January 2016
(25) SEGUNDA
(Monday): I got the pictures to
work! That means the family got my
journal pages! WOOT WOOT! Today I realized how weak I’ve gotten. In the MTC we had a pull up bar, and I got 23
pull-ups in a row. Today I struggled for
10. But, I still kick butt at pushups,
so it’s not too bad. Today we met a
woman named Maria. When we asked her if
she’s met the missionaries before, she said yes she used to go out and work
with them, and clean their house and cook for them. 20 years ago.
She hasn’t gone to church in 20 years.
But she was very good, and invited us back. So, we are going to help her. We should get the call about transfers
tomorrow or Quarta (sorry, I use the days in Portuguese. I forgot which is which in English). That’s exciting. I think we will both stay here. Which is fine. I’m getting the hang of things. Today was a good p-day. 2 packages from Grandma and one from Mama
Baker, too! YES! So much candy, including Cadbury eggs! Nerf guns, and a monte de Kit Kats. Yes, today I was a happy man. Today was day 202 of my mission.
(26) TERCA (Tuesday):
Today was a great day for me. It was
raining hard when we left the house, and we walked on mud roads until the city
ended to find the house of a drunk inactive member we met last night. He wasn’t home.
I felt the
spirit very strong in 3 lessons today and I will share one of them with
you. So, our commitment at 8:00 fell
through, and it was close to the house of a member who had asked us to pass by
one day. So we passed. He is awesome. He told us about how he met the church. In 1983, a friend said, “Hey, this Thursday
the Mormons will be at the beach passing out free films and books. Let’s go check it out.” He didn’t know at the time that his friend
was already a member. They went, and his
friend gave his address to the sisters.
They passed and started teaching him.
1984 he was baptized. Very cool
story showing how effective it is when the members work with the
missionaries. But when I felt the spirit
was when this man was talking about how GOD knows each of us individually. He said it’s incredible how of all the 7
billion people on the world now, with all that have already passed, those to be
born, and not even getting into the other planets, God knows us
individually. Our worries are His
worries. Our Joys are His joys. He listens to us and answers. Of all his children, he gives each of us
specific attention. The spirit hit me so
strong, that truly I am a son of God, with everything he has as my
inheritance. He knows me and worries
about me. I was filled with such a good,
happy feeling; I couldn’t not believe God loves me. Then I thought of all the people who DON”T
know this. I am so blessed to know what
I know, and to have this blessing to share it.
Today was very good. Today was
day 203 of my mission.
(27) QUARTA (Wednesday): I got cold last night!! WOOT WOOT!
Ha-ha, that was something I haven’t felt for awhile.
So,
something I’m working on is challenging people to baptism with the spirit, not
just throwing the challenge out there. I
try and create the right setting, and then ask them to be baptized while they
are feeling the spirit. In a lesson
today with Elaine, we’ve had a few lessons with her. We met her knocking doors. She has a cousin who served a mission. She lost a son who was months old, and it was
a hard time for her and her husband.
This was a while ago. In the
lesson today we talked about temples and how families can be sealed
together. It was a great lesson. She
really liked it. At the end we talked
about temples and how families can be sealed together. It was a great lesson. She really liked it. At the end we talked a little bit about
covenants. What they are and how God
uses them to bless his children. I kept trying to find the right moment to ask
her to be baptized, but I didn’t want to mess up and give her a scare or
something. I said a little prayer, “Pai,
I’m feeling like I should challenge her to be baptized, is now the right
moment?” One thought came to my mind,
and I don’t know if it was my own thought or the spirit. It was “What are you called to do?” The fact that I didn’t know the thoughts
origin isn’t important. I invited her to
be baptized by someone holding the priesthood, making the same covenant that
Christ established in his church. (We had
read 3 Nephi 11 with her). She
accepted!! Her and her husband, if he’s
not working, will go to church this Sunday.
