Jonah's Semana 30, Gun Shots and Growing Pains

Monday, May 25, 2015

Well SO, this week on Tuesday I was at a pulperia buying a Mountain Dew because I was tired and had some mad cravings for the sweet nectar some people call "life". So, while I was buying the mountain dew there was this kid who is a less active member in the pulperia with us. He is about 24 years old and while we were in there I was just talking to him and then out of nowhere he started to sprint out of the pulperia. I looked to see why he ran and when I turned around, I saw two guys seated on a motorcycle. One of the guys, the one on the back, pulled a pistol out from the back part of his pants. He let off a few rounds and the kid I was talking to, Christian, ran and hid behind a car. The moto chased him down and right there on the side of a car, I watched as those men gunned down Christian. I was just talking with the kid and then the next moment, I watched him as he literally ran for his life. Unfortunately I couldn't do anything but watch as he fell and lay in his own blood. I must say, I have been scarred for life.  I hope you never in have to see anything like that but if you have or anything else that is a little bit crazy let me know!! I wanna know how you are! anyways yea, don't worry about me because I am fine and nothing happened to me but yea. It was crazy.

 

So, to start off, this week is the last week of this change and I am almost positive that I will be receiving a new companion here on Wednesday! I won't lie, I am not sad nor happy but I am content! People always say that those changes are inspired by God and at first I didn't really think so but now I know it is true. We as missionaries are here to grow, and we grow by paying a lot of attention to all of the small details and learning from our mistakes or the mistakes of others! Through those small things and of course our studies, we grow and become a new person. The transformation doesn't happen quickly but in turn it's a change that is very slow and at times a true struggle! Thinking about it right now, it's like we are caterpillars growing and changing into butterflies! I know that example sounds a little bit gay but it's truly the closest example I can think of! We, in this process of transformation, have to be patient just like a caterpillar! We first need to realize it is time to change and begin our process of searching for a place where we belong or where we can begin creating our cocoon. Sometimes searching for your place here in the mission, in the work of the Lord, can be hard but once you find your place you need to plant your feet firmly and begin doing all that you can to grow individually! During my time with my last companion I truly found my place here in the work of the Lord! I truly gained a knowledge of my purpose here and realized then that it was time for me to start to grow, learn, change, and transform into the man God needs me to be! 

Slowly but surely during this time with my current companion, Elder Piza, I noticed that God sent this elder in particular to change me! Elder Piza has truly been a series of tests and challenges for me everyday with a new frustration and a new change that needed to be made! He truly caused me to break down in pure, raw, unforgiving frustration and it made me hurt because I knew this was not going to be an easy companionship. I knew it and so I had to accept it and let the ball roll. He and I have had 3 months together and everday, as I said before, brought a new challenge or argument. But now looking back on these 3 months I know that I have grown. It is in those moments of tribulation that we become our strongest. Elder Piza has truly helped me to begin my process of transformation and thanks to him I now know that it will not be an easy transformation. Change is hard to make. Change truly takes sacrifice and only those who are willing to sacrifice will reap the rewards of their struggles. 

It's just like in my example, a caterpillar goes out and searches for a spot, secure and sturdy, where it can begin to morph into a cocoon and in this cocoon begin its transformation. But the time spent in the cocoon is not just a small second, but a good period of time that requires patience and long suffering! Then, when the caterpillar has fully changed it begins to fight its way out of the cocoon and the fight isn't an easy one! Those newly created butterflies struggle and struggle but if something or somebody from the outside rips the cocoon and helps them out, the butterfly will never have the strength it needs to fly, so in turn it will fall to the ground and shortly after die. For us to change we need to fight and struggle. We need to make sacrifices and do it on our own! If we change for somebody else or because of somebody on the outside then we will never have the strength we need to stride but we will slowly transgress and become once again who we were before and the new us will die.  During my 3 months with Piza I have truly learned the meaning of sacrifice and change. Thanks Piza for the lesson that truly will be a moving force for the rest of my life! I hope that with this new lesson in my life I will truly be able to grow and become who God needs me to be!

