Happy Holidays from Salta Argentina Mision! Spencer's Take 2, Semana 34

Monday, December 29, 2014

Jonah's Week 9

Monday, December 29, 2014

Hey I love you mom and my birthday was awesome!! I celebrated it here with my family away from home, the Gonzalez family. Only two of the people are members but I am teaching the parents and the rest of the kids. They are awesome and they bought me a cake with my name misspelled on it! Then they lured me outside and smashed eggs on my head!! I guess it's a tradition here and it was hilarious! I had no idea that's what I was going outside for and luckily I just so happened to be taking a selfie when Mayra the oldest daughter smashed her egg on my head! haha!

Also I celebrated my birthday again today with the zone and they made me a cake and while I was blowing out the candles one of my friends Elder Vasquez smashed my face into the cake! haha Here in Honduras you receive a lot of abuse on your birthday! It's kinda funny!

Hey thanks for fixing the money thing I was started to get way worried! Love you lots!

Elder McKee

Best Christmas Presents EVER

December 25, 2014

Christmas at the McKee home was wonderful especially with our conversations with Elder Spencer McKee, Elder Jonah McKee, and Sister Lexie Sims. Here are their snap photos...

 

 

It was great to see them all happy, healthy and loving their opportunity to serve! Yay for awesome kids and awesome missionaries!!! Merry Christmas!

Jonah's Week 8

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Hey this week has been crazy!! I have killed two mice in my casa, been attacked at night by a gecko, I've been asked to marry this one investigators twin daughters, and last but not least I found out I have an investigator who has killed 23 people!! Okay now for the detail! haha
Well to begin we have a mouse problem in our casa. Our front door doesn't reach all the way to the ground so it's really interesting to see what kinds of creatures make their way into our home! This week it happened to be two mice and a couple of geckos! But anyways I was changing into my pajamas for the day when out of no where I step on something squishy and it squeaked! I pìcked my foot up fast and saw a mouse run across the floor! I hunted it through the house and after chasing it into the spare room I put a towel under the door so it couldn't escape. I then tied my tie around my head and declared war! It was going to be me or the mouse but I promised ONLY ONE OF US WAS GOING TO LEAVE THAT ROOM ALIVE!  Luckily for me I had a hammer so the odds were ever in my favor! hahha get it!?!? Okay well anyways I went to battle and came out victorious! Then later that week I had a second duel a lot less intense with a second babier mouse. But yea, you can call me a gladiator or the king of the arena if you really want to! I mean shoot I have people offer their daughters to me!! haha I guess that just goes to show my name in the duel arena has grown. haha

But seriously this one investigator has twin girls who are 16 and I won't lie they are lookers but I was abolutely shocked when she asked me if I had a girlfriend waiting for me at home and I said no she's not waiting for me and she said great because I want you to marry one or both of my daughters and take them home with you!! I told her I couldn't and then she insisted by saying they would make sure I was a happy man to say the very least.. haha Well anyways I once again respectfully declined and then continued by teaching the law of chastity again!! haha It was whack! But not as whack as finding out one of my investigators is not really in an investigator but a progressing member!!

He has killed 23 people and since then he has left the gang and found Jesus! He can't be baptized because of his actions and to be perfectly honest, when he told me this I didn't believe him because he is such a nice guy! He is even having us over for tamales tonight!! But I started to belive him when he showed me the tally mark scars on his chest for each of his kills. It's crazy to think people are capable of that and then making such a drastic change to the point of me not even believing him. Well anyways I have to go but this is my wish. Have a Merry Christmas and this Sunday is my birthday! It's tradiotion that when it's your birthday here you get to smash an egg on the head of your friends. Sooo this Sunday smash an egg on your head and send me a picture!! haha Well anyways I love you all tons and I know this church is true.

Merry Christmas,
Elder McKee

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 33

Monday, December 22, 2014

Hello family and friends! How are things back in the real world? I hope you're getting all of your shopping done and that you have found the most perfect gifts to share!

This will be my first and only Christmas in the mission. From what I hear Christmas is crazy here! Everyone has a barbeque on the 24 and they eat a lot of meat and drink a lot of alcohol all day and all night long. At 12 am on the 25 everyone lights off fire works and they go off for about an hour! I'm pretty excited for the fireworks because we live in a fourth floor apartment and we are going to be able to see everything! It should be fun. It's going to be different than the classic Christmas with gift giving, cinnamon rolls, eggnog, hot chocolate, Mexican food on Christmas eve, and sitting around all day watching the Christmas story and other movies. It will be different for sure but it will be fun.

