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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 26

Monday, November 3, 2014

 

This week was awesome! I baptized my first family!!!!! Their names are Eduardo, Salome, and Abel Brito. The mom Gabriela, is already a member but has been inactive for about 7 years! When I left Jujuy I was a little bummed because in the last two weeks or so of being there me and Elder Reynolds found a bunch of people that were progressing really good. My frown quickly turned upside-down when I got here and met the Family Brito. They are so cool. They had some vices before but they dropped them so fast and so hard! They really are what we say in the mission, golden investigators. Eduardo is the dad and is a beast. He has already read the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price and the Word or Wisdom 3 times all the way through and a bunch of other church books. Abel has 17 years and is already setting his eyes on going on a mission. Salome has 18 years and is just awesome. She is super dedicated to playing field hockey and her parents thought it was a bad thing but we explained to them that dedication is a really good trait to have. The family is already set on going to the temple in the coming year! Argentineans are very huggy and kissy! Every time we go to teach them Eduardo hugs and kisses us it's super funny! They really make us feel like a part of their family! They are always in their front room and we pass by almost every evening and it is almost as if they are there sitting and waiting for us!

 

Today after p day me and Elder Knudsen are going to Salta for a conference of the leaders of the mission! I'm pretty excited! Everyone tells me it's like a mini vacation. I can really  use some extra rest. I am so exhausted with this whole leader thing! I have not been on a regular sleep schedule for the past two weeks! I keep on waking myself in the middle of the night "sleep teaching"! I'm loving the mission as always!

 

I hope all is well there in the United States!!!! There is a Walmart in my area and it is one of 2 that are in the whole mission! We went today to shop for groceries and I felt right at home for a minute! At home I don't like going there but here it is luxurious! I feel really blessed these past 2 weeks. It's nice to know we have God's trust but I almost feel like I am unworthy of the blessings! It's weird. I'm not perfect and I know I can do more to teach and bring more people to the gospel! I love you all. I know this church is the true church of God. I have been listening to the conference talks from the past conference. I am learning so much from our prophets seers and revelators! They truly are inspired of God! 

 

Les mando una caja grandota llena de besitos! 

-Elder McKee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonah's Arrival at the Mexico City MTC

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Hey if this is my mom then Hi!!! I love you and I made it to the MTC safely!! I made it with a company of 4 elders and 2 sisters.  My p day is on Thursday and I have to tell you that this MTC is absolutely gorgeous! The grounds are amazing. Everything is so green and lush I can't even describe. I only have 5 minutes to write so I can't say much but I know that this is the place I am meant to be at. The travel wasn't hard but it was scary at times being alone in a foreign country. I made it through even though I was totally lost 99% of the time. Everything started to seem better when I met up with other missionaries and now I know why missionaries feel safe when they're with their companion.  I haven't met my companion yet but I'm anxious for tomorrow and for the next six weeks to come! I can't wait to see how they change me. I love you tons and I will write you again in a weeks time. Be safe and don't worry about me. I will be fine. I know it.

Love,
Elder McKee

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 25

Monday, October 27, 2014

 

So.... sorry for not writing this week! I finally got transferred from sweet, sweet Jujuy! I received a call from President Chaparro on Sunday in the afternoon. That day I was expecting the call to hear where I would be going but I was not ready for what he told me!!! He told me that I have been assigned to be a zone leader in the Tucuman west zone! Tucuman is a providence south of Jujuy and Salta but still not the farthest south our mission goes. I was so relieved to learn that I wouldn't be going to Santiago, the hottest providence in Argentina!!!!

 

Monday I had to wake up super early and get to the bus station. When I got there I was informed that my bus wasn't actually going to leave for another 5 hours! I sat there the whole morning and just wasted a whole bunch of time doing nothing. Luckily I was able to grab a little bit of nap time! The bus left at about 1 and was about a 6 hour bus ride. I arrived at my apartment at about 8 and left directly to go and work!

 

My companions name is Elder Knudsen. He is from Orem Utah and we have a bunch of similarities! He wrestled so that is just an automatic gold star from me! The truth is that when I heard I was going to be with him everyone started telling me how rough of a companion he is. I was really worried going into this but the truth is, is that he is great! I am really going to learn a ton from him! I am really tired right now. My area is pretty far from my apartment. We have to walk for at least 30 minutes to get to neighborhoods where people actually listen to us! We have not once gone to bed on time due to the extra duties of a zone leader. It is truly exhausting!

