Birthday week

Who had a birthday this week? This guy!

Hey mom!!! so I am responding directly to your letter because I am really short on time and I haven't been able to write you guys yet!!!

My life now is officially insane. You have to do a lot of things as a zone leader!!! And I am not used it!!! I had to write reports, informs, excel charts all this morning and it eats up my time to talk with you guys!!!! This week has been crazy.

And to add to it all, I turn twenty this week!!!!! WHAT IN THE WORLD HAS HAPPENED???? I am not a kid anymore and I don't like it one bit. not one bit. I hope I can have a good time this week and I hope I get your package! I still haven't gotten anything and I am still waiting! I heard there was a problem or somthing with my pacakge, I don't know. But I am hoping it's gotten here. 

In my area I am good!!! I am getting to know the members and the investigators trying to know the zone working hard to win their confidence and be their friends. I am feeling a bunch of stress and pressure right now. I won't lie, the social circle of the mission is worse than high school. The missionaries judge a lot and there are a lot of rumors. It' pretty bad but yeah. Thats how things happen. 

I don't know whats going on but WOW! Crazy stuff is going down. I hope I can get used to it soon. 

I love you guys a lot and I hope you have a great week! I have to sign off now but I hope you have a great birthday party for me!!!! and fun fact!! We're gonna be talking in like two weeks!!!! Wooooo!!!!! 

I love you so much!!!!!! Have a great week!!!!!!

Tu hijo!

Elder McIff

La sorpresa del siglo

Hey there Family!!!

Well this week has been a lot better than the last. My companion and I have been working hard to find new investigators and commit more people to baptism. The normal stuff. But one of the high lights of my week was thanksgiving!!!! We asked a sister in our ward that used to feed the missionaries to make us the thanksgiving feast. I was so awesome. We ate turkey, ham, ROLLS!, smashed potatoes, cake. It was so awesome. Super good.

But something else happened on thanksgiving. So I was on a work visit with the Zone Leader and we were working visiting and looking for people. We had had a pretty good day and it was like 8:30pm  and we were heading to our investigator who is preparing for baptism on the 13th. on the way I get a call from Elder Mariscal. He tells me "Elder, I have some news, the assistants called and Elder, you have an emergency transfer. They will be coming to get in you in a couple of hours. Go right now and pack your bags." I was in shock. I was like are you serious? Seriously? Oh no.... And then I broke down in tears in the middle of the street. It was the hardest thing I could ever hear. I had spent seven months with some of the most amazing people I have ever met and they call me and tell me that I have to leave them high and dry. It was the hardest thing I ever did. I said goodbye to the Espinoza family, my converts whose daughter is going to be baptized on the 13th, and I went and packed my bags.

Elder Hunt and Elder Romero arrived and helped me pack my stuff and then I called Elvis, my convert of gold, and said goodbye to him and after that I broke down and cried like a little girl. I loved that ward and I loved the members and everyone that was there. I am going to miss it so much and I am going to come back more that one time to visit them and be with them. they are the greatest. 

So the Assistants arrived and I said good bye to some members that came to our house, said goodbye to my compi, Ushi, put my bags in the car and we are off. The assistants informed me that my new companion is Elder Vidal and I am now the new Zone Leader of the Zona Tahuantisuyo!!!!! Wow, locaso. Fun fact, I knew Elder Vidal before, he was my first Zone Leader when I entered the field, and now, I am his companion as Zone Leader!!!! Crazy how small this world is. We are in the Tahuantisuyo stake in the Deseret ward. It is crazy I only have three days there now so I don't know many members but there was a baptism this Saturday and there is a baptism on the 13th as well. It is crazy. The ward is small, only attend like 70 to 80 members but we are going to work super hard to raise the attendance. 

But that was my thanksgiving!! Getting an emergency transfer and being Zone Leader!! Surprise!!!! Haha I have no clue what I am doing, but Elder Vidal has 22 months in the mission and 14 months as Zone Leader so he will help me out a ton. But AHHH!!! Haha talk about stress!!! 

Well that was my week!!! Just like any other!!! Haha. You know, normal. I hope you guys have a great week and hope you eat a lot of left over turkey and get ready for Christmas!!!! 

Also I hope you guys have seen the awesome things that the church is doing for Christmas. I hope you've seen "He is the Gift" and you have shared it on facebook, twitter, insta, youtube, hulu, redbox, Walmart, chevron, and wherever you can!! #sharethegift These people need to know about Christ!!! Here in the mission we are giving out little cards about "He is the Gift" and telling everyone to watch the video and visit the Chruch!! CHRISTMAS!!!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I love you guys so much and I hope that you have an awesome week!!!

GO COUGARS!!!! GO CHIRSTMAS!!!!! WOOOO!!!!!

Poco a Poco!!!

Elder McIff

Hey!

Well mom I think this letter is going to be pretty short. This week has been a really rough one. We have lost a lot of investigators and the new ones that we find we can never find again. I am in a funk. Really frustrated, discouraged, and confused. I am working the same as always, how I have always had success, but, now we aren't having success. I don't know. I am just in a funk and in a rut. I don't know what to do. 