Karen I hope you all have a good Christmas and that you can really focus and help others focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Question... what was the first Christmas ever given?  JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF!!!!  I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and for the gift that He is! I'm grateful for the chance that I have to start over every single day and to become more and more like Him everyday that I live! That is really the goal, right? To become like Him is my greatest desire. I hope that you can all focus on the things that really matter and that you can all share the love that our Father in heaven showers upon us! I love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas!

Con mucho amor, y esperanza a que tengan una feliz navidad,
Elder McKee

Jonah's Week 7

Monday, December 15, 2014

This week has been one of the quietest weeks of my life. Tegucigalpa is crazy! It's bringing back so many memories I can't even help but love this place! I am in a colony called Paraiso and it's cool but I don't think these people speak the same Spanish as the rest of the world. This language is not Spanish. That much is true. After everything there is a "mmm" sound, it seems like they are constantly humming and I don't get it at all! Oh and guess what! My first day here we were crossing over a stream to go eat at a member's house and the bridge was just a metal piece of something and while I was crossing it broke and my leg fell through and I cut my leg all up! haha! Then the third day here there was a mouse in my closet!! haha Welcome to Honduras!

 

Well anyways today is p-day and we decided to hike a mountain to this giant white cross that over looks the valley and it was seriously the steepest hike of my life!! It was a ton of fun and I'm starting to appreciate all of the small things in the world at home a lot more!! Well anyways it's been an adventure to say the least and I can't wait to see what else is in store!

Mom I know you want to put money in my account so that I can buy some Christmas presents for the people here but I don't think there is anything I can do. I don't know how to get out money and my comp is a native so I don't know how to communicate with him. There are a lot of families who could use help but I don't know how to help them. This place is insane! I'm always lost and I don't know what's happening but I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.

 

Also I just have so much in mind right now I can't even express it. But for now, how is the family? How is the team? And how are you? Also don't worry about me. I am fine and I know this next couple weeks is going to be rough since I don't know the Spanish but I know I'll make do. haha. I'll write more next week, just for now I'm kind of in shock because I don't know what is going on around me ever. Haha. Well love you all and merry Christmas!

Elder McKee

My mission president and his wife

Elder Ngungutau



view from the bus

Ward Christmas party

dinner with some members





my mouse friend

aftermath of falling through the bridge

 

 

 

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 32

Monday, December 15, 2014

This week went really slow. We started off the week with a leadership conference in Salta.

Monday was crazy! My comp and I got to the bus terminal in time, we had our tickets ready and everything. As we were standing there waiting for the bus to arrive, about a half hour from when the bus was supposed to arrive, the sister leaders called us to tell us that the bus that was supposed to pass by to take them the bus terminal still hadn't arrived. The problem was that they were about 40 minutes away by taxi. I told them to find a taxi asap and to beg the driver to drive fast! Then another problem occurred... they didn't have money to pay for a taxi! I told them I would be waiting for them at the drop off so that's what they did. They found a taxi and came. The bus we were supposed to take arrived before the sisters got there and we would have just got on it but we couldn't because we had to pay for their taxi. We ran to the  taxi drop off hoping that they would arrive in time somehow. They got to the terminal at about 7:37 and the bus was scheduled to leave at 7:30. We ran through the terminal like a bunch of crazies but sadly the bus had already departed! We ended up waiting in the terminal until 11 at night which was when we miraculously found open seats. After a lot of stressful arguing with bus companies we finally started the trip. We got to Salta at 4 in the morning. The next day we were wasted! I fell asleep in during the training that President's wife gave. Elder Ellertson tried to help me stay awake but I had weighted eye lids! The conference was good, I learned a lot of good stuff. It was cool to find out that our zone had the most baptisms in the whole mission! After the trip we were both super tired and we still are recovering I think.

It has been raining almost all week! I love the rain because it cools down a lot but I hate it because I am getting soaked all day long! I have this really cool Nike wind breaker water shield jacket. It used to be really water proof but it has officially lost its magical powers :( I cant believe Christmas is in two weeks! Me and my comp are in charge of hiring the caterer for the Christmas conference this Wednesday. It should be fun. The three zones here in Tucuman are getting together so it's going to be pretty big. Christmas is going to be really weird. We are so busy we can't even think about that kind of holly jolly!