 

It is pretty hot here. It's a humid type of hot which is just terribly uncomfortable! The people of Tucuman are sooo much different that Jujeños! Tucumanos are very loud, crazy and lively. They are very direct which makes finding people to teach a lot easier! So far I love my time here. Being in the homes of the members here makes me feel right at home because they are crazy just like we are in my family!

 

I am still surprised that I'm a zone leader. A week ago I was considering the possibilities of being called as a district leader but I never once thought I would be where I am right now! It's a blast. I am really learning to lead as Christ lead. Something that I have learned in my mission is that there is no greater power than love. I know that as long as I love all the elders and sisters in my zone, they will work hard and we will be successful in saving souls! I love you all so much. I challenge you all to love as Christ loved and LOVES (present form) us! I love you all so much. It's crazy to think that the time has flown by so fast. I spent a half a year in Jujuy and made some amazing friends and was blessed with the opportunity to bring some of my brothers and sisters to the gospel of Christ. This work makes me so happy!!! :) 

 

Con mucho amor y un monton mas de histories pero ando con poco tiempo,

Elder McKee

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 23

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

This week was awesome! We had some serious success! We received a ton of references and that is especially cool because we almost never receive them! The highlight of the week was by far the baptism of Yanina! She is the sister of Pamela who just got baptized a month or so ago! We are baptizing the Cornejo family one family member at a time!!!! I love that family they are so crazy and funny and I love it! I feel right at home with them. They sell fruit and so every time we teach them we leave with our arms full of bags of fruit. We often bring bags to meetings and bless the other missionaries in  Jujuy :P Yanina truly has repented and is going to be a strong member! I know it! Before her interview she was freaking out. She called us over and we sat there for an hour and a half listening to the longest and most sincere testimony ever! She really is a great girl!

 

I am sad to say that I am now in the last week with my beloved son Elder Reynolds! I don't want to leave him but I gotta admit that it will be fun to get to a new area! I would love it if I could be put as trainer for the rest of my mission! I told President Chaparro that he can if he wants :P I'm scared to find out where I will be going! It is summer now in Argentina and there are a couple of provinces in the mission that are really, really hot during the summer! Especially Santiago Del Estero. I do not want to go there!!! I feel like I'm going to go there just because I don't want to. I'll let you all know how it goes next week!

 

This week we had stake conference here in Jujuy. President Chaparro himself came and spoke. He shared the story about Nephi and the construction of the boat they used to get to the promised land. He talked about how Nephi in the construction could have done it alone but it would have been really hard and would have taken him a lot more time. He talked about how even though Laman and Lemuel needed some convincing, they still helped him. They didn't just do a so-so job but in 1 Nephi 18:1 it says that their work was of great mastery! He made the comparison of building the boat to the work of salvation. He compared the missionaries to Nephi. But who in comparison is the Laman and Lemuel? The members! A lot of times they murmur and are disobedient and don't do what they should when it comes to the work of the Lord. Although they are Laman and Lemuel, it would have been a lot harder for Nephi to do it all by himself. Without Laman and Lemuel it would have taken a lot more time to build the boat. Without the help of you, the members, it is a lot harder to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

 

Those are my thoughts and lessons learned this week. I hope that when I get home I will continue working in the vineyard of the Lord. I love this gospel. It is perfect. There is not one single error. It is perfect because God is perfect and it is His gospel.

 

I love you all.

Elder McKee

I wanna give a special shout out to my home boy Brother Crockett! aka used to be Elder Crocket! aka William the great! aka Will I Am!!!!! I love you!!!! <3

 

 

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 22

Monday, October 6, 2014

 

This week was a good one. I feel like we had very little time to work together in the area. Elder Reynolds had to leave Monday to Salta to finalize his documents. Although I wanted to go with him oh so badly, I had the pleasure to crash the night with an old compañero of mine!!!! My MTC comp ELDER COWAN!!!! It was fun staying the night with him. We talked about old memories of from the MTC and Texas and just a bunch of funny times we had. He is a beast. He is a district leader in my zone. It was a cool experience teaching with him! The last time I taught at his side was in Provo Utah, teaching a fake investigator, who was actually our teacher pretending as we attempted to slur some Spanish together. Now we are both all grown up and we speak Spanish so the couple of lessons we taught together were great!

 

This week we had a zone conference, and two days of general conference so that also took away from the time we usually have to work in our area. We had 3 investigators come to the last session of the general conference! One of them is named Fabiana. She speaks English so we teach her in English. She is really cool and is soo cool that she just really doesn't belong here in Argentina! Something that separates her from the general public is that she has all of her teeth whereas the normal Argentine that lives in our area has 2 or 3 teeth! :p This was another one of those weeks where I was reminded of just how great the U.S. really is!

