Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Jonah's Semana 83 - And the Rain Came Tumbling Down

Monday, June 6, 2016

Holy cow!! It's gonna be an insane week!! I can't believe so many changes are going to start taking place in such little time!!! Elin graduating, Manu's parents coming and him leaving, Spencer going back to Oregon, Chloe's bridal shower and Lexi getting married...man I hope the week just doesn't kill anybody from all of the traveling and random attacks of events!


How was Alec's birthday? Did he have fun? Also, dang, I don't know what to think about Chloe getting married. I feel like that's super early... and Lexi?!?! Dang all of my friends and family are going to be off doing and living their own lives and stuff!! That's insane!


For this week my life has been ever so regular. I think the biggest event of the week is that on Monday night it rained super hard and because of the rain there was a lot of flooding in houses and accidents left and right. Unfortunately for us one of those biggest accidents occurred to our most promising investigators. They are a family of 5 - Cesar, Milady, Franklin, Michelle, and Katy - and they were all extremely receptive. Cesar and his family live only about a block from us and the house that neighbors them is a house of 2 stories or better said it was a house of 2 stories. During the rain the second story of the house had a big part of one of the walls fall off due to a structural error and that piece of cinderblock and concrete smashed all of Cesar's roof leaving them without a home. The next day, Tuesday, We saw the disaster and helped them move all of their things. We collected all the stuff that had not been destroyed by the collapsed roof or the rain that entered after the roof had fallen. After sorting everything out we helped them move to another home that is about 15 minutes away from us on foot and unfortunately it is just right outside of our area limits. SO, in fewer words the collapsing of their roof made us lose a super positive investigator family and now the Sister missionaries are teaching them and I hope they do a good job. I truly thought that Cesar and his family were going to be our big baptism here in this area but now all I hope is that they continue progressing as they were before.


Tomorrow we have interviews with the President and it will be one of my last 3 interviews here in the mission. I'm glad I am here and I feel blessed always! Love you all!


Elder Jonah McKee




Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Jonah's Semana 82 - Loving Life as a Junior Companion

Monday, May 30, 2016

Hey! I love that you have been going hiking so often!! I love seeing the pictures, it helps me to remember that the world isn't completely polluted and full of trash like most of this country!! Haha, well no not that bad but yeah I love being here!

I have been enjoying my time here as a Junior Companion a lot and my companion, Elder Putnam, is a way cool cat! He is my 3rd white comp and I'm his second white comp and well it's been super chill!! I like telling him all the time that he is the senior companion and that means he is supposed to make the big decisions but he knows I'm just pulling his leg! He is super relaxed and he has about 14 months here in the mission! I love the kid a lot and he is seriously one of the most capable missionaries I have ever been assigned with and that is awesome! We have been focusing a lot in helping him become a better spanish speaker. Each and every one of us has spiritual gifts and well the gift of tongues was one of mine but for him its his ability to be empathetic and loving. He and I have been trying to help each other learn a little about the gifts God has given to us. I'm learning to be more loving and he is learning to be a more fluent spanish speaker and so in the end I guess we all win!!

This week I spoke to a man who belongs to the Hindu faith and he also was a fluent English speaker and so when we taught him we taught in English and it was super fun! I won't lie, some of the things he said were super awesome to hear about and others were a little funny!! For example I loved it when he told us to save our sexual energy because it's the energy that will one day push us across the spiritual galaxy into a higher state of enlightenment!! It was dope! Later on in the week, yesterday, we went and we talked to him again and well this time I recorded our lesson with him just so I could always remember it and well hey!! The message is too long to send home but one day I'll let you listen to it. Just know I love you tons and I miss you! Keep up the hard work and thanks tons for the pictures!!

Love you!
Elder Jonah McKee



Jonah's Semana 81 - He Gets to Stay!

