Dec 29 Week 73 - Finding Justin again, LIu's, Polynesian Dinner on Christmas Eve with soccer and mafia at church, Christmas Skype call, Hu Family, Bears here aren't ike Panda Bears, Mini Golf

So this week we had a hard time getting lessons.  On Monday we were walking in a neighborhood and found this cool guy named Justin that we had met before, but I had written his number down wrong.  So glad we could find him again, because I was beating myself up for loosing him.  He said we can come back after New Years!

Tuesday we went to Corona to have the Christmas get together and get our presents.  It was fun!  We had a nice little lunch and watched a slideshow and listened to some musical numbers.  Thanks to everyone!!!  Thank you cards are on the way!  :)  After the party, the Sean Li (the guy from the family that was at the Christmas party) called.  He asked to take a tour of an old folks home.  Luckily our Stake President owns a bunch of them.  So I called and got us a quick tour with them.  I guess that is what his business is in China.  Afterward he also asked me to translate for them when they fight with the hospital over their medical bills, and their "guest" that is having her baby her asked us to come everyday to teach English.   At night we saw Xiong, and also met with some former investigators, a really old couple named the Liu's.  They were nice and said we can come back.  

Wednesday was interesting.  We got stood up by Tracy and Morgan... again.  We did weekly planning!  I wrote a bunch of thank you cards for almost all the members in the ward.  Then we went and delivered them with the candy and toys you sent.  I think they liked it.  I love the members here a lot.  We also met with Brother Zhu and showed him the restoration video. He said he doesn't know how long it will take for him to believe this stuff.  I hope not long. At night we ate at a Polynesian family's house.  It was good food, and a lot of it. Then we played mafia and soccer at the chapel with all the missionaries.  Afterward president said it was ok if Elder Henderson and Elder Schleter came to sleep at our house.  So they did.  We watched Ephraim's Rescue.  (that movie was approved to watch when on holiday's when we all get together, no one wanted to watch it at the chapel, so they wanted to watch it at home.)

Thursday!  We woke up and met with the other missionaries to open presents and have breakfast.  Thank you!  I am sorry you thought I was disappointed!  I love getting all the pictures of everyone with the chalk sign and hat!  The water bottle is awesome, and I like the running clothes.  BTW the laces on one running shoes snapped... After we Skyped!  It was fun, I felt a little awkward though.  Sorry it was so short. I love you guys!  After that we had linner at a member's house and then just chilled until dinner and volley ball at the chapel afterwards.  

Friday we went out in the morning to talk to people.  No one interested.  After studies we biked a lot.  We went to see the Hu family. The 7 kid family!  They were really nice and we had everyone get together for a family prayer.  It was pretty cool!  I hope they continue to do it like we invited them.  At night the Birch family (the neighbors of the Li family)  invited us to dinner with them and the Lis, but wouldn't let us teach them there as not to "send the wrong message."  Then we had English class.  We had a cool new family show up.  I hope they come again on Wed!  I think they have some potential!

Saturday we biked a lot again.  We saw yuyi, Selina, and Xiong.  We set up with Brother Deng and his wife too.  They then changed the appointment to be at their friends house.  Their friend is brother and sister yan.  They are a really old nice couple. They came to church yesterday, and we picked them up as investigators.  

Sunday we had Chinese sacrament, so I didn't have to translated. 

 They aren't sure if they are going to do it next year still.  Which I am against because I think the investigators really like it, and I have to translate every week.  After church we had correlation with Brother Miao.  It was good.  He is a good guy.  At night we went to see Evelyn and Liu Yue with their home teacher.  It wasn't so good.  They were having a bad day.  Their home teacher taught about reincarnation and I saw some cigarette butts in their garage.  I don't know what to do... I really want to help them be happy and stay active... they asked for help today translating at the hospital.  I told them today we couldn't but tomorrow we could.  They didn't seem too happy about that.  Ugg.  Today was nice.  I got my haircut, and then we played mini-golf.  Fun times!

-Elder Murray

So Morgan texted me and told me that they couldn't meet yesterday because they were going to Big Bear Lake.  So I texted "Sounds dangerous, be careful.  The bears here aren't like pandas they eat people...:  They thought that was funny.  ILY

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! 

Dec 22 Week 72 - Christmas Lights, Elder Schluter, Zhangs Explained, Serve Christmas Dinner To Senior Citizens, Lings, Xiong Dumplings, Service and Frozen Songs, Little dog hit by car

We hit standard!  Ya!  It always feels good to do that.  So here is a rundown of the week.