And I want to hear from you!!!! I am sorry if my letter was short this week but there is just not much to write and I am short on time. We are going to visit Lima today for P-day!!! Visit museums and stuff in the city!!!! I hope to hear from you fast!!!!!

Sorry for the short letter!!!!

Tu hijo,

Elder McIff

Soy Su testigo y doy testimonio de El

Hey there guys!!!!

This week was a pretty good one!!! I am so sorry that it is getting cold over there in Utah, it is getting really hot here!!!!! I am starting to sweat again, and I don't know if i like it. Haha. But I am still here in Valle Sagrado climbing the hills and preaching the word. I am working hard here with Elder Ushiñahua (Elder Ushi) finding new people to teach and helping people come unto Christ!!! I am really really glad to be here still working in Valle Sagrado but I will be honest, it is getting hard. I have already visited pretty much everywhere and now I have to go to the dark dusty corners of my area to find new people, But we are finding them!!!

This week something really cool happened. Last week one of out investigators, B. was baptized and this week her sister committed to baptism!!! It was a super suprise because she always said she was catholic and she really believed in her things and everything and she was a little hard. But on Thursday I was visiting with Elder Hunt working in his area and Elder Ushiñahua was working in my area with the Zone Leader Elder Mariscal. So we get back home and Elder Mariscal tells me he has a surprise for me but my comp is going to tell me. And so Elder Ushiñahua tells me that M. had committed to be baptized and she said that she knew that the church was true all along she just wanted to test it out and see how it was. For like two months she knew it was true and didn't say anything!!! I was dying. And the coolest thing is that she's gonna be baptized on December 13th!!! My Birthday!! Woo!!!! Two years in a row with baptisms on my birthday!!!! I am super excited!!!

It was a great blessing that she accepted baptism. And this week I received another great blessing. I FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON IN SPANISH AGAIN!!!! For the third time on my mission and the second time this year I finished El Libro de Mormon. I finished it Sunday morning before church and well it was awesome!!! I absolutely love reading the Book of Mormon. Every time I read I receive more and more testimony that Christ lives, Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that the Church is true. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. I try to help my investigators understand that the Book of Mormon is the keystone to our religion and without it we would be nothing. This week I gave a training to my district teaching how the Book of Mormon can be used to teach every principle of the gospel and how an investigator can come to a full knowledge of the gospel only if he reads the Book of Mormon. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and no one can tell me other wise. The spirit of the Lord has testified to me that is true and I know that nothing in this world can prove that that is wrong. I testify of the Book of Mormon and I testify of the Lord Jesus Christ, that they are real and true. I know that this church is true and living and it is thanks to the Book of Mormon that I know these things. I thank God for giving me this amazing testimony of His love for us and His plan that he has prepared for every one of his children. I know it is true.

Read the Book of Mormon. Read it, study it, ponder it, pray to know if it true. I know that you will receive an answer that is is true. 

I love you guys so much and hope you have a great week in the cold!!! I hope to hear from you soon!!!! 

Les amo!!!!!

Su hijo

Elder McIff

Sigo en Valle Sagrado!!!

Well this week is full of news!!!!

I DIDN´T HAVE A TRANSFER!!!! I am still here in Valle Sagrado Ward and gonna be here for another transfer! I am going to end the training of Elder U. and then leave. I already have six months here and I am going to end with seven and a half months in the area. Crazy stuff. That doesn't happen often! I am really happy to be still here because I love this ward but it is going to be hard. I like changes. I like new things. And now that I already know pretty much everything in my area its gonna be hard to find new exciting things to do. But we will be creative!!! Elder U. is learning and progressing really well. I am really proud of him and he will be a great missionary in the future.

The next big news is that we had a baptism this week of a girl named B. and the mission president came as a surprise! I have invited him a lot of times to come to our baptisms but he has never come. But on Saturday the assistants called me in the morning and asked me " Elder do you have a baptism today?" Yes... Okay President is going to come to your baptism today. oh.... okay!!!! Haha it was great. I don't have the best relationship with President but it was really nice to have him come and recognize the work we are doing. I am really thankful for him and the support he has given us. He shared some really cool things with the Family of B. and he helped them understand the importance of baptism. They are really Catholic and a little hard hearted. We are working with her Dad and her sister. Her mom was baptized last month and her Dad says like next year he will be baptized. But we are working hard with him so that he can join as soon he can.

Right now in my area we don't have a lot of investigators that are progressing quickly, which is kind of rough because right now we don't have a baptism planned for right now and well, I like baptisms!! ahah. But we are working with one sister that I think that she is going to be baptized this week. She just needs to read a lot of the book of Mormon. The other Elders in my district have an investigator who has a goal to finish the book of Mormon before her baptism which is in two weeks and she is in like Alma 40. It is crazy!!! She reads a ton. I have never seen an investigator like that super awesome!!!

This week was a good week. I just need to keep up my excitement to keep working even if I've already been everywhere in my area. I got your package of letters!!!! Thank you so much that will definitely help me out a bunch.! Thanks for sending my so many things and helping me out so much!!! I love you guys!!!!!

Les amo muchísimo!!!!

Elder McIff

El Bautismo solo es el inicio

I guess I need a pocket protector now!

