Hello!- May 26, 2014

( I asked him why he in one of the pictures he sent home he had a spanish nametag on his shirt under his suit coat, and a french name tag on his suit coat...this was his reply).  

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Hah actually, Dallin sent me one of his name tags, and I've been wearing it on my white shirt, since it doesn't show because we wear suits here in Rimouski. It's just a nice little reminder I get to wear every day.

Hey Dad, great to hear about your class with the Deacons. I wonder what would get a group of deacons pumped about reading the scriptures....

Whoa!! Holy cow no Dad didn't tell me about his new calling. Thanks mom! Dang. Sounds like some work cut out for you Dad. You're going to do awesome though.

More about Elder Drury: Elder Drury is always happy and jokes a lot. He loves being positive which is great. He is from Riverton, Utah, and went to Southern Utah University for 1 year before coming out, I believe. He came in the mission when I was in Laval, so he has about 9 months left. (hopefully they'll all be here in Rimouski hah). He's excited to work here, and he worked in a small branch for 8 months already (in english), and so he understands the swing of things, in a way. He says he wants to work on his French, because I think the fact that I'm leaving, and he doesn't understand some of the people we work with is starting to worry him hah. But it's a good worry.

We had a good week. We were really busy up until Thursday, but then not so busy after that. I got a little cold this weekend, but it should be on its way out soon.

Stake conference is this week, which is going to be great. Part of it will be broadcasted from Salt Lake, and its going to be for all of Canada (I guess the church still considers Quebec as a part of Canada). Steeve has taken a lot of steps back in the last couple months, but he's moving forward again. He'll be teaching every 2 and 3rd week of the month in priesthood, and we're trying to be there more often to help him learn how to study. It was a great time studying with him this week. I love helping people feel the power of the Book of Mormon!

We also had lessons with other members, such as Frère D'Amours, and Soeur Bujold. They're both doing really well, which is great. Frère D'Amours SHOULD be coming to church some time soon, he just needs to coordinate with a neighbor, since he lives one hour away and doesn't have money to pay for gas. (long story, I'll tell you later).

So some sad news this week, is that our friend Sister Woods was entered into the 'end of life' home (I don't know how to say that in English) on Friday, and is really declining. She found out in October of last year that she had cancer, but her treatments were all going well, up until last Friday morning. We got to visit her there, and she's very positive, but its very sad to see her go. Sister Levesque and Sister Bujold have been taking turns staying by her side so she won't be all alone, since her family seems to be a little bit too busy to see her, which is really disappointing. But yesterday the thought came to mind, that remember, a couple weeks ago, Sister Bujold drove one extra hour go pick her up and bring her to church, because she asked to have a ride. And I believe that was her last time ever coming to church. I'm really grateful that Sister Bujold did that for her, and she is too.

All is well! At church yesterday, we were 11 present. The Fourtinas and the Warners both couldn't come this week.
But hey, they'll be here next week!

Love you all, and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Love

Elder Murphy

May 19, 2014

Haha Brandonn!!!! Nice job in your race! Looking big!

And Tommy! I dont have any pictures, but dang thats awesome! Way to go!

Alyse, and Camille, I'm sure you did great as well.

Dad, I will definitely take up that challenge! I just hope you're ready Bethany. We started running in the mornings here, so I'll be ready to help Bethany out. Don't be scared Bethany, I'm not that mean any more.

So we had a great week. Elder Smith was excited to go and get some new exciting responsabilities! And Elder Drury's great! He's come in with a lot of energy, and ideas which are helpful. And he's willing to teach and contact and fellowship which is so great!! It looks like it'll be a great transfer!

Attendance at church was 20 yesterday! Yay! And our friend Claude came! He's a 'friend' the missionaries have had very off and on for the last 5 years, because he has almost been drinking uncontrollably for the last 5 years. But suddenly, one month ago, after he got kicked out of a addiction recovery hospital, he just no longer had the desire to drink. What a miracle! He came and enjoyed it very much, and liked President Fourtina. Teaching has been (obviously) very unstable but we're hoping to pick it up here soon!

President and Sister Fourtina were amazing this weekend, as always. Wow. 

But I'm excited to work with Elder Drury. He is really excited to work here in Rimouski. Its going to be a great tranfer, and a great transition period, trying to help him get as integrated as possible. 

Steeve Bourgoin (finally) came for his interview with President Fourtina yesterday!!! YAYYY!!! So he received a calling, as Elders Quorum instructor (which is great, because it's like throwing him into the deep-end, to really 'help' him to study.) And Sister Bujold got her interview for her patriarchal blessing. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We also had a wonderful branch activity on saturday. Another souper, and then a presentation on 72 hour sacks. 

You all are wonderful. Thanks for everything!

Love

Elder Austin K Murphy

Heres Elder Drury and me! (Is that grammatically correct Alyse?)

And as a bonus, Austin looking over the beautiful Quebec City:

Dear Alyse,- May 12, 2014

Hello Alyse! I felt bad that you said I had never written you, so I hope that this can start to heal the wound.

It was great to talk to you and everyone else yesterday! I was surprised at the connection which was great for us, but poor for Dallin. I guess that just goes to show how hard it is over there (hah okay, I'm sorry, I know it's tough as well). 