Monday we had the Koew's nephew with us, because he was getting a new companion
from the MTC, so he had  to stay with us one night, as the trainer/trainee meeting is on Tuesday.
 We got one lesson with Sister Dong.  She is a former from when Elder Snyder was here.  She
asked to practice English with us.  So we went over and shared a short message, she said
she will be baptized in time, she is just worried about what her friends at her 

other church will do.  So we need to get some of our awesome members over.  It is tough
 with Christmas right now though, the Jiangs said they can't, and the Miao's are out of town.  

Tuesday we helped Sister Terry (Elder Clarkson's airport OYM), and the Jiangs
hang up Christmas lights.  It was fun, but a little wet as it was raining.  After that
we saw Sister Qiu and her 91 year old father.  He is super cool. He can still walk, and
do tai qi.  We shared He is the Gift, and asked for referrals.  No referrals. Sister Qiu's 

husband is a non member, but not really interested.  After dinner with a family where
the mom and the dad met on their mission in Latvia, we saw Brother Xiong.  He sure
is a good guy, his wife is really warming up.  Keep her in your prayers.  After that we
did a baptismal interview for Elder Henderson's investigator.  

Wednesday was busy.  We met Elder Henderson's new comp at DDM.  His name is
Elder Schluter, from Iowa.  He is a cool guy.  After DDM we helped unload and load presents
for a sub for santa thing that we were going to help with on Saturday.  After that we had
 a lesson with Jack Wang.  He is another really cool guy, he reminds me a 

lot of Xiong or Louis.  He is a referral from Brother Miao.  We have only met with
him 3 times now.  He is super cool, and just got out of his really busy job.  So hopefully
now he will have time to meet, and come to church.  He is reading and praying, and he feels
 the spirit.  We are going to invite him to baptism, this week or the next.  Then I did

 another baptismal interview for the Sister's in my district.  At night we had English class.
  Brother Zhang came.

ok I realized that all these Zhang's might be confusing.... ok so there is the Zhang family.
 The wife is Brother Miao's sister.  They have been members/in US for 25 years.  Then there
is Katey Zhang, she is a single business woman who hosted us for Thanksgiving, and
got baptized 4 years ago.  Then there is Cheryl Zhang, the one that got baptized a year
ago, but we can only meet her at the donut shop because her husband isn't interested.
Ok so now that that is all cleared up.  We used Brother Zhang's ipad to show a mormon
message our district suggested to Brother Zhu.  He is having such a hard time.  He doesn't
believe in God.  Everything we say he says "well that could just be a coincidence or we can't
prove that God is there."  We just keep inviting him to pray.  He came 

to church on Sunday!  We'll see.  I really like him a lot. 

Thursday we went to do service at an old folks home.  We served a Christmas dinner to
them.  That was so much fun.  Old people are the best.  Afterward we came home and did
weekly planning.  After that we finally got in with the Lings (the old couple that comes
 to church regularly.)  We had a lesson, and got a return appointment!  New investigators!
They aren't too solid yet.  They said our church was good, but a little boring because we
don't cast out devils.  Keep them in the prayers too!  At dinner we found out that Elder Snyder
 in engaged to a blonde British girl.  I'm happy for him!  At  night we went to see Evelyn,
 but Liu Yue wasn't home.  So after waiting a while, we just gave Evelyn the Book of Mormon
 stories book for Heidi.  Hope she liked it.  

Friday we cleaned up trash on the side of the road.  I made sure this time we had neon
vests so cars wouldn't drive so close to us.  It is a good opportunity to serve, and get a room
at for English class at the community center.  The rest of the day was good.  We got a lesson
with Xiong family, and committed sister Xiong to come to church!  Which

 she did!  But she didn't pray with us at the end.  She did give us some good
dumplings though, so that was good.  We also saw Yuyi.  He is doing good.  I really
 hope we can get him on a mission.  

Saturday was crazy we spent from 8-3:00 at the service project with all the missionaries
 from 2 zones.  It was fun.  We set up, handed out presents, and cleaned up.  It was a
good time.  Little kids with glasses remind me of Fletcher (although recent pics of Fletcher show
he isn't a little kid anymore)  We also spent time singing Christmas songs with them.  When
we asked them what they wanted to sing they said Feliz Navidad, and Frozen.  Feliz 

Navidad was fun, but none of the missionaries knew the Frozen songs... luckily, every single
 kid did.  I didn't realize how popular it was.  At night we had a little party type thing with all
the missionaries in the stake, the stake pres, and pres mullen.  The stake pres. got it catered by a
 mexican place.  Afterwards we went caroling to all their neighbors.  It was fun. 