 

One thing that I don't understand is why people are so rude to us. We are cussed out by all the guys! Well actually just the men are mean. The women are really nice to us hahaha!!!! :D The other people that came to the conference were Yanina and Ruben. Yanina is scheduled to be baptized this Saturday! She is sooo funny and crazy. It is rare when we have a spiritual lesson but she really understands everything and is so ready to take the next step in following our Savior! Yanina is the sister of Pamela. Pamela was baptized a month or so ago. I really just want to baptize the whole family but some of them don't like to sit down for very long. 

 

I learned a lot from the week full of conferences! My favorite general conference talk was by Elder Gavarret. He spoke about our readiness to follow Christ and how we all need to make a decision if we are going to follow Christ or Satan. When it really comes down to it, there is no other option. I loved it all really. I learned so much and I learned what I need to do to be a more successful missionary! I hope you all loved it as much as I did. 

 

Yo les quiero mucho. Me siento tan agradecido al estar en el servicio de nuestro salvador Jesucristo.

Yo amo ser misionero!

 

 

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 21

Monday, September 29, 2014

 

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get! Once again I have learned that life is full of good times and bad times, ups and downs. It is a fast and rough roller coaster that makes you want to throw up at times and others just want to scream and cry! It's rough but at the end of the ride you are never mad for starting it and you just want to do it again!

 

This week was weird. I learned a lot as we suffer and try our best to fulfill our missionary purpose. Something that is hard for me in the mission is talking to people in the streets. I don't know why because I would say that I am a very talkative person and that I am able to talk to almost anyone! It is different here I guess! On Sunday I tried really hard to talk to everyone because we have a huge need for new investigators. As I showed my faith and humbled my prideful self I was able to really feel the blessing of the Lord! In D&C 100 I think it gives us a promise that as we open our mouths with the purpose of sharing the gospel the Lord will fill us with the words that we need to share! I really felt that as I shared with others how important my family is to me and how Christ has made it possible for us to live with our families for ever and ever! I know that this gospel is true.

 

We are teaching a girl named Fabiana right now. She speaks English really well so we are teaching her the lessons in English! She really is so prepared to accept this gospel. She has needs and desires and everything that a missionary wants when he is teaching. As we taught her the other day I was able to testify the truth of the things we shared. We invited her to pray and ask our Heavenly Father if going to church is something she needs to do. She asked us, "What if I don't feel like I need to go?". We answered her that if she really receives an answer from God that she doesn't need to go to church then we will never ever ever again invite her to church. That is how sure I am of this gospel. The gospel is perfect. It is perfect because it was created by our Heavenly Father and Savior who are perfect.

 

I love you guys. I know these things are true! I hope you can all come to the same conclusion as I have! 

 

Gracias por todas las oraciones y por el amor que me muestran! Les quiero mucho.

Elder McKee 

 

 

That is the food we ate on Sunday! It is asado. It is Argentina's pride and glory and it is really good! We bought matching River jerseys today! The sunsets here are beautiful but only last about a minute! 

 

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 20

Monday, September 22, 2014

 

So this week was pretty crazy! Honestly this week was uneventful as far as the mission work goes. One thing I have learned is that the mission is like a roller coaster. There are always ups and downs! Or a better way to look at it is we are like the Nephites and Lamanites! We are always constantly passing through the same cycle of pride and humility. Right now is one of the humbling times.

 

My stories this week all come from the fact that we had no water for 2 days! Before this catastrophe I never realized how big of a blessing and luxury running water really is! Without water you can't drink, clean, shower, use the toilet..... it's rough! Saturday night we called the mission president and got permission to leave the apartment after curfew and go to gather water. While we were there my comp and I had a lovely sponge bath from a bucket. how the church had water, I will never know but I'm grateful for it! We brought back like a hundred gallons of water to the apartment. It was a pain to carry it all so I put my boy scout mind to thinking. I found a bundle of yarn in my back pack and fashioned a rope tie system thing and it made it do-able to bring all the bottles home. EAGLE SCOÜT PRIDE!!!! This whole no water thing has once again made me sooooo grateful for the country in which I live and love. We are soooo blessed in the U.S.!

 

I love you guys sooooo much! Thanks to those who take the time to write me! 