I miss you all a lot! I hope you are having a happy holiday and that you are on Santa's nice list! Espero que la Navidad les pase linda! Les amo un montón! 

 

Su querido,

Elder McKee

Six degrees of Separation

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

The church truly is a small world!!! This week we found out that Spencer's new companion,Elder Ellertson, lives in California. My sister works in California with a guy who is in the same ward with Elder Ellertson's family. His mom sent these pictures...

She went on to say that they ate the big grasshopper, yuck! 

Then, Jonah flew out to Honduras today and we were pleasantly surprised to hear from some old friends with a close contact to Jonah. Sister Jangard wrote to tell us that Jonah's new mission president was her old stake president and that his wife had sent some pictures, YAY! 

The presidents wife, Sister Bowler said "Is this the best missionary ever? He just landed and is setting up our tree!"

I'm so glad these friends reached out to us. It's always fun to see pictures of the boys.

And, as a final parting jewel, Jonah sent this before he left the mtc...
This is my favorite Jesus there ever was. I like to pray to the 6 lb 8 oz baby Jesus and thank Him for the opportunity I have to serve a mission in His name.

I love these boys so very much and I too am grateful for the opportunity that they have to learn and grow and serve the people of Argentina and Honduras! I love Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ and I am blessed beyond measure. Thanks for your love and support it means a lot to all of us! Have a great week!

Jana

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 31

Monday, December 8, 2014
 

This week has been awesome! My new comp is a beast! He really is awesome. He has already taught me so much this week! He teaches in a way that all present feel loved! He is really cool and chill. I think I already told you guys about him a little bit but he is from California. He spends his time surfing and skating and mountain biking! You could say that we get along pretty well!

 

On Monday we had something happen to us that was super crazy! A random pitbull from the streets claimed us as his owners or something and just waited for us outside of our apartment all day. When we finally left to go work in the afternoon he followed us everywhere so we gave him a name and his name is Brutus! It was pretty funny at first because he was just being crazy. After walking for about 30 minutes we finally got to the house of our investigator. When we got there a bunch of other dogs ran out and started barking at Brutus. Brutus went crazy and bit one of the smaller dogs on the neck and just tossed it around like a rag doll! Brutus would not leg go of the dog so me and Elder Ellertson started acting out of emergency. I grabbed a stick on the ground and smashed it on Brutus' back and it barely phased him. We started throwing rocks and stuff and he finally dropped the dog. By the time he let go of the little dog there was blood everywhere and its neck was ripped open! My comp, out of shock I think, picked up the little dying dog off the road and Brutus tried to eat it out of his arms! Elder Ellertson put it on top of a car and we started yelling and searching for the owner. That was so crazy! I was so mad at Brutus that I grabbed a brick and tried to kill him with it! I'm a terrible throw so he was fine. We left after the owner of the dog came out to save his little doggy. Brutus still followed us and we got to a main street and told some cops and they were supposedly going to come back with someone to take care of the dog. They didn't come back. We decided it would be impossible to teach if Brutus was killing the dogs of our investigators so we hopped in a taxi to lose him. He chased after the taxi for so long! The taxi driver was so shocked at how big Brutus is and how fast he ran! We finally lost him when we got to the freeway. The rest of the day went well once we lost him! The next day, to our surprise, we woke up to Brutus barking at us in our 4th floor apartment! He found his way back to the apartment! Longer story short, we had to pray that Brutus would be sleeping when we left and stuff so that he wouldn't follow us. It worked because we managed to sneak past him the next 3 days. On Thursday he disappeared! I think he finally understood that our relationship was never going to work! 

Oh golly, mission stories are the best! 

 

I love you guys! I hope all is well back in the USA! Happy holidays! I miss  you like crazy! 

 

Elder McKee <3

Jonah's Week 5

Thursday, November 4, 2014

I leave on Tuesday morning and it was way tight getting my flight info! I can't even wait to finally get out of here but until then I'm making the best of my time! I am doing things like sleeping on top of the casas and causing a little bit of shenanigans but its all been way tight!

