NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME, IT WILL BE ON THE RED CARPET!!!!

GOOOOOODDD MOOORRRRNIINNNGGG!!

Hope you are all doing well and you have had a great week! I have survived another week here in Downtown Toronto so things are going pretty good! But without further delay let us jump right on into this e-mail!!

On Tuesday last week Elder Hapuku and I explored Toronto. We went shopping at this freaking huge mall and I bought a new suit, because my other one was falling apart, and some new socks. So pretty much I am looking like a model at this point. Or at least I wish I do. 😁

Wednesday we had District Meeting in the morning that was pretty fun. There are some awesome people in my district so it is always a good time. After that we had a meeting with someone in the ward. Then we came back and grabbed some grub and then headed back to the church because we were meeting with a recently baptized member so we could introduce ourselves to him. We were able to sit with him and answer some of the questions that he had so it was good.

Thursday we had lunch with a friend of mine from St. Thomas so that was super awesome to see him again. After that we did some weekly planning until we had an appointment at Wal-Mart. So last week on Tuesday while Elder Hapuku and I were grocery shopping we found this stuff animal that said, "I am lost, return me to the photo center for a prize!" So we both were like, “Sick I love free stuff!!” The prize was a free photo shoot. So on Thursday we went over there and got our pictures taken! It was a lot of fun and super funny. I will send some of shots so you all can see. After that we spent the rest of the night walking around town. 📸

Friday we had correlation meeting in the morning and then after that we went and volunteered at Pals Pantry again. As I was serving and delivering food to people. I think the 2 things I heard most from them was, "You have a really good voice, you should do radio or TV!" or "You look like an actor, I just can't figure out who." Pretty funny, I guess I am just meant to go into show business. 🎥 📺

After that we had a meeting with a guy on the complete opposite side of town so that took forever to get there. The visit with him was good. It was our first time meeting him so we just got to know him a bit. After that we grabbed some grub and then went to sports night at the chapel. 

Saturday we taught a super awesome English Class in the morning! It is always way too much fun every time we teach English, but I freaking love it! 😊 After that we went and met with a guy and talked with him a bit. He is super cool. He is a lawyer and used to live in New Zealand for part of his life. After that we did some studies and then went and walked around town.

Sunday we had church, it was super cool to see everyone there and be able to introduce myself to them. After church we came back and did some studies, grabbed something to eat, and then went out on the town again.

Well that's all I got for this week. I hope you all have a good rest of your week and that it has plenty of fun and excitement in it! 

Love and miss you all!!

TAPPIN INTO MY ISLAND ROOTS!!!!!

HOLA MIS AMIGOS!!!!!

So glad that I get to talk to all of you again this week. I hope that everyone had a good week and a good Valentine's Day. My week was pretty good, first week in Toronto and it is always just go go go. It is pretty crazy around here but I am adjusting. But without further ado, let's get right on into this email!

So my new companion is Elder Hapuku from New Zealand. He is a super dope guy! We came out the same time so it has been cool to finally serve with him. Him and I have a lot of fun together and are always crackin' jokes and spittin' rhymes.

Monday was pretty boring. Since both Elder Thieme and I were leaving and no new missionaries were coming in we had to do a deep clean of the apartment. So that took up pretty much all of the day.

Tuesday was transfers. I got to see some people I haven’t seen in a while so that was nice. Since I don't drive a car in this area I had to ride down with some other missionaries in the van so we could get to our area. After we got dropped off, Elder Hapuku and I tried figuring out what's going on around here since we both transferred in here the same time. That night we had English Class and it was an absolute blast. Elder Hapuku and I taught and it was both of our first time actually leading the class. But they asked us to teach it every time so I guess we did a good job 😂

Wednesday we had district meeting in the morning. It was pretty good. We got to know the other missionaries a little more. It is also pretty cool to take public transit everywhere since I don't have a car anymore. I get to talk to a lot more people and familiarize myself with the area. Most of that night we spent out in the streets talking to people.

Thursday we did a lot of planning so we could get ourselves more familiar in the area. We also went out and talked to some people and explored more of Toronto. We did some service at this place called Pals Pantry, pretty much we served food to people. I also broke out my dish washing skills as I was designated dish washer.  

Friday we helped a lady move some stuff out of her apartment building and into her office. We also went to this place called the Distillery District and it was pretty sweet. It has a bunch of neon and sculptures around so it was cool to look at.

Saturday we taught English again in the morning. We had about 30 people there and it was a freaking blast. Teaching English is so much fun! I probably enjoy it too much but oh well! After that we had interviews with President Shields. That night it was the adult session of Stake Conference so we went to that.

Sunday was Stake Conference. I will tell you what I haven't seen so many people in a church building ever since I was back at home! It was crazy the amount of people that were there! City life is so different than what I have been used to. After Stake Conference we went out and talked with some people. As well I have started to notice (and it is pretty weird) for like the past 3 days every time I am on a bus or the subway I catch people taking pictures of me. I guess it is because I am so dang good looking! 😎  But it is pretty strange.

Monday we had lunch with the Spackmans which was super dope!! For those who don't remember, they are the Senior Missionaries in Midland and they came into the mission while I was serving there. So I kind of "trained" them I guess. It was awesome to see them again and talk to them. After that Elder Hapuku wasn't feeling too good so he laid down for a bit while I went through some records. That night we went and gave a lady a blessing in the hospital so that was pretty legit.