Monday, May 23, 2016

Hey mom don't worry about me anymore! I'm not sure what is wrong with me almost at all and yeah it's frustrating but it's whatever. I'm just gonna stop talking about it and see what they decide to tell me. Let's just put it behind us and I'll do my best to go forward.

The president met with me today and told me that he is going to take me out of every leadership position known to man and make me a junior comp to see if by relieving me of extra responsibility, it will help me get better because I won't be "stressed out" It's fine but it's not super fun. I was truly looking forward to serving as a zone leader but that was super short lived! It's all good though I'll be serving here as a Junior Comp and I'll be in the city. It'll be fun but it'll be weird. I haven't been a jc since I finished being trained and that was 15 months ago. Fun stuff I guess!

Love, 

Elder Jonah McKee

Meanwhile....we got to talk with Sister Bowler again this week who told us that they were going to move you closer to the city so that they could monitor your temperature. I know that this whole process must be soooo frustrating for you. Be patient. When you wrote, you said that you felt as though they were moving you closer because they didn't trust your ability to check your temperature. Jonah, that's not the case. They just want to make sure that you are okay. They can't explain what is going on with you so they are trying to cross their T's and dot their I's. It has nothing to do with whether or not they trust your ability to take a temperature or if they believe you, and everything to do with making sure you are well enough to stay on your mission.

Sister Bowler sent me all of the lab results from your tests and everything is absolutely normal, THANK Heavens!!! But this can be super frustrating to the person that is sick because it doesn't reflect how they feel. I see it all the time in the ER. The tests don't show anything wrong and people get upset because they don't feel good. Just know that this happens a lot. You have symptoms that can't be explained by the tests. It's a blessing and a curse. A blessing because your body is doing what it is supposed to be doing and fighting off whatever it is that's effecting you. A curse because sometimes we just want an answer. But, overall, I think, count your lucky stars that you are healthy, well mostly.

Jonah, know that we, your family, aunts, uncles, grandparents, close friends, sister, brothers and ward family have fasted multiple times for you. I keep fasting that your health and strength will be returned to you. I have lost sleep over it because I worry for you. I know that you want to stay in Honduras. I ABSOLUTELY want you to be able to stay in Honduras to complete your mission. Initially, when we first talked to Sister Bowler about this, I had such a feeling of peace that everything would be okay and that you would be able to complete your mission. And today at church, Bishop Scow told dad that he feels that everything is going to be okay and that you will be able to stay. But no matter what Jonah, remember that the Lord has a plan for you. He knows your heart. He knows you. Everything will be alright, even if it isn't what we think it should be, everything will be all right.

Try not to lose patience with this process. Know that everyone is trying to do what is best for you. If you get to stay, work hard. Drink lots of water. This fever will pass. It might just take a little longer then you want it to. Be dedicated to the service you are involved in. Don't be discouraged. It's going to be okay.

Oh man! Our family and friends fasted again and lots and lots of prayers went out on his behalf. Thankfully, the decision was made that Jonah would be given a lighter schedule so that he could get extra rest. And, yes, be relieved of extra responsibilities so that his body could recover. We know that Jonah is sad to be out of leadership, but we are so glad he gets to stay on his mission. Thanks so much for all of the prayers!

Jonah's Semana 80 - I HATE Being Sick!!!

Monday, May 16, 2016

Hello!! Hey mom I'm sorry I had the worst experience with the computers this week in my new area. I wrote you and the power went out and so the computer didn't even save my draft. Then the next day I went to write you again and still the power went out again!!!! I wrote all of the family and I was going to write you again and the power went out AGAIN!!! SO hey I'm sorry you didn't hear from me for a couple of days. 