Hey there Familia!!!!

Well this week was a pretty good week! We pretty much spent the whole week visiting all the converts here. In this area I have 11 converts and I want to help them progress and become really converted. A lot of missionaries in this mission just baptize and then leave the converts to start looking for more people to baptize. That is not how is should be. President Hinkley taught that a new member needs 1) a friend 2) a responsibility 3) be nourished be the good word of God. The ward is in charge of providing the first two things but us as missionaries have the responsibility of bringing the good word of God. 

The Area has now told us that the missionaries will teach the five lessons before baptism and the five same lessons afterwards. Before the ward missionaries taught after baptism, but now the full time missionaries are supposed to teach it all, so now we are teaching a lot and there are results. Yesterday in testimony meeting P. got up to bear her testimony for the first time ever!!! It was awesome. But she said about three words, and then started to cry. It was awesome. I was so so happy for her and so grateful that she could receive a manifestation of the Spirit like that. Then her son S. got up and bore his testimony as well. He is 8 and listen to what he said. He said, I know that if we follow Jesus Christ we will triumph and we will have eternal life. It was the most powerful testimony I have heard from an 8 year old. It was awesome. I love my converts so so much.

The bitter thing is that today is transfers. I have been in this ward for 6 months now and every one is telling me that I am going to have a transfer. I am really scared. Haha. I don't want to leave all my converts but I do want to have a new area and a new ward. I have already gone to every nook and cranny. This ward is the best ward on earth, seriously. I am going to be very sad to leave here and leave so many loved ones. I have really fallen in love with this ward and the members and it will be really really hard to say goodbye to them all and start over in a new area. That is why I am scared. Pero que pase lo que pase. I will do what the Lord commands. 

I am so grateful to be here in the mission and to be able to teach these things to this wonderful people. I am so grateful to you guys and all your support. 

Well I hope you guys keep sharing the Gospel and helping others come unto Christ!!!! I love you guys so much and hope you have a great week and have a great time reading the scriptures and searching the words of the prophets!!!

Les amo a todos!!!

Que tengan la mejor semana de sus vidas!!!

Elder McIff

Asombro me da, el amor que me da Jesus

Wonderful hand painted ties from sister in Peru!

 HEYYY HEYYY HEYYY!!!!
>
> That might be my favorite thing to say. Well familia this week was one great week of teaching, testifying, and baptizing the children of God. This week I have learned a lot about my authority as a missionary and a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.
>
> First off. We hold the authority to teaching the children of God the true doctrine of Jesus Christ. He has entrusted us to teach the words of salvation, or as Peter said, "the words of eternal life" John 6:68. I am so honored to have the chance to teach my brothers and sisters the plan of salvation, so that they too can find peace and happiness that exceeds all description. I had so many experiences this week teaching with my companion and with those of my district. The spirit helped me so much to use the words and scriptures that would help these people accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that we are called of God and entrusted with his priesthood authority.
>
> Another thing that I loved doing this week was testifying to the world the truthfulness of the Savior Jesus Christ and the Restoration of the Gospel. As I bore testimony this week to my investigators I really felt the spirit carrying my words to their hearts and testifying that they are true. It is the greatest experience when you see that your words make an impact in the hearts of others. I know that the spirit testifies of everything that leave out of the mouth of a servant of the Lord.
>
> Other chance I had this week to exercise my authority was baptize. It amazes me that the Lord has given us the authority to clean his children of sin through the ordinance of baptism. As I baptized Sister C. on Saturday I realized the great trust the Lord has put in my to give me the authority to help one of His daughters enter into the straight and narrow way. I am so thankful for the priesthood and the amazing blessings we receive for it. I am so thankful to be here on the mission ans to be able to help so many people come unto Christ and enjoy the Love and peace that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
>
> Mom It makes me so happy to read that you are helping the missionaries in our stake. Here in Valle Sagrado and they help us so much with references, visiting with us, and being friends to the investigators. I just pray that the same excitement exists at home, or at least our family is doing as much as they can to help the missionaries complete with their callings. I know that we don't know a lot of non members but there are a lot of less actives so giving them that reference is something that will help them a lot. Just think of the missionaries and they excitement when they receive a reference. I know I am really grateful that I receive so much support in a place where you can baptize every month many people. Just think how happy a missionary in Utah would be when he receives a reference. I know he would cherish it and do his best to visit and teach that child of God. I invite you guys to look for someone that the missionaries can visit and teach. And then invite them to the house to teach that person with you guys. I know that it will be the best experience you will have.
>
> I love you guys so so much and I know that the Lord will bless you so much for your efforts and love to one all of your brothers and sisters. Keep sharing the gospel and keep doing everything you can to help more people come unto Christ. I invite you to read Alma 6, Mosiah 28, Alma 26, and Alma 29 and focus on the great example this missionaries give us in these our times.
>
> I know that this Church is true and I know that the work is true and we will never find more joy than from sharing the gospel. The one thing that makes us feel pure happiness.
>
> I hope you all have a great week and you think a lot about your Heavenly Father and how you can help Him is His work.
>

So the baptism on Saturday was a success!!! All our investigators were baptized and then on Sunday where confirmed!!! It was great!!! My companion and I achieved the rule of excellence in our mission this month my baptizing two families and more than four people. Something that does not happen often!!! I am really happy and really proud of the work we have done. But more than anything grateful to my Father in Heaven.