Sunday was good.  We had a lot of people at church.  In the afternoon, Elder Schoonmaker asked
 us to come swing by a towel to him at the baptism of his and Elder Henderson's old investigator
that got baptized.  When we went Shell was also there to watch.  It was good to see here there.
 She is still solid, and bringing her friends to church.  After we had a lesson with the Spanish
sister's neighbor again.  This time 3 other people came and listened too.  We are going back

 next Friday.  At night we ate with this Taiwanese, but born in US family.  They fed us a mix of
Chinese and American food.  It was good.  At night we saw the Yu's.  We showed them the new
temple clothing video to help them get ready to go to the temple!!!  So exciting!  We also taught
Sister teng again.  She is starting to understand more, but still wants to wait till after she goes
back to China to get baptized.  Oh and one other thing happened 

last night.  So this transfer elder Merriman is the designated driver.  Last night we were driving
and a little dog ran out in front of us.... he had no time to react... we went back and there was
a ton of blood and it's intestines were all over the road.  We also have a good sized dent in
our car.  So today we had to go fill out an accident report and get our car inspected.  When I
 called the car coordinator last night he picks up the phone and says... "please tell me you

 didn't hit anything!"  After I told him what was up he asked us if we felt comfortable to move
it off to the side, I looked at it and as I did another car came by and smushed it even more... so
I decided that we'd just let animalcontrol take care of it.   Interesting night.... 

Ok well that is all!  So excited to talk in 4 days!!!!!!!!!  Still same plan, 10:00 here time...
most likely facetime!  and 

please help me keep it 40 minutes or less!  Love you guys!  

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

-Elder Murray

Dec 15 Week 71 - New Investigator opportunities, Sister Zhang, Tracy and Morgan, Choir practice, Pressure makes diamonds - Brother Zhu, Evelyn and Liu Yue expecting!, Testimony of sealings

THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE!!!!  Our apartment looks great! The toffee bars were devoured in short order. I have a giant canker sore... it is huge!  I have been trying not to eat sour, spicy, or sweet because it hurts so bad, so I am saving the caramels. Also good news I am not transferring and neither is Elder Merriman!!!!  Elder Schoonmaker is with Dyer in University Heights!  So I get to spend Christmas at Eastvale!  So thankful!  We saw Elder Heaton this morning to say goodbye!  He was the happiest I have ever seen him.  It was fun to be together with all the Chinese missionaries (I got it approved by the AP's.)  

This week was good we had a lesson with Cheryl Zhang (a recent convert of about a year)  at a donut shop as her husband isn't really supportive of church stuff.  While we were there this old Chinese comes up and asks where the church is; we told him, got his number, and set up  a return appointment, turns out he is more interested in learning English from us than anything, but oh well.  Cool little experience and we got a member present from it!  At night we took an older Chinese member to see Tracy and Morgan.  It went very well.  Tracy is doing ok, but she won't read or pray.  I asked if we could suggest a chapter, she said no.... so I don't know really how to work with her.  Just keep being nice I guess. 

Tuesday we had meetings at Wendy's. I talked to and got number of this really nice family that wanted to move to Eastvale.  I was excited about them, but they haven't responded yet...bummer.  At night we went with Tracy and Brother Zhu to the ward choir practice.  They enjoyed it.  

Wednesday we biked around a lot and tried to find people.  We found another cool family,  they said we can come back after Christmas so we will.  We had a good English class, and a really long lesson on praying to know if these things are true with Brother Zhu.  He finally said he'd do it.  He said he felt a lot of pressure.  I told him pressure makes diamonds.  He said but I am stone not coal.  We have a good relationship with him, but he just isn't asking.  

Thursday after planning we biked a lot again.  At night we saw Evelyn (she and liu yue are expecting!) and we finally got a lesson with the whole Xiong family and committed them to read the children's Book of Mormon together!  Then found out the Su's sister isn't coming to America anymore... such a bummer.  We also had a lesson with a new investigator named Yan who was referred by Sister deng!