Good thing when I signed on Dane was happy enough to talk with us. I can't believe he's already saying some big words! What a cute boy. 

How's Tommy doing? How is Dane? I read your blog posts, but you can tell me if you want. 

Our week here in Rimouski was great. A couple members were out of town so we couldn't work with them, and most of the week was occupied with service! We did service at Le Friperie, L'Arbre de Vie, La Moisson Neigette, at Brother Hébert's friend's barn thingy, and then at Sister Woods house. I love service now. I can't believe how much it's changed ever since those groggy Saturday mornings in high school when we'd 'have to go move people' hah. Silly old pre-Elder Murphy. But we did get some lessons in, and invited our less active friends to come to church. Some accepted, but none of them were able to make it. Bah!

But it's okay. I'm excited about this next transfer. We're going to give it our all. The big thing will be trying to reactive members (President Fourtina still wants 40 members at sacrament by the time I leave), strengthening those who are already with us (President Fourtina told us of some plans that I can't really share... but sometime I will!), and then going and bringing new faces in. 

It's a wonderful time to be a missionary! I love how while my responsabilities are here in Rimouski, we all are working for the same goal - me and you! Let me explain:

 - At baptism, we covenanted to take upon ourselves the name of Christ. What does that mean? I bet you have a good answer! Dane probably does too. Baptism was the sign of our commitment to become disciples of Christ. What does it mean to be a disciple? If we then are disciples of Christ, what does that mean? (Hint - Elder Dallin H. Oaks talk from April 2013 General Conference, so good.)

 - The best way to be a missionary, for me or you, is to live the Gospel. Through living the Gospel, we receive so many blessings. The joy that comes to our lives is the best tool for missionary work. You can have as much influence on the lives that surround you as I do! 

So let's do it! What a great time to be a 'light of the world'. 

I love you sister! Tell everyone else I say hi. 

Love

Elder Murphy

Love love love.- May 5, 2014

Hello family! Thanks for your emails! Cole, you were the only one not to write (Brandon and Tommy are excused, for good reasons). But that's okay, we'll talk in a couple days.

So! Rimouski, Rimouski. I love Rimouski. Our week was great. We got to have 7 lessons with less active slash almost active members, which was great. Two of them were with Soeur Bujold, who has been struggling ever since her brother ridiculed her for wanting to go to the temple to do baptisms for family members. Silly Gaston. But it was actually a great experience teaching her the Restoration again, being the base of our testimonies of Christ and His work. The first lesson on Saturday was actually with Sister Fourtina and the Fourtina's son Daniel who just got back from Finland. After our lessons on Saturday and Sunday night, she is doing much better, and accepted her calling as Family History Director hah. Good timing, eh?

We taught her sister, Souer Lafortune, twice, and she is doing very well. They both are working to receive their patriarchal blessings soon, and hope to get it before I leave. They're both wonderful examples of trying to live the Gospel, while being the only members in their families. I think the mold is setting, they're getting stronger as they keep choosing the right.

Our friends who are preparing for the Melchizedek Priesthood, are moving, very slowly. Steeve was supposed to meet President Saturday, then cancelled, and then Sunday, and then didn't show up. That was sad. And Brother Leblond doesn't really seem to want to meet with us anymore, even though he'll come to church. But we'll see! We are now Steeve's home teachers with Brother Warner (Miracle!) so we'll be able to teach him AND have a member who can support him and be his friend. 

So the Dupont's daughter and her husband (the Warner family) just moved last week to Rimouski with their 2 year old daughter. Ah wow, what a wonderful family. He's a returned missionary (who served in Quebec) and is from Alaska slash Utah, and she is a rock star. They're probably now the two strongest members in the branch (maybe 3, with the toddler. She's a little older, but Dane, I think you two would make a great couple). I've met them already 5 or so other times, and it's going to be great to work with them, because they came ready to serve!

We ALMOST has two other great miracles yesterday. Both Brother D'Amours, and Brother Philippe Bourgoin (Steeve's uncle) had promised to come to church, and even spoke with President Fourtina saying that they would come, and then didn't show up. Bah. But Philippe's building is really against him coming, its the second time he's committed to come, and then Sunday morning as he's going to leave, a maintenance problem breaks out and he has to fix it. This time an apartment flooded. But, as you said Mom and Dad, patience. I love President Monson's quote, that says we often forget that the heavenly virtue patience is required, as we expect blessings. So true. Oh how much I wish things would just change with the *snap* of my fingers, but how could I learn patience that way?

So, I love Rimouski. A lot of other things happened this week, but I can't share it all. It'll have to wait. But God is mindful of us. I can feel it. As President Thomas S. Monson said, our Heavenly Father's love never changes, it is simply always there. Sometimes I believe our connection is weakened on the receiving end. But He is there, and He will guide us. Thanks for all your love and support. Keep up the great work!

And let me just say how much I love Mom (We'll talk on Sunday, but here you go) : I love my Mom. She is amazing. She's an amazing woman, mother, and example. I learned in my first area that Mom has never been wrong in teaching me, and oh how that would have helped if I realized that before, but in any case, I realized it now. I'm infinitely grateful for her example and love, in no matter what sort of circumstance we are found in. To me, my Mom's an angel, and I'm not afraid to say it. Love you mom! Happy mothers day!

Elder Austin Murphy