9/14/15

Hi mom! I am so sorry about all that you are going through. Good health is such a blessing I take for granted. I will continue to pray for you. I wish there was something I could do. I like how in your last email you said you know that the Savior knows your pain. I pray that the dentists and doctors will know how to help you. I am sad for Mckay too. That is a big bummer I hope she gets better quickly! Thanks for keeping me updated. I totally forgot it was Aidens birthday today. I remembered it was Brianne's but I dont have her email. If you could send that to me that would be great! As for my address in Moscow it is 1531 S. Lenter St. #9 Moscow, ID 83843. I should at least be at this address for a three more weeks. After general conference is transfers so I will most likely stay but could go somewhere else. I will let you know. I already got some winter boots but Nutella sounds good. I also want a better high quality camera. The picture quality on this one is not very good at all! That is just a thought though if it's too expensive or you already got stuff don't worry about it. This week was an awesome and exhausting week. Elder Johnson from the Seventies came and talked to us about being epistles of Christ and teaching people about God. A lot of people have misconceptions of God so it is important to let them know the nature and personality of God. Sometimes people just think he is like a cloud or entity. Sometimes missionaries assume that people already know that God is our Heavenly Father who has a perfect body and loves his children. It was a cool training to have and then to connect that with the training I had yesterday with Elder Dallin H. Oaks! I got to shake an apostle's hand yesterday. Elder Oaks came down to talk to the Lewiston and Moscow missionaries. He taught us about using the Plan of Salvation to answer questions. One of the biggest things that separate us from other religions is our belief that we can one day become gods or like God. The Plan is all about coming to Earth and being tried so that one day we can be like our Heavenly Father. Sister Ungricht and I had the opportunity to teach a few people that on the college campus yesterday. It was really cool to watch them think about that doctrine. It kind of just changes my whole perspective on life. God gives us commandments so that we can act more like him. When we keep those commandments, he blesses us with more commandments. When I first heard that I was like what?! why would we want to keep the commandments if we will just get more of them. Well I realized commandments are a blessing because they really do help us to act more like gods. There is a scripture in 2 Nephi Chapter 28: 30 that talks about God giving us more when we receive the things he has already given us. Progression! I feel like I have had to progress this last week like none other. I am trying to apply all the doctrine I have learned this week to my life. Anyway it's been sorta of hot up in here in Moscow the last week but I am learning the area. I am also learning how to get along better with my companion. She is an awesome servant of the Lord. We have been running in the morning for a few days this last week. I am already way out of shape! It feels good to get some exercise. I am pretty drained on energy right now but hopefully I can get myself to be energized. I love you so much and I miss you. I am really worried about you and all the things you have been going though. Have a good week! I will talk to you next Monday!

Alyssa email 9/8/25

Thank you Mom for the song lyrics. I have been having some tougher days. I am really sorry you are still in pain. I will continue to pray for you. The weather in Moscow last weekend has been cold! It was in the forites and fifties with wind and rain. I am going shopping today for winter clothes. Today is Pday instead of labor day because it was a holiday and a good day to proselyte when people are home. Yesterday was blue skies and 70 degrees. It was a good labor day. My companion and I talked to alot of families in the neighborhood and in the parks. I get tired really fast and at the end of a day I am whooped. I could barely keep my eyes open til 10:30 yesterday. There is this rule that we have to go to bed and arise the same time as our companion. My companion is super obedient so I am trying really hard to keep all the rules. Who knew that 8 hours of sleep a night was not enough! We have met some real interesting people the last couple of days. A lot of people try to avoid us. We do a lot of street contacting on the college campus. Sometimes we will go up to a person and say "hi! how are you doing today?" and they will completely ignore you or walk away saying "I can't hear you!" Haha yeah so we get rejected alot. But there is this scripture in John 15:8 that talks about how the world hated Christ before it hated you. I love it every time we get rejected now I remember that I am in good company. I do not know how the Savior loved us. We are so rude and ungrateful. He did this an amazing atonement and yet people will just spit in his face. The savior's love is a miracle. Something I feel unworthy to have but yet do have. My testimony of the restoration has grown this last week. We have ran into people trying to tear our beliefs down. They say that Joseph Smith is a false prophet and the Book Of Mormon will bring wrath upon us. they think that the Book of Mormon takes you away from the strait and narrow path and that there is only the Bible. We then ask them if they have sincerely read the Book of Mormon and of course the answer is "no". If they would only soften their hearts and read the word. So it's been kind of hard. People have told us we are going to hell and one man told us we were mentally ill and should get some help. He was an atheist and said any person that believes in God is crazy. I have had to reflect on my testimony over and over again. I love the way I feel though when I am studying the Book of Mormon and I am trying to be obey the lord. To end on a positive note, last Saturday was the Farmers Market in Moscow. The missionaries run a stand there about family history and family home evening. We make balloon animals for the children that come by. So I got to learn how to make balloon animals! I learned how to make a dog, swan, snail, and sword. I was proud of myself. I'll send you a picture in the attachment. Oh hey and Elder Levi Morse is in the same area as me. We took a picture together and that is in the attachment as well. Anyway I hope you have a good week. I love you! Sister Murphy