Friday it rained a lot so instead of biking we walked.  The spanish sisters referred us to their neighbor.  We picked them up as investigators!  At night we taught a lesson to all the members and Brother Zhu.  It went really well!  We showed a video clip on eternal families and had Brother Jiang and Su share their testimonies of their sealings.  Brother Su said "even though my wife was fat from her pregnancy, she still looked more beautiful than on wedding day in China!"  Sister Su had mixed feelings from that comment.  

Saturday we biked again... that seems to be our new go to.  At night we saw Nancy and Howard and invited them to church, they might come this Sunday.  We need to get members to meet them!  Then we got a call from the Eastvale 2nd ward.  A Chinese family showed up at their Christmas party.  So we went, they were really cool.  We are going to see them this week.  They are another cool family!  

Sunday we missed standard because Brother Zhu didn't come to church.  We even stopped by his house at 8:30... he didn't like that... so hopefully he still meets with us.  Winter and Sister teng came!  After church we visited some other recent converts.  We also went to a park and got another cool potential named Phoebe, later that night we talked to her landlord by accident who called her and asked if she was interested, and she said she had already talked to us..  too cool!

Ok that is the week.  President isn't letting us have a full mission gathering, and making us work on Christmas Eve... we didn't last year... bummer... oh well.

Dec 9 Week 70 - Morgan (Tracy not there), Mr. Kreuger's Christmas with Winter, Yipee! - Gratitude for reading Bat and Cat, Brother Zhu, Numb Hot Fragant Pot with Su's, Evelyn, Nora, Chen Long, Cool but busy Jack Wang, Wendy Zu won't pray, Ward Christmas Party - see Louis, Emma, Dong Fang; Sister Teng comes to church

Monday we had a great lesson with Sister Teng, we taught English at the beginning and then had Sister Zhang come.  She committed to coming to church. 

Tuesday we had a lot of rain.  We had nothing to do.  So we just walked around trying to talk to people, but not lots of people out at the time.  We just got super wet.  At night we brought two members to see Tracy, but she wasn't there so we had a lesson with Morgan, that was good.  

Wednesday we did some service by helping clean up an older member couples yard, until it started raining again.  We saw Winter and watched Mr Kreuger's Christmas, because on exchanges our Zone Leader said we could watch a movie with her.  So I made sure I got the shortest one.  We also met with a cool recent convert named Cheryl.  We committed her to showing her husband "He is the Gift."  He hasn't been receptive to missionaries at all.  English class I helped this old guy learn the ABCs and the helped him read Bat and Cat.  He was super excited and stood up and said "yipee!  I am improving!"  It was funny.  It felt good to have someone be so grateful for our help.  At night we met with Brother Zhu and Miao.  He doesn't have faith in Christ yet, but he hasn't been reading or praying, so that is the problem there.  

Thursday we had weekly planning and correlation.  We had dinner with the Su family, they mad "numb hot fragrant pot"  that is how it is directly translated.  It is so good.  Then we saw Evelyn!  She is doing good, and got the Holy Ghost on Sunday!  We also saw Brother Xiong and his tenant that he brought to see the church last week.  Brother Xiong talked a lot.  It was ok though.  I hope we can help him.  Sister Xiong asked us to meet with her to help with English, I said ok, but we will share the gospel too.  She didn't seem too excited about that, but we'll see.  

Friday we had a good ZDM.  Afterward all the Elders went to Buffalo Wild Wings.  I hated it, the food was gross and they all just watched TV the whole time, and it took an extra 30 minutes.  We biked around and talked to a lot of people including a former potential named Nora that Elder yeung and I tracted into.  She has friends in Irvine that are members.  So hopefully we can get her as a new investigator.  English class was ok, after we had a lesson with a super cool, but way too busy investigator named  Jack Wang.  We had it at Brother Miao's house.  It was good, but he is too busy to be a progressing investigator.  He wouldn't set a return appointment.  

Saturday we brought a Chinese member from Chino to see Chen long and her family.   After we went to the sisters' baptism and brother zhu came.  I translated for him.  We saw president there.  We also taught Wendy Xu in Corona.  She won't pray, so there isn't much we can do.  At night we had the ward Christmas party.  It was really good.  Louis and Emma and Dong Fang came.  It was really nice to see them again.  At night we saw Tracy and Winter at Winter's house.  They kept changing the topic and not wanting to talk about "the mormon"  and said that we explain it bad.   

Sunday we only had Sister Teng come to church.  I translated the Su's tithing settlement after church, we taught Sister Teng and tried to invite her to baptism.  She said no, because she has to go back and thank all the Chinese God's for all they have done for her.  So she is farther from baptism than I thought... bummer.  

