A Missionary Christmas 2011

(a poem given to me by a friend at mom's work  Noelle Hunt)

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there.

No pictures taken with Santa Claus, My decorating has no flair.

His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks....no fun.

I've bought him all white clothes because.....

This year We're giving Christ our son.

I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.

I've reread November's Ensign, Felt strength come from His words.

Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run.

Abraham seems closer because,

This year We're giving Christ our son.

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war?

Or how the pioneers chose Zion, their sacrifice was so much more.

My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton

For two years we will pray for him,

We're giving Christ our son.

I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their shine.

He's always hungered for the part of him, that makes his soul divine.

The stories and lessons he always heard, His choice and mine are one.

I'll put my faith in Gods' hand,

This year, We're giving Him our son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter; I think I finally understand

Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.

It's because I know Christ lives and reigns that all his packing's done.

My gift has taken years to make,

This year.....We're giving Christ our son.

I know there's One who understands, the sacrifice I'm making.

Who knows the gift I willingly give, The toll it will be taking.

For He has done it all before, Greater love-there could be none.

For years ago God gave to me, His only begotten son.

The hands I washed, The hands I held, The hands I taught to pray;

Now knock on doors to find the ones who will listen to what he'll say.

Because I know Christ needs him, Until all the gathering's done,

My gift has taken years to make,

This year......We're giving Christ our son!!

December 19, 2011 Matthew 28:18-20

Hey family,

 For starters, I will be skype calling you at 2 o clock your time (4 o clock my time) for 40 minutes. (you can plan out the time, if you want to talk to me individually plan it in the 40 minutes, or just the whole family at the same time the whole time. its the same for me i just wanna see ya faces! i hope you are already a contact on my my account and i just have to call you. be ready at this time. It was kinda a bummer to not get to hear someones voice for 3 minutes when i called, but i will see you all soon enough and now you can listen to my beautiful voice over and over. i remember that happened when matt called on his mission. haha.

 the scripture of this week is matthew 28:18-20.

18 And ^aJesus came and spake unto them, saying, All ^bpower is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 ¶Go ye therefore, and ^ateach all ^bnations, ^cbaptizing them in the name of the ^dFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 ^aTeaching them to ^bobserve all things whatsoever I have^ccommanded you: and, lo, I am ^dwith you alway, even unto the^eend of the world. Amen.

 Yes i got your packages and i have been opening the twelve days of christmas every day right when i wake up. pretty fun. today i got some deodorant. which was awesome. this week was good. we had our ward christmas party and had a talent show. me and elder meza sang my apacienta mis ovejas song. turned out really well. im gunna sing it for a devotional this week too for the mission. we had some investigators come which was awesome. I just longed in to skype and whitney is a contact so i am going to call that 2 o clock on sunday. learned a lot about service this week and the immediate blessings. thursday night on the way back from the church, we helpd this guy push his taxi for like ever, then he gave us a ride back to our apartment, and saturday after the ward activity, we gave a lady a blessing, and i left my keys in the church (cuz of my oil vile on it ) and we made it back to our room with the last of the money we were carrying, but didn`t have key to enter, the taxi driver realized something was wrong, and offered to take us back to the church, get my keys, and take us back to the room , (all free cuz we didn`t have money) what a blessing that was, especially being in a hurry, cuz we can`t be out late. I know that man will be blessed. lots of stuff happens each week, its hard to tell you guys everything in the time limit, (especially today setting up skype and stuff). But i love you guys so much and I will talk to you really soon. we also had a trainer/new missionary meeting this week, should be on the blog. And i am not sure if the christmas show will be on the blog live, but if so, it will be 5 o clock your time , tuesday and thursday. Love all serve all

Elder Hurley

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Tuesday Christmas Devotional

Just a quick sample of what has been going on these last two days.

These photos were taken before the first

Christmas Devotional.

Half the mission was in on Tuesday.

The Devotional was sweet.

We had the new videos from the Church

on the Birth of Christ.

There are six very short videos 

and in between each one we had a special musical number.

Elder Guymon sang a solo, Elders Canaan and Chun sang a duet, Elder Vera played a piano

medley, Elder Hurley wrote a song and had Elder Meza from Mexico sing with him while

he played the piano.  Elder Bulmini sang How Can I Be... with a slide show of the missionaries.

The refreshments were set up like a giant Jenga game.

They are so creative.

Later in the day during the practice for the Program...

Dr. Gough and his wife gave a present to the missionaries

by teaching them a few techniques on stress management.

He is also playing a major roll in the 

Program in the Plaza.

He is our Papa Noel or Father Christmas

or Santa Claus... whatever you call Him.

Photos of the program are coming...

No time right now.

sorry!

Oh by the way

It was pouring rain on Tuesday right before the show.

IT NEVER RAINS IN TRUJILLO!

We prayed.

It stopped.

A thousand People Came

Huge Success!

Should be bigger and better on Thursday.

Getting ready for the Christmas Program at the Plaza

The Plaza

This beautiful Plaza is the stage for our Christmas Program

I think it is the best venue ever!

I took these photos very early one morning 

before people were there.

It is so colorful and such a great asset to the city.

December 12th 2011, 3 Nephi 27: 13 - 16

Hello beautiful family.

This week was good. The space bar this computer barely funtions but ill do my best in the time limit I have. The scripture of the week is 3 nephi 27;13-16. lovit. 