Alyssa's Mission President and her 1st companion

Alyssa mission email 3

Hi mom and dad! I am so glad your ear aching is being fixed. I've been worried about that lately. I'm glad that you got down to the root of it haha:) thanks for keeping me updated with that it sucks to feel miserable! Also I did give my luggage receipt to them and they should be reimbursing me on my missionary card. Also thanks for letting me know my current balance so I can know how much I can spend for winter clothes. Well here I am in Moscow, Idaho. Woohoo! A mission is incredibly hard to adjust too. I have been so exhausted the last couple days. I get no time to chill. It is go, go, go! the first couple of days I showed up, it was really smokey. We opened our apartment door and the air smelt like campfire. We had to stay in that day. It was hazardous to health. It rained the last couple of days and so now the air is so much better. My bike is alright. I don't feel like it is to high quality for the price I paid but oh well it works. My companion and I biked to church yesterday and my skirt got caught in the wheel. I need to wear a better skirt next time. We also share a car with other sisters in the area so we get to drive a couple days a week. My sister trainer(companion) is so awesome and really nice. When we came into the area, there wasn't much work done previously and so we are starting from ground zero. She is very hardworking and knows how to get the area moving along. We are over Moscow University married student wards 2 and 6. It is confusing having two wards. We met the bishops and ward mission leaders and even alot of members so far. They are so nice to us and have given u a lot of food. Our apartment when we first came in was lived in by elders who had an emergency transfer and so it was vacant for about a month. First of all no one had the right key for this apartment so we had to pop out the window screen and luckily the window wasn't locked so we climbed through the window. The keys were hanging inside the apartment. the apartment was also a disaster, there was garments on the floor, dirty dishes in the sink, rotting food on the counters and fridge, and the bathroom was pretty disgusting. So on the smokey day, my companion and I cleaned all day. Now it is home sweet home! Life is busy as a missionary and I am trying hard to adjust. I love street contacting although I get nervous and do not know what to say. We ran into some agnostics and atheists and that was interesting to hear their views. The University of Idaho is so close to us and perfect to street contact because there are so many people on campus. My companion and I also ran into an anti-mormon yesterday while trying to contact a potential investigator. Our potential's roommate was the one home and and boy he was ready to give us a talking to. He told us what we were teaching was blasphemy and that we were going to hell. That there is no prophet on the earth today and that we were following a false prophet. He got out his bible and gave it to us and told us to read it. We asked him if he had read the Book of Mormon and he said he had. He said that Joseph Smith made it up that it didn't bring others unto Christ. It was kind of a crazy conversation and we should have left sooner. He didn't want us to leave though. He said he didn't want to agree to disagree. I guess what he wanted was to tear down our faith. When we finally got out of there, he told us he would pray for us that we would see the errors of our ways. We then responded that we would pray for him too haha:) yeah so that was pretty crazy but I went home and read the Book of Mormon. I decided that the Book of Mormon is true and that is crazy to say that it doesn't bring you unto Christ. So that experience is actually strengthening my testimony. Um, well that is all i can think of right now but this week has just been crazy busy. I am taking one day at a time or else it seems to overwhelming. Oh and in the attachment is a picture of my companion and I with our area board. I was so exhausted that day and the last thing we did that day was organize our board.Well I love you and am glad that you are doing better. Let me know if there is anything I can pray about for you. Let Spencer know that I want to hear from him and how school is going even if it is really short. I miss him! And take Bella on a walk for me;) Anyway hope you have a good week! I'll talk to you next Monday Love, Sister Murphy

Alyssa mission email 2

Hey mom, I'm in Washington now. I arrived a couple of hours ago. I only have five minutes to write to you but mission President Dymock should send you photos of the new transfers. It is really smokey in Washington right now but also pretty green. The fire i heard is more in central Washington hopefully it doesn't come here. The first moment I came here, a sister missionary took me fear busting which is really just going out and talking to people on the street about the gospel. I actually really liked it. I'm sorry i'll have to tell you more later and answer more questions. Yes, I got grandmas and grandpas packages. I'm trying to send them a letter back but have to wait until I find a mailbox. I am so sorry about your ear! I had no idea it was bothering you so much. Thanks for telling me. I will pray for you and I hope it gets better soon. I'll let you know more later. Love you! Sister murphy