 

We taught our investigator for the last time this week and we told her about the importance of missionary work and told her that since she is having trouble with her family accepting her decision it is now her job to help her family accept the gospel.  She asked me if I ever have doubts and I told her that I am still a human just like her who has a lot of problems just I know that with faith in Jesus Christ we can overcome any obstacle in our path. I had her read Ether 12:27:

 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

 

and then we called her to be a missionary for her family and to share with them the fullness of this gospel. She asked us for copies of the Book of Mormon so she can give them to her brothers and her mom. She is an amazing girl and she gets baptized the Sunday after we leave.... she was so sad when she heard I wasn't going to be the one to baptize her and she started to cry. I told her that she is making amazing choices and that she going to be blessed as she continues to share the gospel with her family and live the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We explained to her that she is being converted to the church of Jesus Christ and not the church of Elders McKee and Ngungutau. We told her that in the church the priesthood is the same no matter who is holding it as long as they are worthy and that it's Jesus Christ who she is supposed to follow, not us. She understood exactly what I had to say and she then told me that we are angels and we  are blessings in her life.... I felt the spirit punch a hole in my chest because I have been praying every night that before I leave if I'm doing what I need to be doing then I would be called an angel before I left. She was a blessing in my life and I am grateful for God using her to answer my prayer. She knows that we are leaving to Honduras and in her prayer she asked God to bless us that we can bring the joy we brought to her to every person in Honduras. She then stopped and asked God to bless her with the strength to be a missionary someday. She is a light on top  of a mountain. Marisela, thank you for being a beacon of light unto the world. I am forever thankful for your spirit and testimony.

 

I know this church is true and I love the gospel with all of my heart. I know I have been called to Honduras for a reason and I can not wait to see what that reason is. I cannot wait to see the joy I can bring with this peaceful message about God our Eternal Father and His Son, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I love you mom and I love you all too. Thanks for the examples and blessings each and every one of you has been in my life. 

 

Siempre

Elder McKee

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 30

Monday, December 1, 2014

 

Oh man this has been such a crazy week! We as zone leaders have been sooo busy!

 

On Friday we did a total of 15 baptism interviews! With the miracles we saw this week we were able to reach our goal for baptisms for the month of November! We baptized as a zone 26!!! We double the baptisms from the last month so that's a great improvement! We have a new goal of 30 baptisms for December and we are all really excited to surpass this new goal. My buddies Elder Blake and Elder Philpot saved the zone by baptizing 9 on Saturday! I did the interviews for half of their baptisms and it was so tiring! As soon as we got to their house to do the interviews the next door neighbors pulled out their giant speakers and played their crappy music for the whole world to hear! I had to scream for 2 hours straight basically and on top of that the room where we were was small and had no ventilation so I was baking alive in there!

 

Thanksgiving was this week! It was super weird being away from home for that! It was no where near to a true Thanksgiving! In honor we ordered sandwiches before going to bed to celebrate! 

 

We had transfers this week. Seriously half of the zone got switched out including my comp Elder Knudsen! He got sent to a pueblito called Tartagal and he will be training there! It was weird to hear that. He is a zone leader gone trainer and he is going to die there with his son because he only has 2 transfers left! My new companions name is Elder Ellertson! He is super cool and he is from Temecula, California! He likes to skate and surf so I am already sure that we are going to get along great! He is a new zone leader just like me so we are going to be learning together! I have been up since 7 am yesterday. Being ZL I was in charge of making sure everyone got on the right buses and on time. It has been an exhausting day. I'm about ready to die in my bed. We are here in the bus station waiting for the last bus of missionaries to finally get here and then we are going to rest and what not for a little bit before our p day ends! 

 

I love you guys! Thanks for your love and prayers! Happy holidays! 

Elder McKee

Jonah's Week 4

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Hey so this week had been interesting to say the very least! Today is my P-Day and also today es el Dia de Acciones de Gracias (or Thanksgiving). They served us turkey, corn, mashed potatoes, greenbean casserole, and of course pie and ice cream. It was way cool because I actually got to eat this Thanksgiving since I didn't have to make weight. SOOO COOL! Oh, and I hope all of you wrestlers who read this email are making weight tomorrow and are ready for the Clark Duels! I miss you all and I want you stupid boys to write me! I need to hear from my boys! I wanna be able to hear about matches and tournaments really badly. I miss the mat and I hope you are making my shoes proud whoever has a pair of them. I wish I could still be there working out with all of you at the gym right now to make weight for the Clark Duels! Also I heard about Sean Cannon. That sucks for him but I hope you all take advantage of this and work hard! There's a shot you all could do what my teams never did and that's win a state championship. But anyways. write me!

