Hello, everyone!

I wish I could show you just how excited I am about what happened this last week! It was just overflowing with miracles! New investigators, a few people at church, answered prayers, miracles truly have not ceased!

The woman that I told you about last week is so amazing! She has come so far in just two weeks. Yesterday morning we woke up with a message from her, saying that because of some things that were going on that she wouldn't be able to come to church. Sister A felt prompted to leave her a note. We gave her some oranges ("Orange you glad we met?") and told her in the note that this was some of the opposition we told her would come. She thought about it all morning, and when we stopped by later to see her, she had decided to go. Church was a wonderful experience for her again. We saw her this morning and she is so full of light!

I just wanted to cry when we were with her. Her experience only gives me greater conviction of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt that because of Him we can become new and start over with a clean slate. I love this woman with all of my heart and I know that even when she didn't believe in herself that Heavenly Father saw great potential in her. Sister A and I see it, too. For everyone who's ever asked, that's the best part about being a missionary: seeing the Atonement change people and learning how to use it to change myself as well.

Love you all! Have a fantastic week full of rain storms and sunshine!

Sister Murdoch

Hello, everybody!

We just had a fantastic week! It was full of miracles in many different forms. Sometimes it was just showing up at a member's home who needed some comfort, sometimes it was delicious ice cream :) I want to share one of my favorites.

One morning I lost my planner somewhere. I never lose my planner. I was really worried about finding it. Sister A and I were retracing our steps looking for it. A woman called us to tell us that she found it. She was surprised to find out that it was mine. Every morning she goes for a walk and happened to walk a different path. That's how she found my planner. When we met her to get it, I thanked her and felt like it was supposed to happen. As she was walking away, I quickly told her that we're missionaries and we're here to help teach people who have been going through hard times and asked her if she knew anyone who was going through trials.

She told us that she was going through hard times. She has had so many trials and was starting to give up hope. She told us that she felt like God wanted us to meet. We saw her later in the week and had a special experience with her. After bearing testimony of the power of the Atonement, we invited her to be baptized on a certain date and she accepted. She came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it. This morning she called us to tell us that instead of watching the news that always depresses her, she turned to her Gospel Principles book from Sunday school and read about repentance.

Wow! Miracles happen! I know that Heavenly Father loves all of His children. He never gives up on us, and we can have hope because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ (Moroni 7:41). I hope that y'all have an amazing week full of miracles!

Sister Murdoch

Hello, everyone!

I don't have a lot of time, but I want to let you know that Ohio has awesome rainstorms! We pretty much got drenched the other day, but at least the lightning didn't hit us :) We have seen a lot of miracles everywhere. Some come in the form of service projects or finding people to teach. I just found out that a woman Sister W and I saw once when we went to help her clean is getting baptized. I'm so glad we followed Ammon's example and served her. Sometimes that's all it takes to open the door.

Sister A is super great with kids! One day while we were outside, she started blowing bubbles for some kids to pop. We met one of the mom's who wants to learn more. It's amazing how the small and simple things change eternity. I know that Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives. I know that He loves us and lets us experience rain and sunshine because He loves us.

Have a wonderful week full of miracles!

Sister Murdoch

Hello, everyone! Happy (late) Independence Day!

We had an amazing week! It was full of miracles and wonderful experiences. On the 4th, our zone went to a huge event called Americana, which is like a large fair that covers several blocks. We drew the plan of salvation in chalk on one of the parking lots. As people walked by, we would walk them through the plan, testify of it, and give cards or pamphlets. Several families want to learn more. It was so much fun! I'm not an artist, but I do have a testimony of Heavenly Father's plan. It is designed to make us happy and to be with our families forever. I know that we all have the opportunity to accept and follow this plan. It is the whole purpose of life. Have questions about it? Ask the missionaries, they can help you! mormon.org is helpful, too :)

Twice during the week we had just a few minutes before we needed to go in for the night. Both times we stayed out, and both times Heavenly Father let us meet people who have been so prepared to learn about the gospel. It really strengthened my testimony of obedience. When we obey the commandments Heavenly Father gives us, we are blessed. It's a simple and powerful truth. I know that He gives us those rules because He loves us and wants us to be happy.