Ok that is the week.  I need some extra prayers this week. Pray that we will get some sweet new investigators!  

-ILY 

-Elder Murray

Dec 1 Week 69 - Always listen to Mom...She looks like Eve, Members are Key-Sister Ziong, Goodbye to Older Member headed to Chino, Turkey Bowl Touchdown and Katey's Thanksgiving dinner with Tarro Ice Cream, He is the Gift, Biking and more Biking

Oh, but first I need to ask a question, and you might think I am being silly, but I am serious!  Mom... did you ever play Eve in a church film?  Because I saw a 10 min clip called Between Heaven and Earth, it is a thing about temples that the church put on.  It has a scene that shows Adam and Eve kneeling at an alter.  If it isn't you, it looks really really similar to you.  If it isn't you, you should look it up.  I need to know if I am crazy or not.  

Ok well last week after emailing I got a haircut.  I asked the lady if she had talked to missionaries before.  She said "Ya, I told them to kick rocks."  I decided it would be best not to make her angry while she was cutting my hair so I changed the topic.  She told me the best way to do my hair is let the front grow longer and just comb it to the side.  I wanted to go short, but she said it would look silly if she did it like that.  Glad you liked it.  I noticed that is basically what Conner is doing, which made me think, "Mom probably told me to cut me hair like this before, but I didn't listen."  ALWAYS LISTEN TO MOM.  I am serious.  Every time I don't take mom's advice, I always end up wishing I had listened to her before.  I am not joking.  

Ok well that night we had a lesson with Nancy and Howard.  We taught the first lesson, it went good.   Then we invited them to read and pray, and they said they just wanted to take it slow.  We need to bring members.  MEMBERS ARE KEY TO HELPING INVESTIGATORS WITH WHATEVER PROBLEM. Remember that.

 Tuesday we had DDM.   We saw Brother Xiong, and invited sister Xiong to meet with us too. She rejected it.  Again the plan is to bring Sisters to fellowship her.  She isn't that interested right now, so we will just try to get her a lot of friends.  We also had a lesson with the guys whose wife was really rude to us.  It was good, but he didn't accept a return appointment, bummer.  We also went to Chino to see a referral, and the referral's neighbor who said we should come back. Turns out they aren't interested now.  One just slammed the door on us.  Bummer.

Wednesday was good.  We did a lot of biking.  We saw an old less active member, who is going back to Chino till he passes away.  It was sad to see him go.  He thanked us for helping him go back to church, and come closer to Heavenly Father.   At night we had English class.  Which Sister Xiong still comes too!  We also had a lesson with Brother Zhu.  His in laws are in town so it is hard to meet with him now.  We also saw the Dengs!  The husband is really inactive and the wife is unbaptized.   We visited and shared about prayer and invited them to church.  It was good to finally get them both to sit down with us finally. They are super nice.  We also tried to give the receipts for our turkeys away.  But they didn't go get them.  So we got a call at night; Sister Teng, got them for us and said we could pick them up on Sun.  

Thursday, so relaxing.  We played Turkey bowl.  I suck, but some how I managed to score a touch down once.  Lots of dropped balls too though.  We basically just hung out with the other missionaries at our apt all day.  We played board games, and talked.  Katey's dinner was really good.  She gave us Tarro ice cream for dessert.  

At night we went to the chapel and played soccer with everyone in the gym.  Fun times.  

Friday we had a training on the new He is the Gift initiative.  I like the little film, and the cards are easy to hand out and had good conversation starters for talking with people.  Friday we biked around talking to people on the streets a lot.  It is exactly what President said we should do.  I like it.  I think it is a lot of fun to ride around.   At night we had dinner with the Chens.  I really like Chinese food.  Yes I do get the tomato scrabbled eggs.  I make it too.  Really good.   At night we got a lucky member present, Brother Yu had a friend over from San Diego.  He was really cool, we have to give him to the missionaries over there!

Saturday again a lot of biking.  We had a good lesson with a recent convert named Selina.  We also had a lesson on the Holy Ghost with Evelyn.  That was good.  Then we saw some super cool active members named the Su's.  I'll have to write about them sometime.  

Sunday was good.  Xiong got confirmed and... ok I am almost out of time..... so really quick.  For Christmas package, I wanted some more pics from this year of you guys.  It doesn't have to be another book though.  That is all.  I AM SO excited to talk to you all too! 

Ok HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

-ILY