I didn't receive an email from Elder Murri at the end of July. Marcie however did get an email from a member of the ward where Jed is serving that week. I really enjoyed it and will share some of it a little later.
This past week I did get an email from my son. In my last email to him I shared a scripture in 1 Ne 13:40. "And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, [the Bible] and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved." I told him that I thought that was a cool scripture and that I really enjoy re-reading and re-reading the part that says, "... that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him...". I can't get over it. Elder Murri responded this way, "A scripture that I really like is in 1 Nephi. Mom mentioned how you guys had just finished the Book of Mormon as a family, so if you haven't already, you'll read this scripture pretty soon. It's in 1 Nephi 1:20. It says:
"And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance".
I know that the Lord gives us all tender mercies, and we can see them, if we choose to. I know that He gives you all tender mercies. I like the part when it says that the Lord will make us mighty, even unto the power of deliverance. I re-read and re-read that last part over and over again when I read it the first time. I think that it ties in really well with your scripture. Jesus Christ's love is real. I believe in Him. I'm coming to know Him as my Saviour. I love Him more and more each day. What a great thing that that is."
I mentioned the letter from a member of his ward in King's Lynn. I re-read it a few times. I feel like I would like to share a good portion of it.
"Hello Sister Marcie,
... I live in King's Lynn in Norfolk, England, one of my callings is as a ward missionary so I get to spend lots of time with these amazing young men and woman who serve the Lord full time.
I have had the most fantastic opportunity to meet and get to know your son a bit while he's been on his mission here, in fact he is one of the ward now, he's been here so long, and we love him dearly... in the missionary correlation meetings the ward mission president affectionately calls him Jedi, although when he has his glasses on we call him Super Man as the resemblance to Clark Kent is amazing :)
Thankfully he takes this all in good humor.
He has grown up so much since he has been here with us in the King's Lynn ward. I have see him go from a great young lad who wanted me to adjust his trousers as they weren't fashionable enough for him to possibly the humblest man I have ever had the privileged to know.
One particular thing about Elder Murri is he is so dedicated, and with the other missionaries, the Sisters and other Elders I have seen a great leader and so much love that he has for those under his care.
I certainly have a huge soft spot for your son. When he speaks while bearing his testimony the Spirit envelops everything... the strength of the Spirit emanating from him makes me cry every time! I have had to make sure I am wearing waterproof mascara when I go teaching with him!
I have included some pictures for you as he says he hasn't sent you very many, there have been good times, fun times as well as difficult and frustrating times, but Elder Murri comes out smiling every time. I have sent you pictures of Him with a couple of companions at different members houses, playing with marshmallows seems to be a theme.
He and his companion and an investigator came to help me decorate, I have unusual taste and so I wanted a mixture of pictures on my wall... have way through poor Elder Murri looked so concerned and said "Oh ... I feel like I have ruined your wall" Bless him! I love it though, I have been adding things to my accent wall (it is a work in progress) and as long as I stay in this home I will always remember his help.
We taught an investigator about the Word of Wisdom, and during the lesson the investigator inadvertently called me fat, I pretended I didn't hear and carried on as if nothing had happened, but for a second or two your valiant son and being the gentleman he is, looked like he was going to defend my honor and throttle the guy LOL!
I cannot even remember how many patches I've had to sew into the seat of his trousers but it's always funny when he and his companion come to me and Elder Murri has a sheepish look on his face then asks if I can fix them again! Bless him, the seams are always splitting... too many thigh muscles LOL.
...
One time he was so ill bless him, he was falling asleep on his feet, and coughing every two minutes, there are some pics of him with a bottle of my homemade cough mixture, honey, lemon and cinnamon. It did the trick!
...
[There is a brother who] is not a member of the church, and can be "difficult" though Elder Murri and his companion Elder Hessen taught him for a while. Every time [this brother] speaks of Elder Murri when they have bumped into him in town, they have been nice words, I think even though he won't admit it, [he] can also feel the Spirit when Elder Murri teaches.
I wanted to write to you to thank you for being such a wonderful example to Elder Murri and for helping him to come on a mission. He says he doesn't want to be the same person he was when he started, I can testify that he isn't. The Lord is shaping him and Elder Murri is raising to every challenge the Lord wants him to learn from. I have seen it, and I have such admiration and love for the fantastic example Elder Murri is to me.
Enjoy the pictures.
Much love"
I appreciate that Sister taking care of my son when he is sick, or when his pants are having wardrobe malfunctions. :) I really appreciate her love to him and that she would reach out and share with us her experience.
Jed says that, "The work is going well here. We baptised a British girl ... a week ago, and she's doing really well. She's going to the temple this weekend, and I'm really really excited for her! Being given the responsibility of caring for a district (that's all made up of sisters) has also been a learning experience for me. But it's been so good. I've learned so much. Whenever I write emails home, it seems to be that I can't remember all of the bad things that have happened, only the good ones. And I love that. I love my mission! I love England!"
Really loving, and spending day and night working to help others realize the blessings Heavenly Father wants to give them can be difficult. I believe that as Jed told me above, "...the Lord gives us all tender mercies..." - only remembering the good things is one. That might be a good scripture to re-read in Family Home Evening one of these next Monday nights.