That's all I got for this week! Hope you all have a great rest of your week. Love and miss you all!!

Elder Murray

coleton.murray@myldsmail.net

HEY ALL YOU PEOPLE!

Hey all you people! Hey all you people! Hey all you people won't you listen to meeeeee!!!

So glad I get to talk to all of you this week and hear about all of the things that have been happening. My week has been pretty good all around. It was the last week of the transfer so we had that to deal with but good nonetheless. But anyways let us get right on down to the nitty gritty.

Monday was pretty fun I went to Niagara Falls again. It's cool to go down there and see the sights. After that I went on exchanges with Elder Nakamoto in Hamilton. It was fun. He is in YSA Ward so it was sweet to be able to talk to people my own age instead of people 60 and over all the time.😂 That night we had Family Home Evening. We played Spoons and I was so close to winning but I lost to a kid from Hong Kong! It was pretty disappointing but I will get him next time.

Tuesday I was still with Elder Nakamoto, we played Basketball in the morning and then we went and walked around the Universities that they have there and chatted it up with some of the students. After that we went and put up a bunch of flyers for an English Class that they teach down there. That night we taught some English to people trying to learn it.

Wednesday I was back in Simcoe and we had to go back to Hamilton because we had District Meeting in the morning. The meeting was good. We talked about how we can make ourselves better and better serve the people in our areas. After District Meeting we dropped by and tracted a bit until we had dinner. After dinner we went out and delivered some more cookies to people.

On Thursday it was a big ole shoveling day! It snowed a lot so we went out and shoveled people's driveways. But then we got to one where they hadn't been shoveling the whole year and were just driving over the snow. So we thought it would be a nice thing to scrape all the ice away for them. Well 3 hours later I kind of regretted that decision. After that I could tell that I was going to be hurting in the morning. ❄❄❄

Friday was a pretty normal day, we had lunch with our Branch Mission Leader. Then the rest of the day was spent dropping by people and tracting.

Saturday we had a meeting in the morning and then we went and did a ton of drop bys. We had dinner with the Branch President and his family, that was super fun. After that we went and shoveled the church's walkways.

Sunday church was good, got to see and talk to everyone. I am always happy to listen to their stories that they have. After church we went and dropped by some people in Waterford and then we had dinner in Cayuga that night with a super awesome family.

And finally, transfer news came in and I am going to Downtown Toronto!!! I guess they thought it is finally time to send this country boy to the city. Definitely a new adventure coming up and I can't wait to see what happens. 🏙

That's all I got for this week. Hope you all have a good rest of your week and lots of fun!! Happy Valentine's Day! 💕

Love and miss you all!!!

Elder Murray

coleton.murray@myldsmail.net

THE YOUNG EMERIL LAGASSE!!!!!

I AM ALIVVVVVEEEE!!!!

Hey everyone, so glad that I get to speak to all of you again and hear about all of the amazing things you have been doing. This week has been pretty good. I haven't been sick or died so that is a plus. But anyways let's jump right on into this email!!!

Monday was all right. We didn't have a whole lot to do so Elder Thieme and I just hit up the local Chinese Restaurant and got us some General Tao Chicken and our fortune cookies. Mine said "you will be able to use your personality and charm to your advantage." So looks like the world needs to watch out because I am a coming. 😎 After that we took a nap. Then that night we went and dropped by to visit some people.

Tuesday there really wasn't a whole lot going on. We spent the day contacting and dropping by people. We did go to a family’s house and taught their son how to baptize because he is going to be baptizing his little brother next month. That was pretty cool to be a part of.

Wednesday we had a teaching appointment in the morning. That went pretty well and then after that we went around visiting people and did some tracting. We also watched some training videos and then that night we went to a member’s place and they have a cat that purrs like a pigeon! It is strange, I tried using my universal animal call to connect to it on a spiritual plane but I was only able to budge him a bit. BUT I SHALL NOT GIVE UP ON HIM! 😺

Thursday was pretty great. We had district meeting in the morning and we mostly talked about how to work with these new phones that we got. Then after that we went out and helped prepare for the Game Night we were having. The Game Night was super awesome and fun! I had such a good time playing with the people there. Funny thing, I won in every game that I played 😂 Not really surprising but it was pretty funny. After that we came back to the apartment and I built a little Storm Trooper that my cousin sent me. (Shouts out to you Nick!!)  

Friday was good. We went back to the church in the morning to clean up the mess from the other night. After that we did some weekly planning. Then ya boi got his baking skills going and I started to make chocolate chip cookies for everyone here in the Branch. That took a little bit but it is worth it to show our appreciation for the people here and everything they do for us. 🍪🍪

On Saturday we helped a member finish some things in her Salon that she is going to be opening up and then we started doing some deliveries of the cookies. We also took a picture of ourselves to go along with it and I have to admit it looks pretty freaking good. The rest of the night I spent making more cookies.

Sunday was good. It was testimony meeting so it was good to hear all the testimonies from the members there. After that we did more deliveries to the members in the outreaching areas. Then we had dinner with a pretty awesome family. We finished off the night with just driving back and getting ready for P day tomorrow.

That's all I got for this week! I hope you all have a good rest of your week!

Love and miss you all!!

Elder Murray

coleton.murray@myldsmail.net