13 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
14 For, if ye ^aforgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you;15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.16 Moreover, when ye ^afast be not as the ^bhypocrites, of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

I haven`t heard anything about skype yet, or where I will be, but i will need my account. Don`t be dissapointed if we don`t skype, just because its allowed in the mission can doesn`t mean i can physically. but im sure it will work out. I will get both of my packets today. The zone leaders have them. Lots to respond for mama; . My pension just cooks, in otuzco she did both, but here in the city there is a guy that does it for the whole part of Trujillo. Elder meza was converted and baptized when he was 13. He is 18 years old, because you can leave at 18 in mexico. his dad was baptized like 3 years ago. But his parents and sister are less actives. he has an older brother on a mission in mexico. Thats cool that  zack is Sr companion, is he training too? They say the trainers are the most important cuz it effects the whole mission of the new missionary, so yeah there is that little pressure, but its not a big deal for me, i just have to do my best. its cool that christmas is here. We did a missionary night with the ward. I did a name that tune game, with christmas, it was fun, just gave away one note at a time of a christmas song till one of the teams got it. also did find the celestial treasure in the whole church, hid a book of mormon. There is going to be a talent show in the ward this weekend, me and elder meza are going to sing. i will see if a member can record us somehow. We painted this week to, that was a fun service. We got some people to church yesterday which was good. We have a lot of people who are almost close to being progressing towards baptizm. I love all your letters, excited for the packet, ill prob share most of it. Oh yeah last monday we did a family night, i taught a young family how to make paper snowflakes, which they thought was fun, since there is no snow here. I know this is the greatest work on the earth. Love you guys

Elder Hurley

New Missionaries and their Trainers

If you look close you can find Elder Hurley and Elder Meza.

Just look at these beamers!

The new ones are dynamos and their trainers have been fantastic.

They have had some bumps and bruises in their first few weeks

but this is normal.

Homesickness, language barriers, long schedules, 

body aches and pains,

 a lot of studying, cultural differences

You name it, they have gone through it

all within the time frame of one month.

But they are tough and they are finding out who they really are

and what they are made of.

They had time to ask questions 

and receive answers today with the President

as they were being taught and trained.

Of course we had to play a game or two for the extra

Hamburgers and Fries...

November 28th, 2011 2 Nephi 9:51-52

Hey there beautiful fam.

Lots o letters this week, thanks so much. I always enjoy your letters, Especially from my granparents. 

Sounds like thanksgiving was great. We did nothing special for thanksgiving. But I have a nice scripture of the week about thanksgiving. 2 Nephi 9:51-52.

51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your ^alabor for that which cannot ^bsatisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and ^cfeast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

 52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give ^athanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts ^brejoice. 

I especially like the part that says delight in fatness. This week was good. I don`t have much time but I will try to make this a little longer and more detailed. I sent some pictures too. We found some interesting people this week. Some really good ones too. the italian that we have and his family (wife and kid) all attended church yesterday which was exciting. I love that guys so much. But he wants to share all his ideas and claim it as doctrine haha. but i love him. Rosario. We had some rough lessons this week, of people who just don`t believe they can change. But Had a good spiritual experience, and I really felt the promise in doctrine and coventants about how god will give us a portion of his words in the very minute that we need it. I really felt that in this one lesson we had, explaining eternal life , because miguel one of our investigators didn`t see whats the big deal about eternal life, and I explained its the best gift that god can give us, and explained the best earthly physical gift that I have ever received is my guitar from my father. And explained how dad only gave it to me because he knew I would care for it, and not treat it lightly. And really eternal life is like that, and in this life we have to show god that we are willing to keep is commandments and its not a game we are taking lightly. So that he trusts to give us all that he has. It was a cool analogy and felt the spirit. Had interesting experience yesterday with a man that knows the bible way well, and believes way strong that his church is true, I promised myself long time ago I would never scripture fight like some missionaries, cuz the bible is not common ground but is a battlefield. But I bore strong testimony, shared some scriptures. He finished with a prayer, and it was more like a shout, was yelling at god to ¨break this false doctrine that we are spreading, and cast out the evil spirits that are in us¨ haha. finished the prayer with clapping. hadn`t seen that one before, it was really interesting, but just strengthened my testimony more. We had interviews this week, It is always good to see president turk. He gave a cool talk about 4 types of language we should never use and I think if every follows this rule, there would be more love and no fighting. We should never 1. Lie, never lie to anyone. 2. Criticize, (different than correct or help, because the purpose behind it are almost opposites. 3. Blame , it is human nature to blame other people, never do it. and 4. become angry, it is a choice. I hope that helped yall back at home. Have a great week. I haven`t got your package yet, but Im sure it will come. maybe tomorrow. We meet at a zone every week for things like that. I love you family so much. continue to grow your testimony, we are all investigators until we reach the highest degree of the celestial kingdom.

Elder Hurley.

Sneak Peek... (straight from Sister Turks Blog)

Elder Hurley getting ready for the 2011 Christmas Program http://youtu.be/r7qAL13APoQ

Sneak Peek... (straight from Sister Turks Blog)

We had a practice yesterday for our Christmas Program.

We will perform two nights in the Plaza.

Half the missionaries one night

and the other half on the other.

(December 20 and 22)

Hermana Petherbridge is singing "O Holy Night"

with her back up group

Il Divo.

Here is a little sneak peek...

Plaza de Armas - 7:00 pm

You won't want to miss the Missionary Choir!