Alyssa mission email 1

Hi Mom and Dad! I love you so much and miss you. I guess my P-day will be Friday for this week and next week but I'm not sure what it will be in Washington. The first day I got here, I was super stressed and frustrated. It is a big adjustment for sure. I can't really explain what its like to be in the MTC, you just have to come to know what it is like. They keep you really busy! I love my district though and my teachers. My companions name is Sister Thompson and she is super sweet and obedient. It has been hard already because I'm so used to being alone but now I have to keep a companion with me at all times. It's nice to have a friend though. I have already had to take dads advice about looking at things through my companions eyes, I have become frustrated and annoyed at times. Anyway, the first day here is really tough, I went to bed with a heavy heart but each day has been better. I have felt the spirit here and getting great information on how to teach the gospel more efficiently. Oh hey I have also seen Elder Lyon a few times already. I only talked to him once at breakfast yesterday other than that we just wave at each other in the hallway. He seems like he is doing great and is excited about the gospel. I've also ran into Sister Flake (Molly Flake from EAC. I played the piano for her!) She is actually in my zone and we say good morning to each other in the bathroom. On accident, I have called her by her first name a couple of times...whoops. Something to get used to. I want to let you know I am doing a lot better now. I had a bad last couple of nights trying to understand the gospel. I know it's true but so many times I doubt and get caught up in little things. I guess I am easily influenced by others and especially investigator's doubts definitely not good for a missionary. So I made new goals to protect myself from those negative thoughts. I am loving personal and companion study! That is where i feel peace the most. Only the third day at the MTC and i am learning so much. I miss you, dad, and Spencer. Tell me how Spencer is doing and if anything cool is happening at home. I love you and will pray for you! I will also try to send a picture of my companion and I next week to you. Love, Sister Murphy

We went to Delores Colorado for the Murphy's reunion, then we headed up to Colorado Springs, CO for a week of camping. We went to the Garden of the Gods Park. One of the last parks that is free to go too. The owner made that condition that it would always remain free to the public.(Yeah!) I brought my climbing monkey's along! We then took a day and went white water rafting, I was a little scared, my last experience was the boat completely tipping over! I survived and maybe I would do it again? The next day we went to the top of Pikes Peak on the tram on the way up, I spotted a mother bear and her two babies. It was the first time I have ever seen a mother and her cubs out in nature!

Chrismas letter

We missed sending out a Christmas letter last year due to the fact that we were planning a wedding! Tara was engaged last October to the boy next door (well really 6 doors down) but they decided to move the wedding up to December. We talked her into January 2nd during Trent’s vacation. After being one of Santa elves for the long month of December we usually take the week off after Christmas for a good rest for him. You can guess last year was not a rest, but we are happy to say that the wedding was beautiful! We sure appreciate all the help from family and friends. We couldn’t ask for a better son-in-law. They are both attending Pima College, they’re also team Primary teachers in their ward (how fun except they have like 12 kids ) Evan works part-time as a manager at a pizza place and Tara works part-time at the YMCA as a life guard. Also for two afternoons she comes and teaches piano in our home. Mom was tired and was very grateful for a talented daughter who could take over some.
Trent taught seminary for 3 years and was planning a well deserved break, well that lasted about two weeks before they nabbed him up as Ward Missionary Leader for our ward. Trent has now been with UPS for 20 years. He has a goal to make a huge man cave in the back yard this year. (Really it’s just a bigger shed). Lisa is still filling her days up with car pools, teaching piano one day a week, working with the webelos , going to kids swim meets , gardening, cooking and enjoying her family! We were so grateful to have been able to go to Nauvoo, IL and many of the early church sites with Tara before she got married. We took two weeks and ended up in Utah for a family reunion. This year we also had a nice visit with Trent’s parents in Morgan UT, took the kids on a camping trip with our new used travel trailer up to the White Mountains, for some fishing, boating, and relaxing in the cooler weather.
Brianne is now a Jr. in high school and a very busy one at that. She’s always takes the hardest classes, joins in almost every club, was on her school swim team and received the top junior swimming award. She was also a life guard over the summer, got her drivers license and is saving for her own car. She is now being a nanny a few hrs. every week to a two month old baby. She is still keeping up on her swimming and piano lessons. Alyssa our baby girl in now in high school too. That’s kind of bittersweet. Alyssa is a freshman and attending seminary, guitar lessons, piano lessons, swim team, voice class, she also still enjoys basketball. Spencer especially missed her after she left his school at Carden . She also received the prestigious Curtis award for top student there. Spencer is now in 4th grade and doing well in school and especially P.E. His mom has been his den leader for Wolf’s, Bears and now Webelos. Both he and mom enjoy it! He is also taking piano lessons from Tara, on swim team and still loves to play with our dogs. He goes out every day to give them some attention . He’s also great at teasing his sisters. What would we do with out a little brother?

We send our love and wish your family a happy and healthy new year.

Alyssa's girls camp pictures

Well this year is going by too fast. I can't believe its September! Just a few things to keep you updated; back in May 2010 Alyssa graduated 8th grade from Carden of Tucson. She also received the Curtis Award. (It is the school's most prestigious award for the best 8th grader and it also comes with a savings bond and plaque.) She also won the Presidential Fitness Award for getting 100% in everything. Go Alyssa! We are so proud of you and your achievements. It was also a bittersweet moment that our baby girl will be in high school.
The very next week Spencer and Mom went up to day camp on Mt. Lemmon with the very energetic Cub Scouts. The picture of him shooting his bow is his favorite! He really enjoys Day Camp and can't wait for the time he can spend the night.