PS I had a baptism this week! His name is Carlos and he is an example of a true change! He is the man who came to me about 2 months ago and told us he was going to kill himself. Now, he is a strong and faithful member of the true restored church!

With much faith and hope,

Elder McKee

Elder McKee, Elder Piza and Carlos

 

Pictures sent by Mariela Valladeres, a young sister in a ward Jonah served in.

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 55 - A Week With Ivan

Monday, May 25, 2015

This week was really awesome! Sadly we still have no investigators that are progressing! The mission is a whole lot more fun when baptisms happen! But you have to stay positive and I really have a lot of positive things to say!

This week a member named Ivan accompanied us everyday! That is not an exaggeration! He is like a full time-part time missionary. He is an odd case but I love him. I am determined to cut his hair before I leave here! I have 5 weeks left before transfers and I think my chances are good!

I feel a need to give you a profile of Ivan because he is one of the definite characteristics of Alto Comedero. Everyone knows him because he is always with us! It seems that he likes us because he always wants to accompany us which is not something that he did when I was with my previous companion. He is a vegan, lives with his mom, loves animals, he has a dog, 3 very hairy cats, a dove with a broken wing, and a big fish tank with a gold fish that is handicapped. It's one of those gold fish that are always in chinese foood buffets with big bubbly cheeks... You know what I'm talking about! Every time we go to Ivan's house I freak out because that fish always floats on its back and appears to be dead but then turns into zombie fish every time! His most recent addition to his collection of pets is a bunny. He calls it pantufla which means smurf in spanish but I named him Spencer. After the prophet of course!!!! Every time we have lunch with Ivan he attempts to put us into food comas and I am sure he will achieve it! One time he gave us 4 hamburgers each, a big bowl of french fries, 2 and a half liters of coke and then a liter of ice cream to top it off! I did not eat all of that but I got close! 

One day we were walking around and I saw a man and so I decided to share a little thought with him. I extended my arm to shake his hand and he reciprocated by meeting my hand with his. He seemed to be in a hurry so I took advantage of our size difference and squeezed down on his hand so that he would stop to listen to me. His reaction was not what I expected! I thought he would stop and try to tell me he was in a hurry but instead he swung his body around and began to walk backwards in attempts to flee from me. I had a really good grip on his small sausagy hands which made it very hard for him to get away.

I tried contacting him, I really did.... I couldn't stand too long because before I knew it he started jumping and slapping my arm with his free hand. If you are trying to imagine the situation, think about those monkey traps that they use in India where they put fruit in a small cage and the monkeys reach in to steal the fruit but they are too dumb to just let go of the fruit so they end up getting caught in the act. That is what it was like having this stout Argentinian man fighting for his life to get away from me! I laughed so hard I had to let him go! 

I hope you get a laugh out of that. I sure laughed while writing it! 

Yesterday we ate lunch with 3 return missionaries. After we were done eating I shared a spiritual thought with them and a really good question slipped out of my mouth. Throughout my mission I have thought up a pretty long list of things I'm going to do when I get home to be a better member, missionary, friend, son, etc.... I told them that I KNOW that they too made lists similar to that which I have made. I then proceeded by asking them if they had ever thought of that list since they have been home and if they are actually doing the things they planned on doing while they were in Peru, Mexico and Venezuela. I ask the same question to all of you return missionaries out there reading this email! ARE YOU LIVING UP TO YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS!??????  

I love you all. God loves you more!

Elder Spencer McKee

 

Jonah Semana 29 - Good things will come to you

Monday, May 18, 2015

Okay here I am, I'm ready to write now!! I have been inspired as to what I need to say. 