Oh and happy Thanksgiving to the rest of the people reading this. I had an amazing week and thank you all for the letters and emails of support. Every year on Thanksgiving my family has a tradition that we sit around the table before we can eat and we have 5 candy corns. For each candy corn you have to say something you are indeed thankful for this year. My 5 things this year are:

1) MY FAMILY, to all of you who do not have the best relationships with you entire family I challenge you to work on it because I wish I did. I love my younger brother and sister soo much and I wish I would have told them more!

2) MY MOM, she has always been the hardest worker I have ever met and when I'm not doing what I should be she would get on my case and I hated it! But I know she loves me and it was always just for my own good. If you do not have a good relationship with your mom, then fix it because your mom is always going to be the best thing to ever happen to you. I promise that! I know that if they say you are messing up then they are right and I suggest you listen even though sometimes it sucks because they are your mother and A MOTHER ALWAYS KNOWS BEST!

3) THIS GOSPEL, I will always live and love this gospel with all of my heart. I know that there is good and there is evil in this world but the small amount of good is always better than the evil. Forgivness is the way to righteousness and I just learned that this week. But it's not only to forgive somebody else when they do you wrong but it's also to forgive yourself when you do wrong. That is the one part of the repentance process I never understood and in my personal opinion it is the hardest. I am lucky to have the opportinity to serve a mission and everyday I am preparing myself to become a sharper tool in the Lord's hands. I only have one more week left in the CCM and then I am off to spread the gospel to every person and family I come in contact with. I love the Lord and He is the way.

4) MY FRIENDS, I don't just mean friends I also mean the many examples I had in my life! My second family the stang gang #SickNasty and the leader himself Coach Johnson who single handedly won the Vietnam war! I am so thankful I had the opportunity to know you in this lifetime! I also am talking about my uncle and dad who are some of my best friends ever! I love messing with you and I hope to grow up to be the men you are today. Thanks to all of the people who went to Tegucigalpa and got to share with me that amazing experience (NAMLY BRETTE THE BOMB BRINGHURST, MADDIE, AND BRAD). Thank you all and I don't know if I would be here without all of your influence. Lastly, my three amigos: Carter, Lorenzo, and last but not least Rheuben. They are my best friends and I am so proud of them for all choosing to serve the Lord. I know this is what we are meant to do.

5) MY TRIALS, I know that is a weird thing to be thankful for but it's the trials and the hardest parts of our lives that make us better, that make us who we are supposed to one day become. I am thankful for the hardships in my life because without them I know I wouldn't be able to teach the people of Honduras that I am supposed to teach. I thank the Lord everyday for everything that has happened to me and for the opportunity I have to serve Him. I know that my Father in Heaven is watching over me and I love him. I know my faith has grown because of the faith I have in these trials. I love the Lord and I thank Him for the strength and challenges to help me grow.

I want you all to know that I love you all and I want you to know that I am so proud of my opportunity to serve the mission. this has been a huge blessing in my life and I can't wait to continue growing from the trials I will face. I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving and I challenge you to think of the five things you are indeed grateful for this year.

Siempre,
Elder McKee

Spencer's take 2, Semana 29

Monday, November 24, 2014

Wow this week was awesome!!!! I have learned a lot this week due to various things. 

1) The assistants came to our area to do divisions with us. I went with Elder Almond and he's a really good missionary! The one thing I admire about him is that he is able to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone! It does not matter if he is teaching a 3 year old chango or una vieja who has 73 years! Another really cool thing is that he has found super cool ways to teach the gospel. He used a lot of objects in his teaching and it made for a more entertaining/interactive lesson. It was fun working with him for a day.

2) Presidente Chaparro came to our zone to do interviews with all the missionaries. This was the first time I actually went into the interview with questions and concerns and I left feeling more edified and uplifted than I have ever felt from any other interview! Now I know what to do to make the interviews better.

Apart from that, we saw a miracle here in Belgrano! One of our investigators, Laura, finally got baptized! She has been listening to discussions since even before I arrived to this area and she just did not want to get baptized especially not with a pre determined date. About a month ago we insisted that she set up an official day and she accepted!! We promised her that day that if she would read and pray every day she would be ready and would even have desires to be baptized. About 2 weeks or so after that breakthrough lesson Elder Knudsen and I realized that she was not progressing well and especially wasn't going to reach her baptismal date! About two weeks ago we went into a lesson ready and prepared for just about anything to happen. To our surprise she told us that she actually was feeling good about her baptismal date but was still unsure if she was going to be ready in time. We promised her again that if she would read and pray daily she would make the necessary changes to be ready. For the last two weeks we have focused on the importance of praying and reading and miraculously she really had a conversion!

