Week of August 1-7, 2016
(1) SEGUNDA (Monday):
Today all the missionaries in Cruz
Alta had a cool lunch thing. Then we
taught Alison and his dad. It went
well. Today was day 392 of my mission.
(2) TERCA (Tuesday): Today was a division, and my package came. They loved the baseballs and I gave some of
them a dollar. I had an elder from
Argentina convinced that the 1-dollar bill is the highest note that there
is. The other notes have the number of
that certain note that you need to make up one dollar. For example, you need 100 100-dollar bills to
make up a one-dollar bill. He ALMOST
traded a 10-dollar bill for a 1 with me, and then he saw the other American
laughing. Today was day 393 of my
mission.
(3) QUARTA (Wednesday): Today we had a very good lesson with
Simara. I took one of my drawings of
Christ, and gave it to her as a present.
She loved it. Then I used it in
the lesson as we talked of repentance and the atonement. Then I asked her how many cigarettes she’d
smoked since Sunday. She said 2. I pulled out some scissors, and cut off 2
corners of the drawing. I told her that
every time she smokes, we’d cut off one more part. We’ll start on the edges, but we’ll
eventually have to cut Christ if she keeps smoking. Then we wrote our testimonies on the back,
and her son did too, and we put it next to her picture of the temple. I’m hoping this works. Today was day 394 of my mission.
(4) QUINTA
(Thursday): Lesson with Luciano and
his family today. He asked a question in
the middle of our lesson on the Plan of Salvation. Here’s what he said…
“Elder, I’ve asked every preacher, and many friends this,
and until now nobody has been able to answer.
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why does God let such good people suffer to much?” I said a small prayer, and went to
answer. I don’t remember a thing I
said. I remember using scriptures, in
the Book of Mormon and the Bible, but I don’t remember which. I shared experiences. Bore testimony. Explained the best I could. After, he sat there a second, then said,
“Excuse the question, but do you guys memorize these answers? It doesn’t seem like it, I can tell you’re
speaking from the heart. So many people
who are preachers for a living couldn’t answer me, and you did. I felt like a light lit up I my mind. And you have the age to be my son!” It was such a cool experience. We taught the rest of the plan, and it was a
very good lesson. They’re an amazing family that I want to see tin the church.
Giovanna
went to seminary, and brought ANOTHER friend.
I’m loving all these new people being invited by their friends to come
to church.
So, the
other night the assistants sent a text to everyone. It said, “Success in the Lords
vineyard.” I was already asleep when it
came, so I half woke up and read it. But
in Portuguese the word for ‘vineyard’ (vinha) is kind of similar to the word
for ‘coming.’ Me, half asleep, thought
it said, “Success in the Lord’s coming.”
I thought “The second coming’s happening!!” And I flipped around to search for a pillar
of light in the window. Then I woke up
for read and read the message again, then went back to sleep. It was kind of sad, because I got so happy at
what I thought was an announcement of the second coming. Today was day 395 of my mission.
(5) SEXTA
(Friday): Stefani and her mom,
Janaina, want to be baptized! They said
they prayed and they feel like it’s the right thing to do. Stefani will be baptized on the 20th
and Janaina on the 3rd. It’s going
to be so good! And Giovanna
tomorrow. We passed by to talk with
her. She is so excited. Tomorrow will be a good day.
Stefani,
who’s 14 and her mom, who’s older, are great.
They’re excited to go to church and they’re excited to be baptized. We finished teaching the plan of salvation
today. They’re reading the Book of
Mormon and the pamphlets. Why can’t
everyone be like them? Today was day 396
of my mission.
(16) SABADO
(Saturday): BAPTISM!! And it went so good. She was so happy. And it’s amazing the influence she has on
others. Because of her, we have 4 more
baptisms in the works and she reactivated 2 less actives, and is bringing a
bunch new people to the church. Elder
Jesus Santos baptized her, and she asked me to confirm her. After everyone was playing Ping-Pong and that
one game that’s like soccer on a table….I forgot the name….I destroyed in the
table soccer.
Filling the font, and Elder Jesus Santos was taking a picture and I photo bombed it...can you see me?
Tomorrow we
should have a lot of people at church. I
love this area so much and I’m afraid I’ll have to leave on the 22, which is
transfers. I could happily stay here
until I finish my mission.
ALSO!! I went to do a contact in the street, and
then woman was Jehovah Witness. She started talking and asking questions and
then showing us everything in OUR bible.
She destroyed us. Ate us. It was like she was playing with us. She knew the bible INCREDIABLY well. Everything she showed us was interpreted
incorrectly, but she was able to bend it logically to where I could see why
people believe it. It was actually sad
for me to see someone who knows so much, and really knows nothing. She didn’t ever really let us talk or debate
what she was saying. So I finally put my
hand out and thanked her. Then we
left. But talking about the scriptures
with her, I didn’t have that good feeling I usually have. I love teaching because of the way I feel and
when I see the person’ s face light up and I know they are feeling it,
too. There was none of that with this
woman. I really don’t know the bible
very well, but I know the truth. So all is
well. Today was day 397 of my mission.
(7) DOMINGO (Sunday): 16% of the attendance today was
investigators! Giovanna was
confirmed. The gospel principles was
LOADED with people. I loved today. We also marked our father’s day Skype call,
it’ll be at about 1-2:00 Utah time.
Everything
is going great. Simara is managing to
quit smoking. Everyone is going to
church. I really can’t even explain how
happy I am right now to see all these results for our hard work.
Today the
ward mission leader said to me he is certain I’ll be transferred to work closer
to president. When President Louza was visiting
in the Stake President’s house here in Cruz Alta, the ward mission leader was
there and he said they were talking about me!
I hardly even know the stake president, but he was telling Louza things
Bishop had passed him. T he ward mission leader said he only had good things to
say. That makes the ward mission leader,
the zone leaders, the sister training leaders, and the assistants who have told
me I’ll be transferred to be a secretary.
I don’t know, but I’ll go where I’m called. I’d really like to be called to stay
here. Today was day 398 of my mission.
Hugs to you all, Elder McKee
Playing Volleyball. Jake is in the grey sweater.
Playing Volleyball. Jake is in the grey sweater.
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