haul truck and when he parked on the driveway he had to park on the incline part because the rest of his family was already up there and had cars parked there. So we come pulling in behind him and he puts the U-Haul in park and jumps out and the thing starts SLIDING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY!!! Luckily it stopped before it hit us but we had to reverse and get out of the way. However, in doing that he backed the trailer up right into a ditch! So now we have a U-Haul stuck on the driveway and a trailer in a ditch. It took a lot of tow straps and pushing and pulling on vehicles but we finally got both of them unstuck. So we got all the cars out of the way at the top so we could get the U-Haul up there. We got a running start with that thing and drove her up there. When it got to the top of the driveway the truck went sliding off to the left and into their yard. So the U-Haul got stuck again!! Around this time it was like 8:45 and Elder Lemon and I realized that we weren't going to make it home by curfew because our car was all the way at Bro Dunning's house which is an hour and a half away. So we made a call to the mission president to let him know that we were going to be late getting home. He was very nice and understood that things happen that are out of our control and just told us to try and avoid it in the future. So from 8:45 to about 10:15 we were getting that U-Haul unstuck and other things that got stuck in the process of trying to move that U-Haul. We got everything taken care of and we were off back to Bro Dunning's house to get our car. We decided to stop and get some Subway on the way back because we were all starving and Bro Dunning paid for all of it because he felt bad for us. He is honestly such an amazing guy. He is so funny and is always willing to give service. By the time we got done at Subway and dropped the trailer off and were back at Brother Dunning's house it was around midnight and his house is about 40 minutes away from our house so we didn't get home until 12:40. So for my first exchange that was with a zone leader and we were around 4 hours past curfew. Elder Lemon said it was one of the funnest exchanges he has ever been on and for it being my first one I wouldn't want it to be any different. 

Friday we exchanged back and just did the regular stuff like spreading the gospel and talking with everyone. 

Saturday at 8:30 in the morning we had to go do more service at the Cepeda's. We had to clean out the bottom of the barn where all the sheep were so that was basically shoveling poop and hay for about an hour and a half. But then we went out and had to cut down some trees so they could have firewood for that week. I was out there with a chainsaw just slicing down these trees and I have decided that I am the modern day Paul Bunyan. Then we went out spreading the gospel more and had dinner with them that night. 

I am so grateful to be out here on a mission, and to be able to have all of these experiences and meet so many great people. I am so thankful for all of you and your continual support that you show me while I am out here. I can't tell you how much it means to me to read all of your emails and listen to your stories. 

Alright I think that is all I got to say so email me back and tell me about your Thanksgiving experiences and what you are grateful for. 

And like a wise pig and meerkat once said Hakuna Matata! 

--

Elder Murray

Enjoying Canada

The Cepeda Family is sure treating Cole right! They feed him and his companion at least 3 times a week. Sister Cepeda sent these pictures to us with a nice message saying that Cole is doing great and is a very happy person. She said that he is just like one of their family now! We are so blessed that there are those who are so willing to look out for and to care for the missionaries that are out serving the Lord.

More Christmas Parade Pictures!

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

What is crack a lackin everyone!!???

Everything up here just keeps on getting better and better! Yesterday it snowed here and we are expecting more and I cannot wait for it! The members here are fantastic it is like I am already part of this big family and it is amazing. Yesterday I had to give a talk about preparation in the priesthood and I did my usual thing, ya know get up there tell some jokes and some stories but when I actually gave the talk I could definitely feel the spirit. Everyone's eyes were just right on me and they listened to everything I had to say. It was so amazing I can't wait to give another talk!

On a funnier note the guy after me got up to give his talk and after he introduced himself a little bit he reached into his pocket to grab his talk but it wasn't there. So he frantically started looking around for his talk and then said, “I think I left it in my coat, I am going to go grab it." AND HE DID!!! He left the chapel to go grab his talk so we all just sat there awkwardly waiting for him to get back. I have never seen something like that before it was so funny. But when he got back he gave an amazing talk about prayer so I am glad that he went and got it.

On Saturday the town had a huge Christmas parade and I was in it! The ward built a nativity scene on a trailer and my companion and I were asked to be the shepherds. So we grabbed some bed sheets and hopped on that float and I will tell you what, I have never waved so much in my entire life. It was an hour of just waving and yelling Merry Christmas to everyone that was watching. It was super fun though and since I was the shepherd I was in charge of the sheep. WE HAD A LIVE SHEEP ON THAT TRAILER WITH US! It was kinda wild. 

On Friday we were at Bro Dunning's place making sandwiches and other stuff for the social the church has after the parade. Let me tell you something, Roger is the funniest guy I have ever met. He was in the marines for a while and then became a truck driver so he has all of these hilarious stories to tell. One of my favorite things he does is when someone is lying to him or something he sticks his arm straight up in the air and says, “Buddy you are so deep in crap right now you might as well try to save your watch." He is so funny and I can't wait to be able to talk to him more.

