Nov 25 e-mail

hi everybody!
Ah, this week has gone by so fast! Actually, everything has just gone by so fast...It's so crazy how full our days our, but then how fast the weeks seem to go by. Sister Steck said she heard once that the Lord has so much He needs to teach you that He makes your days longer so you have more time to learn it (or something to that effect...).
So, I did get the packages-thanks so much to everyone who sent something! It's always nice to get a little something from home and from the heart. And, I've gotten your letters, but I didn't bring them with me, so any questions you had, I'll answer in my letters to you. Oh, and I think Aunt Denise and some other people wanted my mission address; it's Elder Kyle Murray MTC Mailbox #95 HUN-BUD 0118
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT
You might want to double-check that though, because I don't have my address card on me and I don't exactly have it all memorized...
So, how's everyone doing at home? Every once in a while I'll think about home-not really homesick, just someone will do something and it will remind me of someone at home.
Things are going pretty good here...oh, and the really good news...Elder Dallin H. Oaks was the speaker at the Tuesday Night Devotional! Ah, it was so cool! He was like, right there! It was so amazing to actually see him in person! And, it was kind of funny, because before every devotional, we sing 4 or 5 hymns, and after the third or fourth one, the choruster said "just to let you all know, if we have an apostle or a member of the first presidency visiting, we stand when they enter the room." It was just really funny, because then everyone knew that one of them was going to be speaking, and Dallin H. Oaks came in about halfway through the last song, so we all stood up, and we finished singing, and he was singing with us, and it was just such an amazing feeling to have an apostle of the Lord there with us.
oh, and, when the MTC president introduced him, he said "he was called as an apostle in 18...no, wait, 1948......no, 1984. I know sometimes it seems like 1948....." and everyone was laughing, Elder Oaks was practically falling out of his chair...but then, his wife spoke before him, and her talk was good...she laughed a lot, i don't even think she meant for some things to be funny, it's just that when she said them, everyone just started laughing, and then she started laughing, and it was just really fun. Then, Elder Oaks spoke on missionary work. I don't have my notes with me, but I do remember that he spoke about focusing on "working smarter, rather than working harder." He shared a story about a mission president who challenged his missionaries to door-approach 200 people in 2 days. At the end of two days, only one companionship had gotten to the mark, and after the mission president had praised them, the senior companion said "aw, that was nothing...we could have gotten through a lot more, but people kept slowing us down by wanting to talk to us." It was pretty funny, but it also emphasized our purpose for being here. We are helping others come unto Christ, and it's not about numbers, it's about people. Each person we meet will be influenced by what we say, just as we will be influenced by having met them. He talked about some other things, like how to be a successfull missionary. Speaking of successfull missionaries, if you want to see a good talk on that topic, watch (don't just read--you have to watch it) "Miracle of a Mission" by Jeffrey R. Holland. It is such an amazing and inspirational talk. Oh, and speaking of Elder Holland, rumor has it that he's going to be speaking at the Thanksgiving morning devotional! We're thinking of skipping breakfast so we can be first in line. it would definitely be worth it.
Um, I can't really think of anything to say to the ward; I did find a scripture in Romans that is really good, but i forgot to bring the reference with me! i'll send it in the letter home, and hopefully you get it in time...if not, tell everyone I love them, and not to take the gospel or missionary work for granted. Everyone can be a missionary--all you have to do is bear your testimony to others. i'm starting to realize that now--i'm just finding out how little i know about the gospel, but at the Referral Center, i can still bear my testimony to others, and I know that a lot of them have felt the spirit because of it. And the gospel is so important! never forget that, and don't think of reading it as a burden...there are so many lessons in the scriptures, and they can be so fun to read--just ask the Lord to help you have a desire to read and understand them, and I know that you can have an amazing experience! One of the things Elder Holland spoke about in Miracle of a Mission was to be the best missionary you could be, so that you could live without regrets. that's something that I'm really trying to follow right now, and I want each and every one of you to follow that advice too. if you feel prompted by the Spirit to do something like testify or share the gospel or both, then DO IT! Don't ignore it, you never know whose life you can change just by being a witness of Christ.
Well, I hope you all are having a great time at home (and at school, i guess, for those of you who are at college--ah, i can't wait for college!). i love you all, and don't forget that even the simplest testimony can change someone's life. Always follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost--he knows exactly what it is that people need to hear. Trust in the Lord, and you will find joy.
Until next week!
Murray Elder
p.s. you can still write to me! anytime......seriously.......whenever......haha.