Okay, this week was a week very slow for mission work. All of our investigators are students or at least 2/3 of them are students and for 2 weeks they left for vacation. In this next week they should slowly be trickling back to their houses for us to once again visit them and ask them how they have been. As a missionary we are not allowed to leave a certain area and those people in that area, but they can leave whenever they want to. Sometimes here in Honduras they have random vacations and everybody that works just doesn't go to work and all of the students just don't go to school and when this happens we end up here all alone! It's interesting how people always talk about how what people around you do shouldn't effect what we do but that is a lie... I'm sorry but it is not true. 

When people around us do stupid things it immediately effects what we do; just like when everybody is gone we almost always are left with nothing to do but sit in our houses and watch TV or blow away time in front of another form of tech! Thinking about how the situation of others around us has a direct effect on us makes me wonder what can I as a missionary do when there isn't anybody here to teach. What should I do? Well, that is where my own agency comes into play. We could just sit in the house and do nothing or we can go out and walk around saying 'hi' to everybody that is still here. There are always people around us! 

We have the opportunity to open our lives to those people; they can have a big influence in our decisions; sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. When the influence is a bad one, we have agency to choose to cut these people out of our lives. Like us here in the mission, we can't change the situation of other people but we can change what we do. Instead of sitting in the house, we go out and talk to the few that are still here. When we have problems that are the result of others around us or small things they are doing influence us to make poor decisions, we have to make a choice. We can either follow the bad influence they are sending our way and just accept it or we can go outside of our home, or our comfort zone, and find something to do or somebody better so that we are at least trying to become better and not just sit through life. 

Be proactive always and worry about yourselves. Don't let people put too big of an influence over you especially if it is a bad one. I don't really know how to put it into words but I guess the thing I want to say is that we are all free to decide for ourselves. Our decisions have an immediate effect on others around us, so we should always try our best to make a big and positive effect on those whom we love. When people are doing things that are making negative things happen in your life then cut them off. It may sound cruel but just walk around with your head high in the air and be you! Surround yourself with people and things that make you want to be a better person. These people will help you to reach your true potential. I know that as you seek these good things in life, good things will come to you. 

Love you all!

Elder Jonah McKee

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 54 - Un Monton de fotos!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Well here we have a vast selection of fotos....     

 There we have Elder McKee and the slappy

 boys playing padel a couple of p-days ago.

Then you have Elder Velasquez, Alan and I with a

missionary from our ward that just left. He's a G. 

Alan came to cut the grass a couple of days ago. 

We had a mini jungle habitat growing in our back yard.

Then you have the world's biggest dog who's name is Loki. 

He is canary dogo or something like that.

We went to "la feria" and look what I found! A hoodie from Shadow Ridge!

 En "la feria" you find a ton of used clothing from the US.

My favorite soccer team called Club Atletico River Plate lost a big game

 against the rivals and it made me happy to see this big banner that says 

"The passion doesn't understand distance". It's a team from Buenos Aires so

 I guess that's why they talk about the distance of the passion.

Last week this sister, Sister Sanchez made burritos for lunch! 

They were good but not quite the real thing! Oh how I miss Mexican food..... 

 The next four photos are of Brother Fernandez and his honey hobby! 

 He is such a cool guy and just knowing him makes me want to harvest honey! 

 One of these p-days he offered to show us the hives! he has the safety suits and everything!

In church last week, just in time for my skype time with my mommy, 

this beautiful curse showed up right between my eyes! 

It's gone now ladies, don't worry! ;) 

 

 My family and the family of Elder Velasquez! Skype is always a weird experience!

We went to the city the other day. 

We had to go to pay our rent and while we were there 

we took advantage and snapped some pics! 

Elder Moyano and Elder Rich. They are the zone leaders of the other

half of Jujuy. Back in the day I was the zone leader of both of them! 

Would ya just look how they've grown! We were on our way to leader counsel. 

My love, my friend, my first companion has finished his mission! 

