Yup. Good times, better times, best times!‏

Hey dudes and dudettes! Things have been rough lately being in the office almost constantly running around and doing errands, but it is a blessing to serve around President so much. I do enjoy it and I am trying to see it as just another phase of my mission helping me prepare for serving others and to learn patience and obedience to whatever I am asked.

We did have a sweet miracle on Thursday. That lady we taught at the temple was baptized! It was cool, of course she is not our investigator but we were invited to the baptism and Elder Robinson baptized her, and I was asked by the Sister Missionaries (I think..?) to give the talk on both Baptism and the Holy Ghost. It was a cool experience, I really felt the Spirit. After the baptismal service Abby (the lady who was baptized and totally prepared to become a member of the church) shook my hand and said "Thank you for your sermon, your speech, up there, I wouldn't have had anyone else do it". It was honestly one of the greatest compliments I have ever received on my mission! Probably because it was so sincere. So that was a cool experience. Right now the work is slow but hopefully will pick up as we get more things done. I am grateful to serve with Elder Robinson, he has had some hard times on his mission so far and it is a cool blessing to serve with him despite the things that he has gone through. He is an awesome missionary! I am doing well. I get stressed pretty good always thinking I need to be perfect and stuff so that's one thing I need to really work on! Otherwise not a whole lot to report on! Transfers are next week and I'm thinking Elder Robinson might be leaving. I'm not entirely sure but I think the Lord will keep me here for awhile; there's nothing wrong with that, the Lord is just making use of my talents and abilities and I know I can find success and spiritual growth here!

So we finally move out on Monday! I am really excited! Unfortunately I don't have any really fun experiences to share today.. But I love and miss you all! Keep working with the Missionaries! Look at every part of your life just as another test, another level, another time to grow and change and learn! It's so cool how missions really are setup as a "miniature life" each transfer brings new change and obstacles and trails and a lot of growth. I remember as I'm sure you all do too, that my last area, Downtown Columbia, was a trial for me. I found myself peddling up infinite hills thinking to myself, "..how can I tell president that this area is almost too difficult for me..?" And then I eventually realized that I was there for a reason, whether I knew it or not and I was where the Lord wanted me, for whatever reason that was. He handed me trails and obstacles He expected me to overcome so that He could help me move to the next part of my life, the next phase of my mission, where I would no doubt face again, trials and obstacles that the Lord expects me to overcome. So just remember that, when times in your life are just stinking hard, don't complain.. Ask the Lord why (knowing before hand He has a reason) and He will let you know in that prayer specifically why you are facing that specific challenge and will at that moment begin to move you to the next level, the next challenge and phase of your life. There is a reason for everything and for every feeling we have and man, we really just don't understand it. I always remember my Book of Mormon teacher at BYU who wrote "The Ode to Nephi and Mormon" saying:

"I don't know
But I don't need to know
Because I know God knows
And that's all I need to know"

Now that shouldn't be a "crutch" where we say that we will just be miserable and face our trials because the Lord knows whats going on.. but we must trust in the Lord. He knew all along I would be an office Elder and I half-way expected it too. But it doesn't mean anything other than, "One day I will understand what my Savior understood in order for me to continue my Eternal Progression in God's kingdom here on the earth".

I know the Gospel is true and I love it! I love and miss you all!

-Elder McMurry