¡Uruguay is the Bomb Diggity!

Dear Familia,

It has been another great week in the life of a sister missionary in Uruguay. A couple of fun facts for you: Uruguay won the very first world cup ever that was played in Brasil in 1930; when it rains hard here, the school children don´t have to go to school, they get excused absences!

Favorite stories of the week:

-This last Sunday we brought a less active sister to church. So we were sitting in one of the classes and the teacher asked her if she could read a part, to which she quickly answered ¨No, I don´t know how to read.¨ The teacher was embarrassed and quickly asked Hermana Dixon to read...I just laughed because she always reads during our lessons with her...I guess she didn´t want to read! :D

-We went to Mercedes this P Day and we were playing every man for himself dodge ball...I tried to dodge the ball and managed to do a pretty spectacular fall...I only got a little bruised...(it was probably my pride more than anything, since there were a ton of missionaries watching)!

-I always get a good laugh at some of the slips of Hermana Dixon´s spanish. This week she tried to ask someone if they had been sick and accidentally asked them if they were mental...hahahah!

That was all of my fun stories! It has also been a very interesting week in terms of missionary work! I had to do divisions this last week and made a trip to Dolores and so I left Hermana Dixon on two different days, alone in our area! She really is amazing! She didn´t miss a beat and took responsibility for everything! I feel very blessed to have such a great companion!

The most incredible thing this week was our attendance! We had 102 people in the chapel! I feel like our ward is starting to grow and to be one! All the members are so loving and always help one another! The only hard part is that we have not been able to help our investigators come to church. Hermana Dixon and I have really been praying and wracking our brains to find ways to help our investigators progress and be able to have the full blessings of the gospel. I know that missionary work isn´t easy, but I can honestly say that as we faithfully do our part and sincerly pray, God always helps us! I felt the blessings of a supportive ward and a supportive companion and I know that things will work out! We are now teaching a young couple named Mauricio and Myra and another man named Evaristo. They are all starting to progress little by little and I would love it if you would all pray for them too! I love you all lots! Keep having great missionary experiences and write and tell me about them!

I will be writing on Tuesday next week, because we have changes...

Love,
Hermana McMurray

Singing in the Rain!!!

Hola Familia,

Como andan todos? Come estan en sus aprendizajes de español? Espero que todos ustedes estan practicando, porque si no...is probable que no vamos a entender uno a otro cuando yo vuelvo... (If you don´t understand, find your nearest latino or google translate ;D)!

So, in terms of investigators, things have been a little complicated for the last few weeks. We are finding and teaching tons of people, but very few of them are progressing. Every week we find new people and they are all great, but none have progressed like we hoped.  Hermana Dixon and I are praying and doing everything possible so that we overcome this challenge! I know that God answers prayers and He will help us so that we can overcome this bump in the road! One of the
ways that I have already seen His hand in our area is with the members in our ward! The members here in Las Canteras are absolutely amazing!  They accompany us, introduce us to their friends, and feed us every day! They are so loving and supportive and are always mindful of missionary work! I love Uruguay!

Funny Stories:

-Hermana Dixon was teaching a lesson and showing a picture of Jesus Christ holding a baby lamb in his arms. She asked the investigator about the picture and then afterwards began to talk about the lamb.  Unfortunately she got a little confused on the word lamb (which in spanish is Cordero), and she talked about the corbata in Christ´s arms...Corbata means tie (like you wear around your neck on Sundays)!  I couldn´t help it...I might have a laughed a little bit! Spanish is always sooo rough in the beginning!

-It poured Saturday. At first, Hermana Dixon and I tried to avoid the water...then after about 20 minutes we realized it was inevitable and we jumped through all of the giant puddles! One of the puddles had to have been at least 2 or 3 feet deep! I was tempted to complain after being soaking wet for about 5 hours, but I decided to just laugh and enjoy it! What determines our happiness isn´t what happens in our lives, it is how we choose to respond to it!

-We went to Mercedes and had interviews with President Smith last Monday! It was awesome...by accident we missed our returning bus to Fray Bentos...twice! Whoever says that Sister Missionaries are always late probably are speaking the truth :D! The Elders were a little frustrated, but we enjoyed getting to work with the sisters in Mercedes!

So that is about it for this week! I am enjoying Fray Bentos and I cannot believe how quickly time is passing! I love you all and hope you all have a great week!

Love,
Hermana McMurray

The Cyber Guy Is Kicking Me Out!

Dear Family,
I was planning on writing a letter, but I am not going to have anytime to do so! The man in charge of the cyber decided he needs to leave in 10 minutes and so I am not going to have my full writing time! So I will make sure and write a better letter next week!

This week was interviews with President Smith and it was super great!

Hermana Dixon and I had a chance to make some new goals and revamp our companionship! I love being with Hermana Dixon, she has an amazing enthusiasm to work and to help the work progress here in Fray Bentos.  I also love the opportunity to watch her learn Spanish! Everytime she makes a mistake, I cannot help but laugh. Probably because I spoke even worse than her...I cannot even imagine what I was saying to people. It is a wonder Hermana Camacho actually understood me...My favorite was that Hermana Dixon tried to bless the food, which in spanish is alimentos...she blessed the adubles. I am sure God still blessed the food...:D!

This week, I had the opportunity to really ponder on the scriptures.  Hermana Dixon laughed at me because I told her that I am almost positive that the prophets wrote the scriptures specifically with me in mind. Every time I do something good, there is a passage about the blessings and every time I do something I need to change their is a super clear scripture! I honestly have found the best counsels of my life in the scriptures. I know that as we study the scriptures we will find counsels and correction that will help us to be better people. I invite everyone to really meditate in your scriptures this week, you will have a very different week! You will feel more the love of the Savior and you will worry less about the things that don´t matter!

I love you all lots!
Love,
Hermana McMurray