I've been receiving great medical care and it's been a little disappointing because no matter what they do they, for some reason they can't decide what I have. They know I have random temperature spikes, fatigue, and that I'm dehydrated but the tests they run all come back negative. It's been a real roller coaster for me not really knowing what to think because I know I'm sick but I feel like everybody besides the doctor is looking at me and thinking to themselves, ¨why is he making this all up?¨, I don't know how to take the expressions on their faces when the doctor once again tells them the test was negative. I haven't ever once in my life felt so tired and frustrated because no matter what we do I don't get results and so people continue to look at me like the crazy kid who thinks he is sick but he isn't really. The worst part is how emotionally draining it has been for me to hear one day that I'll be going home and then the next day hear that they want to run more tests first. I feel like at this point I have one foot in the airplane and one here in Honduras. I've become divided between the two real possibilities of me either coming home or staying here and finishing the last 5 months of  my mission. 

My mind is falling apart and every time I start to think ,¨hmmmm maybe I am just crazy and I'm not really sick¨, I get reminded by some huge pain in my chest or a dizziness that makes me fall over if I'm not grabbing something that in deed I am sick. Right now I am in the mission office writing you because the Central America mission doctor Elder Lynn has decided it would be good if a person besides myself or my companion was taking my temperature every 3 hours. So they brought me to the office so that every time I take my temperature the other elder can personally write it in a pen on a log I have. To me, I don't understand why. I feel like they are making this process really long and not to mention long but I feel like they just don't believe me. They don't even trust me to read and write my own temperature. I'm not so sure what this is all about but in the end I can't control my temperature. If I have a spike while I'm here in the office then hey maybe they will believe me but if I don't then I don't know what that will prove. Either way I will have another spike, it's just a question of when. 

Just know I'm doing all I can to follow the medical advice I have received and I'm hoping and praying this can all come to an end quickly whether I stay or go I just want a decision to be made and for this roller coaster ride to end. Hopefully, they will make a decision soon!

Love you,
Elder Jonah McKee





Jonah's Semana 79 - Calls from President & Sister Bowler

Monday, May 9, 2016

So we didn't actually hear from Jonah today, instead we've spoken with his Mission President's wife, Sister Bowler.

She tells us that Jonah continues to run a fever, sweat profusely, get dizzy and be dehydrated regardless of how much water he drinks. She told us that they are going to hospitalize him for 2 days and see if they can figure out what is causing these symptoms.

Brad and I told her that Jonah wants to be able to complete his mission and that if it's possible, we want him to stay.

On the bright side, well, maybe just a spark of hope, Sister Bowler told us that a couple other missionaries have had these same symptoms and that they lasted about a month and then went away. She said that they were able to stay on their missions, so with that we are crossing our fingers...

Our family and friends are fasting, we hope all is well.


Jonah's semana 78 - Zone Leader!

Monday, May 9, 2016 - day after Mother's Day 

Hey I really don't know what to say right now. I feel like all that was needed to be said was said yesterday when we skyped. 

But hey I think the MONO was a super good call! Hmm I didn't even think about telling them that and hey not to mention there was a huge outbreak of mono here in the mish like 3 months ago. I'm gonna let the nurses know and maybe I'll be able to get some tests done.


During the skype call with Jonah, he told us that he had some blood work done and that it was confirmed that he had chikungunya virus. He said that they were concerned with his low iron count and that he would be going back for more blood work that week. Yikes! 

By the way we just got informed about the changes and well I'm leaving! I'm going to a zone called Valle Verde and I'm gonna be a Zone Leader. I'm a little nervous about it but I've been told this day was coming for a long time. The only bummer is I'm literally going to be in the middle of nowhere! However, I will be accompanied by my buds Elder Judd and Elder Akabeze. It'll be pretty dope!

Love,
Elder Jonah McKee




Jonah's Semana 77 - An Abnormally Average Week


Monday, May 2, 2016

Well, I continue strong with the fever! The other day I thought for sure my muscle fibers were separating or something because every time somebody touched me in the slightest way I felt a shock go through my entire body!!! It sucked for sure! The thing is that I am almost positive I have one of the viral diseases from the mosquitos here but hey it’s cool. The thing is that Dengue and Zika are the only two that can kill you and I’ve already had them both so I don’t know what there is to worry about now. No matter what is I’m not going to die and most likely if I call the nurses at this point then they are going to freak on me so I’m just going to rough it!