For me personally, my testimony was strengthened. When we give our best, the Lord multiples it
to work miracles. If a thought to do
good comes to mind don’t worry if it’s you or the spirit talking. Be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed
to be there, doing what you’re supposed to be doing and every good thing that
comes is from God. When we are being a
good boy (or girl), the Lord will use us without us even knowing it. I’m super excited to help Elaine
progress. She has SO much
potential. Today was day 204 of my
mission.
(28) QUINTA
(Thursday): So, today while we were
walking, a car came FLYING right at us!
It almost hit us! Then it
stopped, and it was just a joke. But,
when I saw the car coming at me, want to know the only thought I had? It wasn’t “jump to the side” or scream. Very calm and without fear, my thought was
“my time has come.” After I thought to
myself, “Self, what is wrong with you?
Next time, JUMP!” But then I
thought about the parable about the Lord leaving his servants, and how he
returns to find some working and others not.
Who knows when our time will be, but we need to always be prepared. Leave no business of today for tomorrow,
because then you have to leave tomorrows work for the next day.
But, today
was good. We went to a new family that a
ward missionary brought to church last Sunday. They’d already started reading
the Book of Mormon, and they are GREAT!
Woot Woot! More of them to
come. Today was day 205 of my mission.
(29) SEXTA (Friday): Today was very good. We got transfers, but I’ll wait until the end
to tell about them because I’m dying to write about this awesome lesson we had
with Janete and her whole family, even her husband was there. We brought a box of little candy bars. Pompeu said, “now, I’m going to offer each of
you one, and you can accept or not.
But, there will be a consequence for either choice.” Then he went around the circle of 6 people
(we took 2 members). 4 out of 6
accepted. Then he went to the first and said, “Wesley, you
accepted. Elder McKee, can you do 5
pushups to pay for his candy?” So, I
did. Next, “Eduarda, you accepted. Elder Mckee, can you do 5 pushups?” Next “Janete, you didn’t accept. McKee, can you do 5 pushups to pay for the
candy she didn’t take?” And on and
on. 5 pushups for everyone, regardless
of if they accepted. Then, he went
around again. 3 of the 6 accepted. (The members already knew the lesson.) And we did it again. I did 5 pushups for everyone who accepted,
and those that didn’t. The 3rd
time, I’m a little flustered because I’m doing slow perfect pushups. This time I’m telling them all, “don’t worry
about it. Take the candy.” This time
they all accepted. And I did pushups
again. Then we likened it to Jesus
Christ, how my pushups represent his sacrifice and the candy represents
repentance. He suffered to offer us the
chance to repent, and regardless if we accept it or no, He still paid the
price. There’s nothing we can do to
lessen His burden of suffering, but when we accept His atonement then his suffering wasn’t in vain, like when I did pushups for the people who didn’t
accepted the chocolate. Man, it was a
powerful spirit.
But it made
me a little sad, because it was my last lesson with them.
TRANSFERS: So, until this point I have been Junior
companion. Now, they will reopen the other side of Sao Luiz, just like they did
in Salgado Filho. Elder Pompeu is
leaving, so 3 new missionaries will come here, and I’m responsible for teaching
everyone the area, again. Also, I will
be district leader. Also, my new
companion will be fresh out of the MTC.
So, I’m going from junior comp to senior comp, trainer, district leader,
opening an area, kind-of. The other
missionaries coming will be one missionary with about a year and half-ish, and
He will train as well. I’m nervous and
excited at the same time. Ha-ha, we’ll
see.
So, I’ll
lose Janete, Eduarda, Wesley, Eder, Juraci, and some others that I will
miss. But I’m happy to stay with Elaine
and Marcos, and the others on this side.
Today was day 206 of my mission.
(30)SABADO
(Saturday): Remember those
scriptures stickers I asked to be sent to me?
Today in the church there was a devotional broadcast, and I saw the man
who had asked me for them. I had
originally thought I would save them, but I felt like I should give them to
him. So, I went up to him and told him I
had the stickers, that I would bring them to church the next day for him. His 9-year-old daughter FLIPPED. She was so
excited. He asked me how much he owed
me, and I didn’t feel right saying R$200.00 That’s a LOT of money for these
people. I said not to worry about it, no
problem. The look on his face and the
excitement of his daughter who will use them was well worth it.