I love the story of Joseph Smith. It always gives me hope and excitement to fight against temptation. I love sharing that story with others. I am so happy I have the chance to share these things to my investigators.

> I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!
>
> Que tengan una excelente semana!!!!
>
> Elder McIff

Bueno, mi mente está blanca

Well today, pday, I really really really want to play soccer. I don't know why but I have a great desire to play soccer. It's really kind of bad.

Haha but a part from that. I had a great week!!!! This Saturday we had a baptism!!!! A single mom and her son got baptized and they are so awesome!!!! They are P. and S. They were a reference from a sister and they accepted baptism and the gospel super fast and they got baptized super fast! So I am really pleased with them and their desires to serve God and follow Jesus Christ. 

This next Saturday we have another baptism of 4 people! It is going to be awesome!!!! I am super excited. 

There is only one thing that is bothering me. We are only finding women to teach!!! I feel like the male race has been exterminated from my area. I don't understand! It is super weird. I only see mothers, teenage girls, little kids, and drunks in my area. We need to make a big push to start finding men and new families to teach. But I know that the Lord will bless us if we start being more diligent, work harder, and more obedient. there is always room to improve in the work and we can always be better. 

My week was pretty cool and I am grateful that I have a chance to work in the Lord's vineyard and harvest the good seed that the Lord has planted. From your letter mom I love Doctrine and Covenants 4. I have been trying lately to focus more on the section and serve the Lord more. There is something we can always be better. There is something that we can always repent. 

Well mom this morning I found an awesome scripture that made me think a bunch of you. 3 Nephi 6:20. It talks about missionaries and prophets that left and testified and preached BOLDLY. When I read that I immediately thought of you and how you always tell me to be bold and I know that is what I need to do. Be bolder and teach with more authority and power. I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I have his authority and his power. I need to use it to help my investigators come to repentance. 

Thank you for everything that you do for and all the support that you guys give me. I just hope that you guys are working the in the Lord's work as well and sharing the gospel with others!!!

I love you guys a wholllleeeee bunch!!!! Have a great week!!!!!

Les amo mucho!!!!! 

Elder McIff

Si Señor, yo te seguirè-Yes, Lord, I will follow

Hey There family!!!

Its been a while!!! I have been missing you guys!!! But it was great to here from you guys!!! I am so glad you have been doing so many great activities and have so much fun as a family. That is what really makes me happy. That our family is united. While watching conference I recognized a big focus on the Family, Following Jesus Christ, and Trusting and Following the Lord's Servants. Conference was truly amazing and there were so many doctrines taught and so many inspired messages given. 

One thing super cool is that I got to watch it two weeks in a row!!! Last week was national elections in Peru and everything shuts down, even church. So we couldn't go to the stake center that day  to watch it but we watched it in the bishops house and in the house of my convert E!!! It was awesome and even investigators came with us! It was great. And then this weekend we got to watch it again in the stake center!!! It was awesome!!!!! I am so so grateful for the prophets and the great examples and messages they give us. My three favorite talks were from Elder Gavarret (he spoke in Spanish), Elder Christofferson, and Elder Utchdorf from priesthood. I loved how Elder Gavarret spoke on following Christ. It was awesome because an investigator who is having a little trouble accepting a baptism date and then Elder talked about the baptism commitments that the missionaries do and how the investigators should follow them. I was like yes!!! Listen up hermano!!! This is for you!!! Conference was great. I loved it all.

As it goes with our investigator pool things are going good!!! We had ten baptisms lined up for this month but unfortunately five of them fell threw. Four didn't attend church and are not going to be able to have enough attendance to be baptized this month and then one simply said he didn't want to and maybe later he will be baptized. The good thing is that we are going to baptize his wife this month and his daughter the next. Hopefully that will give him some motivation to join with his family. 

I am so so thankful for everything the Lord is doing for our investigators and how He is helping them out so much. This week we are going to have a baptism of a mother and her son which is going to be amazing. I am really excited for this sister because she has progressed a lot and she will be a great convert in the church. She has a very strong testimony of the gospel.

As it goes for me, I am tired. Haha. There are a lot of things to do but somehow I always get it done and I always find the blessing of the Lord in my work. But yes, it takes a toll. Haha But as it says in Alma 37:33-34 I just need to keep preaching and I will one day find rest. This time is not for rest, it is for work and saving souls.

Thank you so much for your support and love!!! I am so grateful for all the things that you are doing for me and my investigators!!! Your prayers are being heard!!!

I love you all and can't wait to hear from you again!!!!

Gracias por todo!!! 

LES AMO!!!!!

Elder McIff

I Shall Come Forth as Gold (Job 23:10)

Hey there family!!!!

Well I am writing today because we are going to have a soccer tournament with the whole mission on Monday so we are writing this morning.

