Monday, July 13,
2015
Hey, how’s it
going?!?! I just want to start out with one quick question! Have you ever waxed
your legs? Just know if you have then you’re going to be able to relate to this
story I have for each and every one of you! This Wednesday we had changes but
here in the south which is the part of the mission I am in, we, or the
missionaries who don’t have to change areas, just stay here and wait for our
comps to come down on a bus! I am very new here in the south so I didn’t change
districts, I just had to receive my new companion. Three other elders and I
were told to stay in the house and wait until our companions came down! WE DID
NOT BREAK ANY RULES! But that Wednesday in our immense boredom, we decided to
pass the time and talk about what we used to do before the mission.
One of the
elders, Elder Tapia, told us he used to work at a salon and spa at a super
touristy beach in Costa Rica! He told us about how he used to wax people’s legs
and give massages. In our stupidity we didn’t believe him and told him that if
he really can make wax, then me and one of the other white kids who was there,
Elder Abbott, wanted him to wax our legs! Haha. I know it sounds super dumb and
to be honest it’s true, it was really dumb!! I’m not going to lie, it hurt like
crazy!! I thought for sure after he ripped the first strip off, that blood was
definitely going to follow the hair follicles. So yeah, I let him wax my legs
or in other words I should say I let him START to wax my legs! As we were about
halfway through the process, the wax started to harden and we needed to reheat
it so we could continue! He went and put the wax back over the stove and while
he was heating it, instead of just melting, the wax burned! I was then left
without wax and without hair on only one of my two legs! That left me with no
other option but to take a razor and finish the job. Haha. I know that this
story is super dumb but now I’m going to try and take that story and relate it
to something I learned this week which will help me so much as a leader and as
a servant of God here in the mission.
As many of you
know, I was called about 2 months ago to be a district leader and I was truly
nervous! Not just nervous but beyond terrified that I wouldn’t be able to
fulfill my jobs and responsibilities as a missionary as well as my newer tasks
as a district leader! In other words I was left with two big messes! There was
a lot of work to be done and I knew I was not going to be able to do it all on
my own. After a few weeks of meditation, I came to know I didn’t need to do any
of it alone!! A good leader is not a leader who does everything himself; he gives
others opportunities to grow and carry out responsibilities so they too can
share the load and grow. In the beginning I was trying to do it all on my own but
I learned.
This last month I
have been trying my very hardest to assign and direct my district in a manner
in which they and I will each be able to grow and develop personally! It is
true that sometimes the people I assign things to do not accomplish them, but at
least I had enough confidence in them to give them a chance to have success or
failure! It’s true when those other missionaries don’t complete the tasks I
give them it sucks. But I have come to learn that my job isn’t to go after them
and clean everything up but to go back with them and side by side show them how
I needed that specific thing to be done! Kinda like with the legs! Haha. I had
an idea about how they were going to be: soft like lavender, and sweet to
touch! But, we as people sometimes aren’t perfect and fall short so we need to
try again and again. And sometimes if the method we are attempting just doesn’t
work, like the way the wax burned, then maybe we will need to change our plan
of attack. With a new course we will be able to accomplish what is required of
each of us.
I know we each
feel like we have a big plate and sometimes there is too much for us to handle,
but we don’t have to attack it alone! Use those loved ones around you and I
know they will help. Not only will your life be easier but you will be giving
others an opportunity to serve and grow.
I love you all
and I am sooo happy to be here in the mission representing my family and
friends I have back home! Thanks so much to each and every one of you who write
me. I truly love reading about your lives and I miss you all so much!!
With love,
Elder Jonah McKee
P.S. We had a baptism this week! It was a sister who is married to a member. They had a child together out of wedlock and have decided that they want to be sealed for all time and eternity in the temple. I am so thankful for plan of salvation and for repentance! I am excited to help this family in their progress towards the temple and look forward to preparing them for this great blessing!
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