The crazy extended! He only did it to spend more time with me!

I love you Elder Cowan!!!!!

 I got lost in the pretty flowers while on divisions with Elder Hales #2.

Elder Velasquez and I have had 2 more victims this week! 

I thought we were through with the mouse problem! 

 LA ZONA JUJUY!!! 

                            Apparently the crusty crab isn't in bikini bottom... it's in Jujuy!!!!

 These beasts left us! that would be Elder Brazzell. 

My favorite nerd in the whole world that really isn't that nerdy.  

 Hermana McKnight from Las Vegas!!!! 

 And Elder Hales my district leader.

And last but not least, Hermana Arrospide. 

The smallest person in the whole world.

 I'm gonna miss teasing her! 

Something to think about

A few weeks ago, a very dear friend came over and talked to me and Brad about the troubles in the world and whether or not we were prepared spiritually and physically to deal with these problems. During our conversation, we talked about the parable of the Sower; it is found in the New Testament in Matthew 13:18-30:

18 ¶Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

24 ¶Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

 

Since the conversation with our friend, I have reflected many times on one question: Am I part of the wheat or am I part of the tares? And to be honest, I don't know. Of course, I hope that I am part of the wheat but what if I'm not? This question has me pondering over my own life and how I can become a better person, a better member, a better follower of Christ. This is the question that I asked the boys. And it is a question we should each ask ourselves. This is what Jonah refers to in his letter. He shed a few tears over this with us when we skyped with him on Sunday. And then he challenged each of us to prepare physically and spiritually, to become part of the wheat.

I am a lucky mom indeed to have good children. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to speak with and see the boys! It was the best mother's day ever!

I hope that in the end, when we meet Heavenly Father, that we will meet Him with confidence, knowing that we are clean and pure and worthy to be with Him again. Knowing that we are part of the wheat in the harvest.

Love,
Jana

The following is a link to the video of the parable above.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-01-029-parable-of-the-sower?category=bible-videos-the-life-of-jesus-christ&lang=eng

 

 

Jonah's Week 28 - We Are What We Repeatedly Do

Monday, April 12, 2015

Okay I'm going to quickly try to retype everything I just did; somehow I lost the letter I just typed!

Okay so this week I skyped the family!! I love you mom. SO yeah, then after a long time of crying and sharing with them all I've learned in my 6 almost 7 months in the mission I left feeling so good! Feeling like I truly have a purpose here and I finally, during that call felt like, wow, I am actually progressing and becoming a better missionary! The time I spent talking with my family I used to tell them about how in our lives we all have two sides to us. WE, as humans, have one personality who shows itself when people are looking and then we have a second personality that is in general a little bit more sinister and only comes out when people aren't looking. WE each have actions we do when people are looking and things we do when they're not looking. It's almost as if we do the things we do because we want our work to be noticed and appreciated! But, this far in my mission I have learned something amazing that I wish I could have learned a little bit earlier in my life. The lesson is:

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."-aristotle 

 

So, this quote, changed me! It's the truth! WE as humans are not perfect in anything we do but those people who are excellent are those people who do what they do when people are looking and ALSO when they are not looking! Our lives revolve around this idea! WE as people all want to be excellent but not all of us are willing to do the things we need to do. Sometimes it's because we know we won't receive praise and recognition for the things we are doing! BUT, those who are excellent are those that know the recognition doesn't mean anything. The work one does when people aren't looking, the work that always goes unrecognized, that is the work that truly counts and makes us excellent. There is nothing more one can do then think: are we the person that is willing to go the extra mile and do the things that will surely go unrecognized? Also, are we the same person when people are looking as when they aren't? If not then think about it, why not? Why the split personality? Who are we? Followers of Christ, children of God? If yes, then be a follower of Christ always when people are looking and when their back is turned to you be the same follower of Christ. IF we are excellent at nothing else in this life then we should at least be excellent at following our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 

love,

Elder McKee