June 17, 2017
Today is
Sunday. We had a great day. We went to church. After church my companion was almost dying
because he has allergies really, really bad, and sneezing a lot. But regardless of that and his huge headache
that he has and he looks like he is drugged out and dying, we went to a family that we were
teaching. The dads name is Paulo. He’s super, super good to us. This is the second time we went. And it was super cool because while we were
there he got a call from his brother, who lives in a different state. And I thought it was really interesting to
hear what he was talking about. He told
his brother, “No, I’m here with the Mormons.
They are teaching me about their doctrine.” We couldn’t hear what his brother was saying,
but I think he asked about what it was.
And then he said, “ They told me a few days ago that they have a
prophet, a living prophet, that talks to God, and passes to us what God wants
us to do. So, I thought well hey, I’ve
never heard about that and I wanted to know if it’s true. So, I’m going to talk with them a little more
and see if I can get some details about the doubts that I have.” But what I thought was really cool, was that
we were able to see he says when we’re not there because he was just talking to
his brother all normal and was like, “no they told me there is a living prophet
and I want to know if that is true or not. “
So, we told him how we can pray about it and receive an answer and we
talked to him a little more about the prophet and the restoration. But it was super cool to see what part of the
message we had taught stuck with him because he understood about what we said,
that there was a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and how he talks with God
and how if we follow him we can return back to God. So, that was a really cool experience. I learned a lot about what sticks with the
people after we leave their house, after the lesson.
I wanted to
tell you about my day yesterday.
Yesterday we went and did a big meeting in the street. We went to the center, where they have all
the stores and everything, and yesterday was a big holiday, so there was a lot
of youth there. And we walked around
with these big old signs talking about our English classes and our free piano
classes we are doing. So, I was walking
around with the sign and I would start yelling stuff in Portuguese, then I
would start yelling in English, and everyone would look at me. Then I would ask them all if they could
understand me. And nobody could
understand, then I would tell them “You guys need our classes.” And we were giving out a bunch of little
papers and it was super, super cool. And
there were a bunch of young women there who were dressed very inappropriate,
and I started yelling in English how I thought I was in the middle of Babylon,
and how I thought it was really weird how 12 year old girls had belly button
piercings and they just walk around showing it to everyone. And there is another sister who is from the
United States, Sister Gibson, and she started laughing and telling me to stop,
and it was fun.
I was with
Elder Swartz, because we were in an exchange, a division. We switched companions for a day. It was pretty cool. And we met this new kid. His name was Willio. We had a really good lesson. Then we heard from Brother Flabio, from the
ward. He said he met a young boy who
wanted to learn about the gospel, so we went and taught him. He’s 12 years old and lives about a block
from the church. Today I'm going to go
to Santa Marta, and Elder Pereria Santos is going to stay here. It’s going to be good. We’re happy, we’re healthy. We ate a bunch of pizza last night. Actually we bought it last night and it came
here late, so we put it all in the fridge.
And we ate all of it today and drank all of the coke today. Yesterday
was a really good day. I’m happy. It was really cool, I was walking around and
there was a bunch, a big bunch of kids, the youth of Santa Maria…(in the video
he gets distracted by others in the room, then starts the talking to the video
again)… And Elder Swartz showed me a really good place to buy churros. They were good. And I bought a spider from a hippie for
$6.00. That was my day.
I’m going
to make a quick video journal of this week.
Yesterday we were in a division.
I was in Santa Marta. We visited a
family that was one of the poorest families in my mission. They live in like a box. It’s the size of my room. And, it’s looks more like a hut you would
make with your friends. They didn’t have
anywhere to go, or anything to do. It
was super sad because she grabbed some money and gave it to her daughter to go
get some milk for them to drink, to have their dinner. And they didn’t even have enough money to buy
a milk. It’s like 3 reais. When she came back the mom was like mad
because they didn’t have enough money to buy milk. But she said, “ok, go buy all the bread you
can with these 2 reais and the little bit that we have.” As she was leaving I pulled out my wallet and
gave her another 4 reais, that I had in my pocket and said to grab some milk
too. It was pretty cool to see they how
grateful they were because I gave them just 4 reais. And we sat talking to them and they have a
lot of problems and a lot of difficulties.
They don’t really have any sight of the light at the end of the
tunnel. And her little son, who is 4
years old, started crying because he wanted some candy. He wanted a chocolate or something like
that. And he went to their secret stash
and pulled out all the money that they had in the house, which was 4
reais. And his mom started yelling at
him that he couldn’t grab it. It was the
money that they were saving to pay for his sister’s school materials. Like the notebook and pencils, and things she
needed because they had finally managed to find a school that would accept
her. And that 4 reais is what she
needed, but it’s not even close to the money that she needed to actually buy
school materials. So, as we were leaving
I gave her the other 20 reais that I had in my pocket, and I told her it was
for the school material. I don’t know…
it really opened my eyes a lot. I’ve
never really seen people who were actually poor and all the difficulties that
they are passing, but they are still trying and they have a huge desire to
learn about the gospel. The neighbors
all talk bad about us to them, and say that all their problems are because they
are accepting the Mormons. And that they
are just wasting their time with us. But
they keep accepting us and then some members of the church went there 2 days
ago and gave them a bunch of clothes that they are needing. And they are just like investigators. The mom went to church one time and then
there is a young woman that is 19 who has a kid and adopted her cousin whose
about 9 or 10. It was a really good
experience for me.
I don’t
have much more to say. My week was
really good. Next week I’m in divisions
and it’s going to pass by really quickly.
The next week I’m traveling and doing divisions. Then the next week I’m traveling all week
again, then the next week is a transfer, then the next week I don’t know what
I’m going to do because then that is when my mom starts planning my life.
I’m here in
the supermarket, like a big grocery store.
Here are all the fruits. That is
one thing that Brazil has that we don’t have is a bazillion fruits, and the
store is full of brown people. They have
a lot of fruits here. They like to eat a
lot of pumpkin and a lot of corn, which we have. What just happened was in the center, where
all the stores are, there were a bunch of hippies, and they were selling rocks
and stuff and they make necklaces. It’s
super, super cool and super pretty. And
I bartered with them for a little bit and bought a necklace for Malena for 15 reais
that was super pretty. Then what
happened was we met a family of members that I met in my first area. And the young girl turns 11 tomorrow. And she said, “Hey! How are you doing Elder McKee?” and we talked to them for a little bit, and
she said, “hey, tomorrow is my birthday.”
And I wasn’t even thinking and I said, “Oh, here is a present for
you.” And I gave her the necklace that I
bought for Malena. And now I don’t have any
more money with me. There is a big guy
right here looking at me weird because I’m speaking in English. So, sorry Malena but I gave your necklace to
a little girl without really meaning to.
Well I meant to, but I didn’t really mean to mean to. But, that’s our day. It’s pretty good. I’m happy.
I’m shopping with my companion.
There’s a blond girl. (Gives her a BIG GOOFY smile.)
I’m super
happy, I’m super determined. I have
about a month left on my mission. I love
you guys.
Elder McKee
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