The Devotional
was the area presidency talking about preparation for a mission. I LOVED IT!
I learned so much! Then after, I
asked Elder Pompeu what he liked, and He said it was annoying and he didn’t
learn anything new. I seriously became
sad. Sad that he missed all that
spiritual enlightenment because of his attitude.
Elder Hawk,
my American best friend in the mission, just called me to congratulate me. He called me Moses McKee, going DL and
trainer. He said he knew it would happen
because I went fluent in Portuguese in a few months. Ha-ha.
Today was day 207 of my mission.
(31) DOMINGO
(Sunday): Today was a VERY good day
for me. But, stuff personal and
spiritual, and other stuff not to spread.
I wrote about today in my other journal.
Sufficeth it
to say we have a baptism this Saturday!
Marcos. I’ll explain more about
him in the email tomorrow.
His Email to Mom/Dad: ALSO I HAVE A BAPTISM THIS SATURDAY!! His name
is Marcos. He met the church about 4 years ago, and his wife and stepsons got
baptized, but not him. They’ve been half active sometimes, other times inactive
all together. We got a list of inactive people, and past by their house near
the end of December. These are the people who said God doesn’t exist and Jesus
was just another Jew. Their sons are still the same way, but Claudia, the mom,
said she wanted to return. So she started going again, and she would bring her
husband Marcos. He’s the coolest guy ever. He’s really quiet, but super smart. Humble.
He’s already read ‘Nosso Legado’, watched all ‘The Work and the Glory’, lots of
other church stuff. He knows it all. But, he started reading the Book of Mormon
again. He’s been reading for about 2 weeks straight now about 4 chapters a day.
Until yesterday, he was really soft and wishy washy. Yesterday, we went into
his house, and his sons were watching, in the other room, people play video
games on TV. Elder Pompeu went straight for there, while Marcos passed to come
sit with us. So, it was just me and Marcos in the room. We talked a little. I
asked him how he understood. It was kind-a
slow at first, but then he started to open up, asked questions about what he
was reading in 2nefi. I answered them all, and it was amazing. Other scriptures
were coming to my mind, explanations, all the Portuguese I needed. We talked
about his daughter who lives with his x wife who he wants to baptize. Then
there was a pause, and he said ´I think I want to be baptized here soon, but I
still want some more time.´ I asked why he wanted to wait, what his doubts
were, and he said he´s just still waiting for the answer that this is what he
should do. Then I shared an experience with him that is very personal to me,
and was the answer and reason why I’m serving a mission. Then I shared the part
in D&C 6 about remembering our first testimony. Then he shared an
experience of his he had, where he was reading the Book of Mormon and felt
something so strong he had to put the book down for the day. And how he felt
the same thing again a few weeks later when he was reading again. I asked why
he didn’t want to be baptized então. He said he didn’t feel worthy, so I read
the baptism interview questions for him. We talked about each one, and at the
end, he paused, thought for a minute. I let the silence ride, then said I
believed him to be ready, but in his time we´re here to help. He asked what the
process is to be baptized, so I explained. Then I said we can do the service on
Saturday, interview on Thursday. You can choose any member to baptize you who
is above 16 and has the priesthood (they already have a lot of friends in the
church). He said ´yes, lets do it.´ WOOT WOOT!!! So my new companion (WHO I
WILL BE TRAINING!!) will come and in the first week of his mission have a
baptism. After 4 years of searching the church, Marcos will be baptized.. AHHHH
I’m so happy!!!!!!
The church
is true, and the spirit is real and powerful.
Today was day 208 of my mission.
Oh! Also, I took the scripture stickers to church
and gave them to that 9 year old girl, and she got super excited! Then she gave me a hug…. and her grandma came
over and said, “Elder, I’m going to have to call President and tell him you
hugged my granddaughter.” Then she saw
the stickers and she got excited, too.
I’ll talk to
ya next week!! :) Love you!!! I'm praying for you guys!! and I'm feeling all of
your prayers! Thank you so much for everything.
Love, Elder McKee
No comments:
Post a Comment