On Friday, (the 21st of November) she called us at about 6:30 to ask if she could be baptized that night! We organized her baptism in one hour and we even had members and other investigators there to support her! One of the biggest miracles was that the baptismal font filled up in one hour! Usually it takes 4 to 5 hours to fill up! Part of the reason why it filled so fast is because there was already a little bit of water when we got there! Blessings were obvious that day!!!

As a zone this month we have the goal to baptise 26 of our brothers and sisters! This is the last weekend we have to baptize and as of now we only have 10 of the 26 that we need. Luckily we have a lot of people who are preparing themselves this week to be baptised and if all goes well we will be really close to reaching our goal! Prayers would be appreciated!

Today for p day we did something different. Today we took a bus out to a beautiful jungle where there is a lake called Cadillal! We went hiking to a waterfall that was absolutely beautiful!!!!! 

I love you all so much! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! con mucho amor, 

Elder McKee

 

 

Para mis amigos latinos:

Este semana hemos visto milagros! Tenemos una investigadora que se llama Laura. Hace un poco mas que dos meses ella empezó a escucharnos. Desde el principio ella nos ha dicho que un día se bautizaría pero siempre fue molesta cuando hablábamos del bautismo o si tratáramos poner fecha con ella. Hace tres semanas mas o menos después de una gran batalla le ganamos y ella acepto fecha para el 22 de noviembre. Eso día la prometimos que si orara y leyera y cumpliera. Saltamos unas semanas y nos dimos cuenta que no iba a cumplir con su fecha porque no estaba leyendo ni tampoco orando como debe. Nos enfocamos por las dos semanas pasadas en la importancia de leer y orar. Realmente los cambios que vimos entre estas semanas nos sorprendieron!! Ella entre dos semanas pudo convertirse completamente para alcanzar su meta de bautismo!!!! Ella nos llamo a las 6:30 viernes preguntando se le pudimos bautizar en aquel momento. Nosotros arreglamos su bautismo en una hora con miembros tal como investigadores presentes en el bautismo!!! Fue una experiencia que nunca olvidare y una leccion que espero que no olvide! Un milagro que vimos fue que el pila bautismal se lleno en 1 hora y media! Normalmente requiere 4-5 horas para llenarse!!! Somos muy bendecidos y Dios es muy generoso!!! 

 

Jonah's Week 3

Hey mom sorry it took so long to write you. I was trying to think of what to say but I just can't think of any other way to tell you than to say, I feel like I am failing. I haven't had the best experiences this week. For example, in distrct descussion this week we started talking about how one of the elderss has a letter everyday from his girlfriend and how he has to invite us all to his wedding come two years time. Then one of the hermanas who is the oldest member of our district said ''man I hope I am married before Elder Glines!! He is just such a little baby and I'm two years older than him.''

So then we all started talking about how it's possible for her to do it since she gets home 6 months before us and then one of the other hermanas said ''Hey, just make sure you're married before McKee because he is never getting married.'' My companion asked ''why not''. She then said ''Because he is a terrible person and I can't even focus when I'm in the same room as him.''

 

I will admit I left later that night tearful. Then the following night a similar exchange of words came from the same companionship. They were telling me that I am not capable to lead and they don't think I am cut out to be a missionary. I don't know why they felt that way and I don't know what can make a person cut out to serve so maybe they are right. Right this second I might not be as qualified as them since I don't know as much spanish and I know I haven't read the Book of Mormon as many times as them but I am here and I am trying. I don't know why they feel that way but I feel like I am totally failing in my calling. All I want  to do is serve them and I thought I was doing everything in my ability to make them happy so I don't know why they feel that way about me. Everytime I get packages I add it to the ''district pantry'' aka the closet I put all of my packages in so they can have stuff to snack on or whatever when they want it. I don't have very much I can do to serve the hermanas without breaking missionary rules but I am trying to do everything I possibly can!! I don't know how I can be so close with all of the companionships and feel so much tension coming from that one companionship. I wish I could earn their trust the way I have earned the trust of the other members of my district.