But this week has been a good one!!! I am not going to be able to write a lot because we have to go back to our area to pick up investigators and watch conference but I have had a pretty solid week! Our investigators are progressing pretty well and everything is cool! Some of them have some doubts and have so difficulties but we are trying to help them out and trying to give them support. But I will be honest I am a little stressed out. Having so many investigators is hard for any missionary. But being district leader and training just adds to the load. I have spent a lot of time meditating and praying this week.

I know the Lord is going to help us a lot and I just need to trust in him and look for his guidance and help. I am really excited to see what revelation I receive today and tomorrow to help my investigators.

Guys, I love the mission. I absolutely love it. I am seeing miracle everyday and I am seeing the happiness in the faces of so many people. I am so thankful to be here and I am thankful for the chance to help so many people come unto Christ. I know that I am going to have a lot of trials and I know that it will be for my good. Job 23:10. 

Thank you for all the support and all the love you give me! I love you guys so much and I hope you have a wonderful conference weekend! ( I will be honest, it's the time when I miss you guys the most) But I know that we are connected by the words of the prophets!!! I

Les amo demasiado y deseo todo para ustedes. Escríbanme! Quiero saber de sus vidas!!!

Poco a Poco

Su hijo,

Elder McIff

This is the Lord's work and no one else's

Hey family!!!!!

So awesome to hear all about your amazing week and your awesome adventures!!!! I am so grateful that my family is a happy family and a family that lives in the gospel. I am so grateful that we aren't a problem family. There a lot of  Elders that have a bunch of problems with their families and it really affects them in the the field. I thank God that we don't have those problems and that I can be sure that my family sleeps at night smiling. The only thing that I worry about is Jessi and her high school hooligans, and boys, especially boys. I love you guys ssoooooo much!!!!

Well, a lot has happened this week!!!! And well let's go in order. Transfers came and Elder B. had a transfer and I got to stay in my area, woooo!!!!! But the twist is that I am training another greenie!!! His name is Elder U. He is from the Peruvian jungle and he's pretty cool!!! He's been a member for like three years and he has a bunch of desires to work and serve!!! The only thing is that he doesn't know a lot about the gospel. And here in the mission field the learning curve is extremely steep and we are going to have to work really hard so that he can become a master of the gospel. (that is a goal of the mission, the we become master teachers of the Gospel) I am really excited to work with him and train him.

Another thing that happened this week is the baptism of C. S.!!!! He was baptized on Saturday ( In memory of Jessi's bday) and it was awesome! I had the opportunity to baptize him and there was a great spirit at his baptism. He shared his testimony and he said that he is willing to do whatever the church or the Lord asks him to do. He is committed. He is going to be an awesome missionary!!!!!!

Really I am so grateful that I am staying is this area because we are really seeing the fruits of our labors.  The month of October we have 10, that's right TEN, people who have accepted a baptismal date. I am in shock. The Lord has worked miracles in this area and I can't express how grateful I am. Really the Lord is using us as his hand here in Valle Sagrado and we now have to great opportunity to work really Hard and have a lot of success. I am so so thankful for His blessings and the chance to teach these awesome people. I don't have time to write about the investigators but let's just say that they are amazing. Another awesome blessing is that 15 investigators came to church on Sunday. That is unheard of!!! The things that the Lord is doing here in Valle Sagrado are incredible. I am so thankful.

Well this week is conference. Unfortunately I am not going to be able to watch it. There are elections this Sunday and the Law forbids any public meeting so everyone will go and vote. So we aren't going to have church and we will watch conference next week. I know it is going to be awesome. But please, don't tell me. Haha.

Well I am really happy and I am really excited to work and serve the Lord. Thank you for all your support and love!!!

poco a poco

Camina hasta que no puedas, y luego, camina un poco mas

(Walk until you drop, and then walk a little more)

LES AMO!!!!!

ELDER MCIFF

Oh Fetch! Transfers can be stressful!

HEY FAMILY!!!!

Well today is a day very very stressful for me. Transfers. I have no idea what is going to happen and I have no clue if I or my companion is leaving but one of is leaving for sure. I have no idea what is going to happen. I am freaking out. 

I love this ward so so much and I don't want to leave them!!! We have so many investigators and so many people progressing. We had stake conference this weekend and nine investigators came to Stake Conference!!! Like that is incredible!!!!! I can't believe it. The coolest investigators ever!!!! They all have baptismal dates and they are progressing really well. But I don't want to leave them!!!! But the will of the Lord I will follow. 

This week C.,  A., and C. are going to  be baptized. We moved the date back so that they could have a little more preparation and help. But it will be awesome!!!! They are the coolest little kids and just love the church!!! So awesome.

I am really sorry this letter will be a little short because I want to write a few friends and I usually don't have time at all to write so I want to take today write them. But everything is going great here in Peru and we are working super duper hard!!!!! Thanks for all the support and love that you guys show me!!! 

I love the Lord and I love the work that I am doing here in Peru. And I love you guys!!!!!

Les amo!!!!!

Poco a Poco

Elder McIff

Short but sweet

At least he is making good friends!