Also, do you remember Jim Baker from last weeks email? Well we have been meeting with him and we gave him a Book of Mormon and a Restoration pamphlet and when we came back the next time he said he believes the Book of Mormon is true and everything he read in the pamphlet he believes to be true. I was just so shocked because we didn't even do anything! It is so amazing to see how much progress he is making, it honestly warms my heart.

Other than that everything is pretty much the same just wake up and start spreading the good word until I go to sleep. I also can't believe a month has already gone by it is so crazy!

But yeah, I wanna hear from all of my favorite people and let me know how thanksgiving goes because Canada celebrates theirs in October so it will pretty much be another normal day for me.

I love you guys, I'll write again next week, hallah at your boi, YEEEEEEAAAAHHH!!!

Elder Murray

1st Pictures from Canada

When Cole left he refused to take any sweaters, his comment was "I'm just not a sweater kind of guy." Look at him now - first pictures home and he is wearing a sweater ☺

I'MMMMMMM BAAAAAAAACCCKKK!!!

Sorry it has been a while but my Pday got switched to Monday when I got out here to Canada. Let me tell you something about Canada...it is amazing!! I am serving in the Owen Sound area which is like 2 hours north of Toronto and this place just reminds me of home. We have the most area to cover out here so we get to drive a sweet ride. (I will try to send pictures later) The crazy thing is that we have the biggest area but there is only one ward in it. The ward is full of great people and we always have members feeding us. They want us to come over and chat with them and eat some food it is so awesome. My companion is Elder Bagley and he is super awesome, he is so laid back but we still get a lot of things done. I am glad that I got paired with him. We stay in an apartment right next to the church so that is great that we don't have to travel super far to get to church. 

My first day here was super great we got to the apartment and dropped my stuff off and headed out to visit some returning members. The first one we tried to visit wasn't home but instead of going to the next place we decided to do a little bit of tracting in the area. So Elder Bagley did the first two houses and they both said they weren't interested and then I said I would do the next house. I gave the doorbell a ring and a guy came to the door and after I introduced us and shared the message we had he said that is something he would be interested in and invited us back! My first house tracting and I got us a return appointment. YOUR BOY IS OUT HERE!!!  His name is Jim Baker and he is 65 and retired but he is also an artist and he does some really amazing paintings. We have met with Jim a few times and mostly talked about the Plan of Salvation because he has got a lot of questions about after life and where everyone goes. 

I also want to talk about the Cepeda family and how they are a gift from God himself! They literally have fed us 4 times since I have been here. They will either take us out to eat or just invite us over. I love talking with them they are so hilarious and are just genuine people. Both of the parents are from Chile but the kids were born here in Canada. They live on a big farm so we have gone out there to do service like put siding on their house or herd the sheep or cut some trees down for firewood. They really do a good job of making me feel welcome out here. 

All in all I have been having a wonderful time and I am so grateful for the ward members out here and everything they do for us. 

Now I want to hear from all of you and read all the amazing things you are doing!!!!

--

Elder Murray

coleton.murray@myldsmail.net

Elder Murray has arrived in Canada

Cole left the MTC yesterday morning to head to Toronto, Canada. We were lucky enough to get a phone call from him as he was waiting for his flight. He was excited, nervous, and very tired. (He had been up since 4am) He had a great time in the MTC and said that he had learned a lot. He said he was looking forward to getting to Toronto and actually "being a real missionary". We haven't received an email from him yet but did receive an email from the Mission Secretary and a few pictures letting us know that he had arrived in Toronto safely and was being assigned his new companion and area today.

Last Week at the MTC!!!

Heeeeeeeeyyyyyyy yoooooooooouuuuuuuu guuuuuuuuuyyyyyyyyssssss

I have been having such a wonderful time here at the MTC, I can see myself maturing as a person every day. As for what I have been doing here it is just the same, get up in the morning at 6:30 and then go to bed at 10:30. However, on Tuesday we got a chance to hear from President Nelson from the Quorum of the Twelve and one of the things that stuck out the most to me was that exact obedience brings miracles, and I think we all know how much of a rebel I am and how I like to push the limits when it comes to the rules but it is something I want to get better at. 

It is crazy to think that I only have til Monday then I am out of here and on my way to Canada!! I have still been trying to learn the Canadian National Anthem, it goes something like " O Canada, something about a Maple Leaf " that is about as much as I remember. I have had so many good memories here, like the district that I am in is full of great people. Our district is the only one that is just elders there are no sisters. I think that not having any sisters in our district has made us be able to come closer together. I have also been able to go do initiatories and endowments at the temple and those are amazing experiences being able to go there and experience that time and time again. But yeah the next time I will be emailing all of you I will be maxing and chillaxing  in Canada!!!  

Make sure you email me back I wanna hear from my favorite people from back home!! I miss you all so much!!!!

--

Elder Murray