 

Con mucho amor,

Elder McKee

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 19

Monday, September 15, 2014

 

This week was rough!!! I spent what seems like the majority of the week reallllly sick! I was wrecked! I can't even tell you what I had because I had everything! I had stuff coming from both ends if you know what I mean! I didn't eat a thing the whole time because I couldn't,  and I didn't  have an appetite! It was a real bummer because we went to Salta on Wednesday and I was sooooo excited because we went to hear and be trained by the first counselor of the South America South Area, Elder Ceballos. The whole time I was soooooo sick! It was so hard for me to pay attention because I was dying. Although I was sick it was still an awesome experience!

 

I had the opportunity to see a bunch of the other missionaries that I know here. I saw Elder Vargas, my companion when I was in Argentina the first time, and a bunch of the other elders I was with in Texas and others who flew on the plane with me to Argentina! It was a good time to get to see them! We took a huge conference picture and it was sooo crowded. In efforts to get to a spot where we would be seen, Elder Reynolds and I found ourselves in the furthest corner behind a bunch of tall elders. Then, all of a sudden...... the Holy Spirit guided me to find the best thing ever! We found a ladder right next to us so we pulled it out and stood on it. You can definitely see us in the photo!

 

I'm just about done being sick. I still have a sore stomach but I'm not sure if that's from the lack of food or if I have some freaky Argentine parasite living in me. Probably if the pain doesn't go away I'll have to get checked out. All is well here in Argentina.

 

Thanks for all  you do. I'm starting to miss the food in from the US. I had random cravings for Little Caesars pizza and Chinese food this week. I'll let you know what I crave next week! The food here is good but no where near the states. I love America. I have never felt so proud to be an American in my whole life! :P Being here really makes you grateful for what we have in the U.S. Thanks for all you do. Thanks for the prayers and all that good stuff! Hold to the rod and keep on keepin on!!!!! 

 

Con mucho amor, 

tu queridisimo Elder McKee

 

 

 

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 18

Monday, September 8, 2014

 

This week was awesome! We had the pleasure to baptize an outstanding young man who goes by the name of Walter Tito! He is 18 years old and is an aspiring missionary! With him I realized that one of the biggest accomplishments I could achieve in the mission is to have one of my converts go on a mission. He would be the perfect candidate to fulfill that dream!! He is already through the Book of Mormon for the second time! He is super smart and will be a beast missionary!

 

One of the concerns I have had these past couple of weeks is the lack of new and progressing investigators. This week we saw some miracles! After this week I really know that God is conscious of me and hears my prayers! We found a young lad named Umberto and his sister! I passed by Umberto in random spots around town and finally after like the 4th time we finally stopped and talked to him. He came to church this week and also really wants to be a missionary! He has a bright future ahead of him! He's a stud!!!

 

I had the pleasure to study John 15 this week in preparation for a talk I was chosen to give in a zone conference! (this is the second conference in a row where I have spoken) I learned that as long as permanecer (I forgot the English word) in Christ, He will bless us with everything that we ask for. It also teaches us that the way to permanecer in Christ is by loving everyone! I love that. I love to love. It is the best way to live! As the Beatles say.... ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE!!!! 

 

I love you guys so much. Thank you to all who pray on my behalf. Please know that I feel them :) 

 

Con Muchísimo Amor

Elder McKee

 

 

 

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 17

Monday, September 1, 2014

 

This week was awesome! We had the opportunity to help Pamela Cornejo and Marcos Conde into the waters of baptism! They are two people who had to struggle through a lot of trials in their conversion. 

 

I love the baptisms and recent converts and investigators that we have because they are all between 18 and 22 years old so it is really easy to relate to them and share things with them. I like teaching people of my age group more than anyone else! The baptism was the best one we have had so far!!!! There were so many people that went that we had to start with the talks and hymns in the chapel and then move to the baptismal room with standing room only! The mission is amazing.

 

This week we will be busy helping Walter get ready to be baptized! We are going to have to work with him a ton this week because when we went to find him to bring him to church we found him asleep and hung over in his truck from the night before of clubbing! I have faith in him. He is a beast, he is reading the Book of Mormon for his second time right now. He understands everything so clearly and I love it. He is by far my favorite person to teach!

 

One of our challenges this week will be to find new investigators. We had a bunch but they are all just about baptized so when we are done with walter we will have almost nobody! We did reactivate an old investigative family. They stopped progressing because the dad left looking for work so they couldn't really progress without him. I'm excited to get them back on track. Elder Acevedo always told me how awesome the family was! I'm out of time. I love you guys! Take care! 

 

Elder McKee