So this week I am not going to be able to write a really long letter because I have to watch all the videos you sent me!!!! But I just want to say that this week was great!!! We committed two families to baptism and now we are going to have an amazing month in October. Next week C., A., and C. Silva are going to be baptized and it is going to be great!!!! This is the last week of the change so its gonna be hard keeping my district motivated but we will have a great week this week!!! 

I love you guys so much and I love these videos!!!!!!

Have a great week and know that I am always praying for you guys!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

Elder McIff

After he watched all the videos this was his reply:

En serio estos vidoes son lo maximo. ustedes son locos y muchas muchas gracias por su apoyo y amor siempre. Pero si me gustaria escuchar mas de todo ustedes!!!! 

I love you guys so much and I am so so grateful for all the nice things you said to me and all the support you gave to me!!!! I hope you have a great great week and do everything you can to preach the gospel and help others to come unto Christ!!!!! Mosiah 12:21

Les amo con todo mi corazon!!!!

Elder McIff

Solo es el inicio-Only the beginning!

Hey family!!!

Well I just want to know how everybody is doing this week!!! I am just so happy that everyone is fine and having a great time in Utah!

Well as I was reading the letter that mom sent me I was thinking, crap, I practically have a year in the mission (three days) and I thought, WHAT THE HECK???? I HAVE BEEN IN PERU FOR  YEAR????? It is super weird. It doesn't feel like it at all. It doesn't feel like I have been a missionary for a year or have the experience to show it. It is super crazy. But as it says in the title IT IS ONLY BEGINNING. I have been trained, I have mastered the language, and now it is time to give it all, be the best missionary I can be. It is time to prove myself to the Lord and make him proud of His son. 

This week again we have really seen the blessings of the Lord. We have found a lot of new people to teach and we are finding a bunch of less actives that are ready to come back to church and back to the path.

One cool story from this week. We were walking down the street and there are always people sitting on the side of the street drinking or just with their friends. And a lot of times they yell Elders!!! And we just wave and talk with the people but yesterday a man called out and we went over and talked with him and his wife. It turns out that he has been a member of the church for like 12 years and he was just looking for a reason to come back and he saw us and just decided to talk to us and he told us that he wanted to come back to the church but he didn't know how but he saw us and said you know what I am gonna talk to them and they are gonna help me come back. And his wife was really interested as well and so we are super excited now. 

We have a bunch of plans for October. We are hoping that three families that we are teaching can get married and baptized in October. A cool thing the mission is doing now is that they are working with the government to set up group weddings every month so that more and more families can get married and start following the gospel.

We also have planned three baptisms for this month! On 19th three kids are going to be baptized that who are children of a less active family and then on the 29th the mom of our convert Eduardo is going to be baptized finally after like five months of investigating. It is going to be awesome!!!! I am really happy to be in this ward and to be working so hard here!!! I am really having a great time here in the mission even though my companion stresses me out and the weather here is really really really ugly. Haha I AM SO HAPPY!!!!!!

And I got your Package mom!!!! Thank you so much!! That is the coolest thing ever!!! Super duper trunky though!!! All that BYU stuff killed me!!!!! But I will tell you I haven't eaten any of the candy or read the letters yet. I am waiting until Thursday. Haha. But I did start using the music because the mission put in a rule that we can't listen to EFY music now so I am really happy that you sent me those MO TAB CDS and the Janice Kapp Perry CD! That  is super duper cool. and its awesome because we can basically only listen to MOTAB and Janice Kapp Perry now so thank you!!!!!!! 

Thank you so much for all your support and all the awesome stuff you do for me!!! Thank you!!!!!!

Keep on keepin on!!!!

Poco a poco

Con mucho mucho MUCHO amor

Elder McIff

El Señor realmente te bendice, The Lord really blessed me!

 

• Elder McIff loves soccer and he loves getting soccer jerseys really cheap in Peru

Hey family!!!!

So this week has been crazy. Super crazy. I have felt like I have been on a roller coaster the whole week. First off we had A TON of success. We had 47 lesson, 21 new investigators, and we have two new people commit to baptism for the month of September. It was an amazing week of hard work and the Lord just picking us up and placing us in the places where we needed to be. I am so so grateful for the great blessings we had this week. The Lord truly answered my prayers and truly helped me get through this week because it has been one of the hardest weeks of my mission. 

This whole week my companion has been sad or mad or just plain grumpy at the whole world. And it got to a point where he started to take it out on my. Criticizing everything I did and fighting with me a bunch and it was terrible. Made it really hard to work because he just wanted to do it his way and every time that I suggested something he would just tell me I was wrong or my idea was bad and then he would get mad at me. 

Like on Saturday I shared what I had learned in my studies and I said that we can be better teaching lesson one and he just exploded saying that I need to read it again saying that the president said this said that, that if I really think about it and read the lesson I will know that we need to do. And that was the last straw. I just told him to stop attacking me, cutting me off, and saying I am wrong and I stood up and walked out of the room. It was really bad. I had no idea what to do and I was so frustrated. So a little bit later we had interviews with the Zone Leaders and it helped us a ton and now we are a little better but I still don't know when he is going to explode next. And that really stresses me out. 

