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.
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