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

 

 

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 53 - Conference and El Coro Tabernculo de Jujuy

Monday, May 11, 2015

This week was awesome. We had a special conference with our mission president and Elder Viñas from the Quorum of the Seventy. Elder Viñas was the mission president that opened the Argentina Salta mission and my very dear president, President Chaparro just so happened to be his assistant! One of the biggest lessons that I have learned here on the mission is that the Lord has a really good sense of humor. From all of the awkward missionary companionships I have seen and from experiencing just how small the world really is, I have learned to not be surprised and to just laugh! Elder Velasquez and I were put in charge of several tasks for the conference. 

 

1) We had  to coordinate a lunch for all of the 80 people that were in attendance. We had a sister in our ward cook and she is a specialist in American foods. She made a delicious Kentucky Fried Chicken Argentina style! It turned out delicious and everyone loved it! 

2) We had to put together a choir. Now that might not seem like such a hard task but when half of your zone is made up of Latins.... it is a real challenge. Let's just say singing is not one of their strengths! To everyone's surprise, the choir sounded spectacular! We sang "I Feel my Savior's Love" and it really turned out great. You can call us 'El Coro Tabernaculo de Jujuy'! 

The messages that Elder Vinas shared were inspiring. He started out saying something like,"I'm not here to yell at you or to correct you for anything. My goal is to help you all feel the Spirit." He really achieved his goal as far as I am concerned! One of the themes he touched on was the difference between perfection and the Lord's norm of worthiness. I feel that very often we can be hard on ourselves as we are here in this life striving to achieve perfection. He taught us that the Lord has a norm established. If we are keeping the Word of Wisdom, the law of chastity and paying tithing we are within the norm of worthiness! That is a big relief to me! I feel confident that I can keep those three comandments to the 'T'! The Lord is soooo merciful! 

I love you all. I love my mom. I had the privelege to talk to my mom and the rest of the family yesterday with skype. I am so thankful that I was blessed to be saved until my day to pass through this mortal experience we call life with the mom I have! She is the best and nobody can convince me otherwise! I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!! 

I love all of you guys too. I hope you are all happy and healthy! take care!

P.S. If my friends that are girls can't write me I at least expect my friends that are guys to say 'hi' once in a while! That means you: Brandon, Chett, Quinn, Kiel, Jashon, Garret, Sean, Mason, Skyler, Will, and everyone else. You know who you are!!!!! 

con un monton de amor,

Elder Spencer McKee

Jonah, Week 27 - There is a Plan!

Monday, May 4, 2015

Okay so this week there was a small tragedy that took place here. We were teaching one of our investigators, the one who had thoughts of suicide before, and while we were teaching him it started to rain. As the rain began to pound against the ground like a heavy curtain of water, we heard a huge BANG! The three of us in a panic ran outside to see what just happened and there were people screaming and running.  Although a part of me already knew what had happened, in confusion we began to search all around for what had caused such a commotion. About three houses away there was a body. A lady was laying there on the sidewalk, wet and full of blood and rain water. The gutters were filled with red water and the people were all crying. It truly makes one realize how precious life is and how quickly it can come to an end!

 

It made me think, "If this was to happen to me, how would I be remembered?" "Would people cry for me?" Ask yourself those two questions and if you don't like the answer then you should probably change that! Life truly is short even though at times it feels long. How sad it is to think that so many of those people don't know where that lady is now. How sad it is to know that I have the knowledge, a comfort that can pacify the worst feelings, and they just don't know how amazing it is so they aren't willing to listen. It's so sad!

 

Please remember, every single one of you, how lucky we are to know that after this life there is more! We know that we will go to return to live with our Father in Heaven! Share this information with as many as you can! It truly is something amazing!! Be a misionary and save somebody from a pain we may be so lucky not to know at this point in our lives! It is my prayer that you each may share this with somebody. We have a plan and it is that our Father has a plan for each of us and even though death is a sad moment in life it is not the end. 

We are so very lucky to have this knowledge! Share it liberally!

 

Love,

Elder McKee

Spencer's Take 2, Semana 52 - 18 Months in the Mission!

Monday, May 4, 2015

Time is flying! Tomorrow I complete 18 months in the mission! If I was born a girl, I would be done by now! I am going to have to ceremonially burn a pair of pants to mark this momentous time mark! 

This morning I paused and thought about what I have to share with you all from this week. The sad thing is, is that I can't think of anything too crazy! This week we finally had an investigator in church that had been committed to attend earlier in the week. Every week we have non members attend church but they are never the people that we had been preparing throughout the week. Finally, my boy, Fabrisio arrived and it was a pleasant surprise! It was bitter sweet seeing him in church because his little brothers and mom should have been right beside him greeting me in the sacrament room! I hope this next week we can see more fruits like this one. 

 

I just realized that I did not take even one picture the whole week! I'm going to have to repent and do more of that this week! Sorry guys! 

This week we are going to have a special conference with Elder Viñas from the Quorum of the 70. I'm pretty stoked for that! It's going to be here in Jujuy and my comp and I are in charge of a bunch of stuff! Should be fun! 

If any of you want to be better people I suggest that you read a talk called "Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence" or something like that. It's by Elder Jorg Klebingat or something like that. Sorry I'm terrible with names!  :P Have a great week!

 

Love,

Elder Spencer McKee

 

Here's the link to the talk Spencer is referring to:

 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/approaching-the-throne-of-god-with-confidence?lang=eng