But I am so grateful for the Lord for blessing us with so much success this week because if we had had a crappy week, shoot I would be completely destroyed. The Lord is giving me a ton of tests right now and I just need to pray a ton and try to keep a smile on my face and read my scriptures.  The other elders in my district had a rough week this week and were feeling pretty down on themselves and so I had to help them out and cheer them up which was a little hard because I needed cheering up as well. But I know as a leader I need to be the bigger man and step for my district and help them out. The Lord is blessing me a ton and answering my prayers always. 

But thank you for all your support and love. I am waiting for your package!! I am dying!!! I need American goodies!!! (all the stuff you sent is gone) But one cool thing is that a sister in the ward went to the states and brought back ranch dressing!!!! We had lunch with her yesterday and ahhh it was so so good. In a year I'll be eating it again! (crazy to think about that)

Well I am so happy to here in the mission teaching these wonderful people and helping them receive the gospel and I hope you are feeling the same spirit in Utah!!!!

I love you guys so much!!!! Keep reading your scriptures, keep saying your prayers, and never lose the faith!!!!

Poco a Poco

Elder McIff

Sigue, Sigue, Sigue, Sigue, Sigue, Sigue, Sigue-Follow, Follow, Follow, Follow, Follow, Follow, Follow

Well once again you guys had a freaking awesome week!!!!! Even though you say these are the same things we do every year, I don't think so. Or it might be the fact that I'm here in Peru drowning in dirt. But anyways you guys had a freaking awesome summer and I am jealous!!!! Haha. But I just have to keep telling myself that I am on a mission and a mission beats any other vacation!!! 

Well this week was a pretty good week. There were changes and Elder W. left but Elder G. (our old zone leader) came and now he is living with us!!! It is the best I am so dang happy. This Elder is a great friend and I am so excited to work with him in our district. And speaking of districts I am now the District Leader of Valle Sagrado!!! It will be interesting because this is the last change of Elder G. and he is telling me that he is super trunky and that we will need a ton of help at the end of his mission. But I am just glad he is in our district helping us out. 

So this week was a little hard for us. We spent a ton of time knocking on doors and talking with the people looking for new investigators with little success. My comp got super discouraged and he was really frustrated but I tried to help him out and I told him, look, my first eight months of my mission were like this week, don't worry about it. We are in a great zone and we have tons of blessings to be in an awesome zone like Magnolias and we will have a ton of success. I am really excited for the week to come and I know that we will do a lot of great things in this ward.

This week we have the wedding and baptism of E!!! WOOOO!!!!!! This guys is the coolest. I am so grateful that he is going to be baptized and have the chance to start his eternal family!!!!! I am so so happy!!!!  He has really become converted and he will be a great member of the church. I can't wait for next August when they can go through the temple and I can go too!!! It will be the greatest day ever. So so happy. 

Well this week was a little slow and not much happened. We just had a bunch of new investigators come to church and a bunch of references!!! I was super happy for that. I am just praying that this week will be better and that we will have a great number of lessons and that we can set some baptismal dates! I am super excited and I have a bunch of hope for the week ahead!!!!

Thank you for the great letters you send me and all the great things you do for me!!! Jessi told me that you already sent my year package which is awesome!!!! But I did want to ask for somethings! But it's okay, I just wanted two English hymn books and my white soccer socks but that's okay! I can wait!!! :)

Thank you for everything and i hope that y'all have a great week!!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LESS AMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ELDER MCIFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Catch the wave!

Well I want to thank you for your letter today. It really helped me out. I know what you shared with me is true. This week has been a really rough one. We have been working really hard this week and I have just been beat, just super tired and when your tired that is when Satan attacks the most. I will be honest I got pretty down on myself this week, I don't know why but Satan threw a bunch of attacks my way this week and hit me hard. But your letter mom really helped me out. I love what that convert says, I feel the power and spirit resonating from his words still. I want to be able to say the same.

I left out here on the mission to serve and to really SHARE the gospel. When I think of the word share I think of a movie or a good restaurant. Whenever we go to a restaurant that we love our first impulse is to tell all the people around us how good it was or how good a movie was. That is the same with the gospel. We are like Lehi when he partook of the tree of life and it "filled (his) soul with exceedingly great joy;" We as members of the church we have partaken of this fruit, we have tasted the joy, we have felt the happiness that comes from the gospel and now we should feel like Lehi felt, "I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also" As we SHARE the gospel we should feel that desire and we should feel that love for those that we share with. I know that the gospel is powerful to change lives and make people actually happy. 

But there is a difference. When we SHARE the gospel we need to feel that love, joy, and happiness that comes from it, if no, we are just TELLING the gospel. We need to live it, we need to feel it, and we need to love it. I know that everyday I am learning more to SHARE the gospel rather than TELLING the gospel. I know that if we serve with all our heart and all our might we will feel the fruits and blessings of our works and we will know that the Lord is proud of our work and proud of our effort wherever we are, be it in the mission field or in the high school football field. We can always SHARE the gospel. 

I know that this is something that I need to work on and I need to strengthen my testimony more so that I can help more people strengthen their testimony in the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that this church is true and that Jesus Christ lives. That is what really matters. If Jesus Christ lives than everything else falls into place. I am so grateful for the chance to SHARE the gospel and serve the Lord for these two years.