Hey well it’s been a super abnormally average week. I feel like there is almost nothing noteworthy or mentionable this week and that’s a bummer I guess. I think the most noteworthy thing there is about this week may have been today. Today we went to Valle De Angeles and that was way fun because it’s not something you always get to do and so it was cool to go again. I’ve only been there twice since I entered the mission but it’s always fun to go and take pictures next to a waterfall. Besides that though I don’t think anything is really worth mentioning. Bummer right?!?!

Hopefully I have more stories next week!

Love,
Elder Jonah McKee








Jonah's Semana 76 - Sometimes You Gotta Love the Mission!

Monday, April 25, 2016

Thanks nurse Jana! Haha! I wrote dad so you wouldn’t worry about me!! Haha, freaking dad. (Jonah wrote his dad and told him "I have about 15 days as of now running a 101-102 temperature.  Haha I haven't said anything to the nurses or to mom because I'm almost positive that the only thing they will do is tell me I have a disease from the mosquitoes. Besides that they won't be able to do anything for me but give me tylenol. I get super exhausted super fast and my body sometimes feels like it's made out of glass but no matter what I need to keep working!")  Anyways well I have been fine really! I think I might have this thing called chikungunya virus because I get tired super quick! (During the call on mother’s day he told us that he had some blood work done and it confirmed chikungunya virus. The virus causes a really high fever that lasts about a week and joint pain. It can come back for 2 years, yay :P)  I make sure I’m drinking like 4 or 5 liters of water a day and I think I’m doing good! Really though don’t sweat, I’m okay! 

Besides being sick this is what I have to tell you about! 

So this week I started out the week with MORE SERVICE! Haha I kinda feel like I might be killing my companion! It’s good for him though. I think some days that I could run a good Boot camp and then other days I realize I don’t like how he looks at me when I ask him to do something. It’s not like the look is one of hatred but it’s definitely a look of ¨WHY??¨ I think now at this point of our companionship I’m not dragging him around but still he tries to rebel where he can. I guess you could say he is on a super short leash. I don’t know why but I love doing service and even though we haven’t had water in the house since last Friday, the 15th of April, it always makes showering and getting cleaned up a little difficult I still love getting down and dirty in the service of my fellow man.

Later on in the week we had district meeting and it was fun. I was lucky enough to have been assigned to give the class!! Haha once I thought I was free of the District Leader duties, I got assigned to teach in district meeting again! Its fine I decided to talk about magnifying our priesthood power and I liked it a lot. I think the Elders in the district appreciated my class and well hopefully they learned something.

In the end of it all this week started coming to a close and Sunday morning we missed the ward correlation meeting and we had 5 investigators in church! One of them being Roxanna! I think this Saturday we are going to baptize her and I hope we do! She is super ready, she is just nervous she won’t be able to be the member she wants to be. I know she will but this week we are gonna be visiting her every day and helping her feel excited and ready to take a step forward. Keep her in your prayers!! 

But yeah, so after church me and my comp went home to make lunch and we ate cup of noodles! I love that stuff! It really just makes life so simple and easy. Well long story short we were at home making lunch and while we were there I decided to put the mop where it was meant to be and when I grabbed the mop there was a scorpion underneath! Me being me thought immediately that I needed to catch it so that’s what I tried to do. I grabbed a cup and a piece of paper and went to top him off with the cup and right when I did so he split running and stung me right on my finger!! My last knuckle of my middle finger is huge and feels great!

I guess in the end you could say it’s been a good week! I did some service, took bucket/wet towel showers, caught a scorpion, and I got stung by that very same scorpion. 

Sometimes you just gotta love the mission.

Love you!
Elder Jonah McKee