Sister A is a fantastic missionary! We have both grown so much this last week. I can't believe how quickly time is passing. I'm so blessed to be serving in Miamisburg with her. I know that Heavenly Father is involved in the details of our lives and loves all of us. 1 Nephi 11:17

I wish you all a week as special and fantastic as the one we'll have here!

Sister Murdoch

Hello, everyone! This has been such a crazy, wonderful week for me! I hope that in all of your adventures you find much happiness in the little things in life.

I am now serving with and training Sister A. She is amazing! She is an incredible artist, loves to be outdoors, and is so good at teaching children. It has been so much fun being with her! We've had a lot of new experiences... mostly silly ones like getting locked out of our apartment this morning when we went to do laundry :) That was hilarious! She's a good sport, even if I sing to her in the morning to wake her up. We went a few days without a GPS, and I just have to say that maps are a little more difficult to navigate, at least for me. We got lost a few times, but for the most part we were pretty good.

One highlight for the week: we received a referral for a woman who wanted missionaries to come teach her. Sadly she's not in our area, but we first contacted her to teach her about the Restoration. It was a powerful experience and she really wants to read the Book of Mormon. While we were talking outside, a man pulled up to ask for directions. Being the mean trainer that I am, I handed a mormon.org card to Sister A and told her to give it to him. She tried handing it back, but then took it to him :) She's so great!

I love being a missionary! Many people have recently told us to our faces that we should stop what we're doing because we are wrong. I just want everyone who reads my blog to know that I do know that what I am sharing is true. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. I know that he was called to be a prophet and that we have a prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. I know that the priesthood is on the earth and it is the power of God to bind our families together. No one can convince me otherwise because it is through the Holy Ghost that I know these things. I also know that anyone who truly desires to learn if these things are true will find out that they are true.

I hope that you all have a magnificent week! I hope it's full of sunshine and wonderful little things to make you smile.

Sister Murdoch

Hello, everyone!

I have to send a super short email. I just found out that I'm staying in Miamisburg, Sister N is leaving, and I'm training a new Sister. I'm basically freaking out, but I know that it will work out somehow.

Fun story: We've recently been running into people who only speak Spanish. I don't remember enough Spanish on my own to talk to them, so I asked one of the Elders for a greeting and simple testimony. A few days after he helped, a new number texted us... in Spanish! I texted back what I learned and asked if we could send his/her number to the Spanish Elders. No response yet, but there are never accidents :)

I hope that y'all are having lots of wonderful things happening in life! I know that Heavenly Father loves us all and helps us individually. From personal experience I know that He hears every prayer and answers it when it is right and in the right way.

Psalm 147:3-4 ~ "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names."

Have an incredible week!

Sister Murdoch

Hello, everyone!

This week has been super busy and super amazing! It still thunderstorms like none other, and often it's pretty much like being in a carwash. Once in a while I make sure to run right through the deep, humongous puddles :) No wonder it's so green here!

A set of Sisters in a neighboring area met a young man who lives in our area. They told us Friday that he was expecting a visit... on Friday. We hurried over to see him. We just saw him before he had to go to work - miracle! He asked us to come back on Saturday. We took a young woman with us and taught him about the Restoration. He loved it! In fact he wants his step-father to join us when we go back tonight. Pray for all of us! I know that it will be a good experience. I'm excited to share the Book of Mormon with him.

It was still a simple week, as busy as it was. The investigators are still progressing in their own ways. I have improved a lot in talking to everyone and testifying to them according to their needs and I still have so far to go. Sister N and I have had interesting experiences, hilarious moments, and days full of miracles in the shape of raindrops. I love the gospel! I am so grateful for the blessings of the priesthood, eternal families, and especially knowing how to apply the Atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ. I hope that you all have a week full of miracles in the form you want them, rain or shine!

Sister Murdoch