This past week I did get an email from my son. In my last email to him I shared a scripture in 1 Ne 13:40. "And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, [the Bible] and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved." I told him that I thought that was a cool scripture and that I really enjoy re-reading and re-reading the part that says, "... that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him...". I can't get over it. Elder Murri responded this way, "A scripture that I really like is in 1 Nephi. Mom mentioned how you guys had just finished the Book of Mormon as a family, so if you haven't already, you'll read this scripture pretty soon. It's in 1 Nephi 1:20. It says:
"And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance".
I know that the Lord gives us all tender mercies, and we can see them, if we choose to. I know that He gives you all tender mercies. I like the part when it says that the Lord will make us mighty, even unto the power of deliverance. I re-read and re-read that last part over and over again when I read it the first time. I think that it ties in really well with your scripture. Jesus Christ's love is real. I believe in Him. I'm coming to know Him as my Saviour. I love Him more and more each day. What a great thing that that is."
I mentioned the letter from a member of his ward in King's Lynn. I re-read it a few times. I feel like I would like to share a good portion of it.
"Hello Sister Marcie,
... I live in King's Lynn in Norfolk, England, one of my callings is as a ward missionary so I get to spend lots of time with these amazing young men and woman who serve the Lord full time.
I have had the most fantastic opportunity to meet and get to know your son a bit while he's been on his mission here, in fact he is one of the ward now, he's been here so long, and we love him dearly... in the missionary correlation meetings the ward mission president affectionately calls him Jedi, although when he has his glasses on we call him Super Man as the resemblance to Clark Kent is amazing :)
Thankfully he takes this all in good humor.
He has grown up so much since he has been here with us in the King's Lynn ward. I have see him go from a great young lad who wanted me to adjust his trousers as they weren't fashionable enough for him to possibly the humblest man I have ever had the privileged to know.
One particular thing about Elder Murri is he is so dedicated, and with the other missionaries, the Sisters and other Elders I have seen a great leader and so much love that he has for those under his care.
I certainly have a huge soft spot for your son. When he speaks while bearing his testimony the Spirit envelops everything... the strength of the Spirit emanating from him makes me cry every time! I have had to make sure I am wearing waterproof mascara when I go teaching with him!
I have included some pictures for you as he says he hasn't sent you very many, there have been good times, fun times as well as difficult and frustrating times, but Elder Murri comes out smiling every time. I have sent you pictures of Him with a couple of companions at different members houses, playing with marshmallows seems to be a theme.
He and his companion and an investigator came to help me decorate, I have unusual taste and so I wanted a mixture of pictures on my wall... have way through poor Elder Murri looked so concerned and said "Oh ... I feel like I have ruined your wall" Bless him! I love it though, I have been adding things to my accent wall (it is a work in progress) and as long as I stay in this home I will always remember his help.
We taught an investigator about the Word of Wisdom, and during the lesson the investigator inadvertently called me fat, I pretended I didn't hear and carried on as if nothing had happened, but for a second or two your valiant son and being the gentleman he is, looked like he was going to defend my honor and throttle the guy LOL!
I cannot even remember how many patches I've had to sew into the seat of his trousers but it's always funny when he and his companion come to me and Elder Murri has a sheepish look on his face then asks if I can fix them again! Bless him, the seams are always splitting... too many thigh muscles LOL.
...
One time he was so ill bless him, he was falling asleep on his feet, and coughing every two minutes, there are some pics of him with a bottle of my homemade cough mixture, honey, lemon and cinnamon. It did the trick!
...
[There is a brother who] is not a member of the church, and can be "difficult" though Elder Murri and his companion Elder Hessen taught him for a while. Every time [this brother] speaks of Elder Murri when they have bumped into him in town, they have been nice words, I think even though he won't admit it, [he] can also feel the Spirit when Elder Murri teaches.
I wanted to write to you to thank you for being such a wonderful example to Elder Murri and for helping him to come on a mission. He says he doesn't want to be the same person he was when he started, I can testify that he isn't. The Lord is shaping him and Elder Murri is raising to every challenge the Lord wants him to learn from. I have seen it, and I have such admiration and love for the fantastic example Elder Murri is to me.
Enjoy the pictures.
Much love"
I appreciate that Sister taking care of my son when he is sick, or when his pants are having wardrobe malfunctions. :) I really appreciate her love to him and that she would reach out and share with us her experience.
Jed says that, "The work is going well here. We baptised a British girl ... a week ago, and she's doing really well. She's going to the temple this weekend, and I'm really really excited for her! Being given the responsibility of caring for a district (that's all made up of sisters) has also been a learning experience for me. But it's been so good. I've learned so much. Whenever I write emails home, it seems to be that I can't remember all of the bad things that have happened, only the good ones. And I love that. I love my mission! I love England!"
Really loving, and spending day and night working to help others realize the blessings Heavenly Father wants to give them can be difficult. I believe that as Jed told me above, "...the Lord gives us all tender mercies..." - only remembering the good things is one. That might be a good scripture to re-read in Family Home Evening one of these next Monday nights.