 

But, one thing I know is that I am willing to serve. I am willing to put the work in to be the best Elder McKee I can be. I may not be as smart but I have since then doubled my workload and I will be a better missionary for it. I know I was sent here for a reason and maybe it was so that my confidence would be torn down and built back up for myself. I wish I had all of the answers to know how I can help them. To know how I can better serve my district but this week I don't know why I am here. I know this mission won't always be easy and that at some points this mission is going to feel like I am all alone in this world with nobody beside me but I know that's not possible because I always have a companion stuck to my side. Oh and I know that God will be there too. I know God is my loving Heavenly Father and that He has called me to this work and no matter what, I will put the work in so that I can be the missionary He needs me to be. I will be the missionary that the hermanas don't think I'm capable of being. I know that anything is possible if you put your trust in the Lord. I promise you I am trusting Him with all of my heart, might, mind and strength that this is where I am supposed to be and that this is all part of His plan for me. I know He will never abandon me as long as I trust in Him. 

 

I hope this next week gets easier but if not then it will only make me stronger. I love you and I love this gospel. I am a missionary called of God to spread the word that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. I know people are ready to hear the message and I will work diligently to provide the words they need to hear. I hope all is well at home. 

 

With much love,

Elder McKee 

 

p.s. I just wanted to say that I love you mom and thanks for raising me the right way. I have seen a lot of people here who have been sheltered their entire lives and I feel so bad for them because when they go out on the field they are not going to even know what to do with all of the new things around them. I am glad you and dad showed us a wide variety of lifestyles and let us explore so we would be able to function in this BIG, small world we live in. Oh and one of the hermanas in my district, Hermana Nelson, is the niece of the guy who owns the Beetle Barn and her grandpa is the guy who lives right next door to it! It was really funny telling her that I have spoken to her grandpa on multiple occasions just for the fun of it. haha Her and I just grew even closer is all ;) Well anyways, I love you! Oh, and if you ever wanted to send me hackysac or maybe some Cinnabon, umm you know, I wouldn't mind ;))) love you mom and thanks for everything!

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 28

Monday, November 17, 2014 

 

This week was a little rough! I feel like we were hardly in our area this week to work because we were running all over the place trying to please the needs of everyone else! We had various problems this week that made it hard to focus on our area, from abusive companionships to angry apartment owners demanding the rent. One thing for sure is that as a zone leader, 1500 pesos does not stretch very far between taxis, buses, meetings, and food. Sadly food is on the bottom of our importance list :P Also I got super sick this week!

 

On Wednesday, I went on divisions with an elder named Elder Blake! I have known Elder Blake from when I arrived to Argentina the first time. He is a good friend of mine and a great example of a missionary! As a missionary I feel that there are two tactics that one can take. The one extreme is the very direct and ruthless approach which in my opinion rarely works and most often leaves people a little offended. On the other side of the spectrum is the loving caring passive approach. This tactic is in my opinion alot better. I have found that missionary work is all about inviting. All we can do is invite people to come to Christ. Whether they want to or not is up to them!

 

It was a great time being with Elder Blake because he shares the same philosophies about missionary work as I do. He is one of the district leaders so I get to talk to him every single night which is always a good time! He is the district leader of all sister missionaries. It is really funny because a lot of times he tells us his struggles as he tries to excite and motivate and on occasion, correct. He tells of how the sister missionaries a lot of times get offended and about half the time cry -_- I'm glad I only have to verify with elders!

 

While on divisions with Elder Blake it rained really hard! I got so sick that day because we walked the streets dripping wet, through the mud, freezing too death! Now that I am 5 days from the day I got sick I feel really dumb because I am just now getting better when there is something I could have done from day one that would have helped me get better faster; a priesthood blessing! Because of my pride or something like that I did not ask for a blessing. I have a very strong testimony in the power of the priesthood so I feel especially dumb for not asking for one. I hope that if any of you ever have need of a blessing that you will ask without hesitation! God has entrusted us with the priesthood to use it! 

 

I love you all so much! I hope that all is well in the United States of America! Oh how I miss the land of the free and the brave! 

 

Elder McKee <3

 

 

Jonah's Week 2

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Hey mom how are you!? This week has been awesome! I have had so many opportunities to serve and we all got to bond over eating the super weird Mexican candy you sent me! haha Thanks for the package! I was super stoked to get it! and I just got one from grandma full of chocolate but I gave it to the Hermanas' because they are all on girl time but still it's fine. haha  

 

Well anyways we got a hacky sac and one thing I've learned soo much is the most important job of Elders is to smile and be happy. That isn't a hard thing for me to do so I do it very well. My district has been recognized for being an exemplary district and for being super close like a second family! I love them all so much! My district is full of the coolest people in the world! It's seriously like all the people in this life I needed to meet before dying. We Elders are going to sneak our mattresses on top of our casa one of these nights and sleep under the stars for fun and its gonna be tight!

 

We went to the temple today and that was pretty fun even though we couldn't go inside since they're doing renovations. Oh! And guess what! A Latina girl came up to me and said "Hi, I know you." Then I asked her how and she told me she was at the dental clinic! How tight is that!?!? I love the mission soo much and I love my district. I can't wait to serve in Honduras!

 

Always your son,

Elder McKee

 

 

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 27

Monday, November 10, 2014 

 

This week started off great! My comp and I traveled to Salta for a reunion of leaders! We were trained by our mission president President Chaparro and his wife and the assistants. We analyzed numbers and statistics and just talked about  how we can help the church grow even more here in the mission!

 

One thing we focused a lot on was 'real growth'. We talked about how it really is easy to find people to baptize but retaining them and helping them become self sufficient members is a whole other task. We are going to be focusing a lot more on the retention and reactivation right now so that we can help the church actually grow. He showed us a statistic of baptisms in the past year and the growth in number of attendance in the church. Ideally the number of attendances should be the same number as baptisms but in reality it was only about 10% of the people who were baptized. That shocked me and made me realize the importance of caring for the new members.

 

Something that I have learned this week from listening to the conference talks is that there is a great importance of having a strong testimony. I think there were about 3 different talks about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, Thomas S. Monson and just a lot of talk about the importance of having a testimony. I am so glad for my testimony. It is one of the most powerful tools we have in preaching the gospel! My testimony is not perfect but that is because I am still being converted! I love learning more of this gospel. I love the scriptures, I love our prophet Thomas S. Monson and I love our Heavenly Father for having sent his Son Jesus the Christ to die for our sins! I know He loves us so much and I am so honored for the chance that I have to be the mouth of Him here on this earth!

 

I love you all so much! I hope that you can also find and build a testimony of these things for  yourself. One thing I have said a lot to people in lessons this week is that I love being a missionary of this church because I am completely confident that if anyone will take the time to ask God if this gospel is true, they will receive an answer from God. God will not and cannot lie and I know that this gospel is not a lie. I love you!

 

Les mando besitos y abrazitos! 

Elder McKee

Jonah's Week 1

Thursday, November 6, 2014

 

Hey mom and dad!! I miss you and I love you! I am having soooo much fun here and I got a package from Brette the first day I could check mail. She sent me a package through Dear Elder, missionary care package. It was pretty cool! I wasn't expecting to ever get anything but I guess this way the people who work here buy the stuff in Mexico and package it and bring it to the CCM so there are no mailing taxes and stuff. I was sooo excited!

 

My district is awesome and I love them all so much! My companion is a 330 lb Tongan who plays football in Texas. He is so humble and so awesome! In his patriarchal blessing it briefly mentions having a professional career if he so desires it. It's pretty sweet knowing my companion is going to be playing in the NFL.

 

My Spanish is coming a long a whole lot better than I had imagined it ever would. I am so happy to be here and I miss you all like crazy! The Spirit here is unreal and I am learning so much you wouldn't even understand! Oh!!! And I'm also district leader. I don't know why they chose me but I am trying my very best to fulfill my calling. It has been really crazy and a blessing all at the same time. I am so excited to continue serving the members of my district.

 

I hope you are all doing well and I hope you know I miss you. I don't have anything to complain about at all except for the toilet paper.... it makes me bleed. I swear. I wish more than anything that I had some baby wipes and some sweets.

 

One of the elders in my district got a care package with cinnabon and it was tight! There was only 2 cinnamon rolls because he got a small box but it was awesome. Well I now have an amazing testimony in the gift of tongues and the power of the Spirit in helping your mind function properly.

 

Today was awesome. I played soccer all day and I think it's sooo much fun. One  of the elders who got the cinnamon rolls is super sick at soccer and he and I are an awesome team. The Latinos hate playing against us. I guessed you can say we are kind of a big deal. I love you and I miss you.

 

Oh and in the pictures. The red head is Elder Cosgrove, his companion is the soccer player Elder Glines, and the Tongan is my companion and his name is Elder Ngungutau.

 

Love you.

 

Elder McKee