But big news!!! Today is 11 MONTHS in the mission!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh how the time flies. Super duper fast. I cannot believe that next month I will complete one year in Peru. I can't believe it!!!! so so crazy.

I finally got your package mom!!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!! The best treat was the BYU shirts. The best thing ever. I like the sweater you sent me but it does drown me. haha. super big. But it is nice to sleep in because it is FREEZING here at night time. I sleep with three blankets. Haha. Okay I never knew how good hi-chews were, they are almost  gone. haha. But I have had to hide away the goldfish and cheez-its. I need to make those last. And I like the CDs that you sent! super cool. Thank you so much for your package mom. Thank you so so much!!!! Now just waiting for one for hump day!!!! ;)

I love you so much mom!!! And thank you for all your support and love for me and the work of the Lord. I couldn't ask for a cooler mom!!!!

I love you family and JESSI! I don't get letters from you!!!! What the heck is going on in your life?????

Well I will wait for your letters of next week!!!! I love you all!!!!

Onward, ever onward

Con amor,

Elder McIff

Trabajemos hoy en la vina del Señor

GOOOOODDDDMOOORRRRNNNINNNNGGGG!!!!

Hey everyone!!! So this week has been excellente. We had a baptism and we are finding more people to teach and to baptize. It has been going great here in Valle Sagrado! I am so happy for the work we are doing here in the ward. Within the four Elders that work here in the ward we have had a baptism every week for the past three weeks and we have baptism for the next three weeks. I am so so grateful for the blessings of the Lord. 

On 22 of August we are going to baptize a family. Remember Elxxx? Well him, his daughter, and we are hoping his sister will be baptized. We are inviting our mission president to come to the baptism and participate in the success we are having here in Valle Sagrado. 

One thing I am learning is that you just need to work work, work. One of the assistants this week gave us a great training about the natural man and how we need to fight against the temptation to sleep for a little bit in our room or hang out at a members house eating or just being disobedient. He shared an awesome scripture in Alma 37:34 ¨Enséñales a no cansarse nunca de las buenas obras, sino a ser mansos y humildes de corazón; porque éstos hallarán descanso para sus almas.¨ Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls "If we are tired we just need to push on and keep doing the work of the Lord and he will give us rest."

 I am so grateful for the things I am learning here in the mission and the great life lessons I am learning as a help people find more faith in Christ and help them make covenants with our Father in Heaven. 

Here in the mission we have a goal of 32 lessons every week. My companion and I have really worked hard reach that goal and have reached it every week for 8 weeks now minus one when we had 31 lessons I am really proud of the work we are doing and I know that the Lord is blessing us in everything we do. 

I love you guys so much and I am so glad that you have had a great week at the cabin ( I miss it there!!!) It looked so much fun!!!! This summer sounds like the best summer of your lives!!! The last two summers I've had I've been in college and handicapped the summer before. The best summer ever is coming my way I just know it!!!!

Haha I hope that you guys have a great week and the next time I will talk to you guys it will be exactly 11 months since I left home!!!! 

I love you so much familia!!!!!!

Cuídense!!!!! Les amo mucho!!!!

Elder McIff

PS: The police took us home on Monday because it was super late in a dangerous area, How cool!!!!!

Corto, pero dulce-Short but sweet

I was waiting until I got your letter to write you so this letter will be a little short! But your week sounds great!!! I feel like I really miss young men's right now!! But then I realize that I am in the mission and that I was kind of alone in young men's and then I think yeaaahhhh, Peru is a little better. ;) But I am so happy that the kids had a great time at Youth Conference and that they are looking for the miracles and tender mercies in their lives.

This week I had a huge tender mercy. Jxxxxx got baptized on Saturday!!!! Woo!!!!! It was amazing and it was one of the best baptisms I've been to. It was amazing. Practically the whole ward was there and they were all there to support him. His family doesn't support him at all and his mom doesn't want to listen to us so it is really hard and he felt really bad because none of his friends or family came to his baptism but we told him that every person there was his friend and family and he was like Really? they are there for me? Of course!!!! He really is a great kid. And right after his baptism he stayed with for the rest of the night as we went around visiting our investigators and he gave his testimony in every visit and it was the best thing ever.

Then on Sunday we went to pick him up for his confirmation and he came out of his house crying. I guess his mom didn't want to go and they got into a fight about it. But he came got confirmed and calmed right down. It was amazing to see the gift of the Holy ghost work in him to calm him down and help him out. And now he is out of a camping trip with the YSA! What a champ. I know that he will learn a bunch of stuff and receive even a stronger testimony from this trip. I am so happy for him.

And this week we have another baptism!!! A young man named Exxxxx is going to be baptized after waiting like three months. It will really be super cool. His family wants to get baptized too but are going to get married in September when the husband gets back from work. But it is super duper cool that this family is going to be baptized. They are the best. 

And I love that commission!!! I have a copy of it that I carry in my missionary manual. And mom you actually sent me the copy I have for my birthday in December! Maybe you should read the stuff you send me!! ;) But I am still waiting your package!!! I want to know what it is!!! Patience, just patience. 

Thank for your letter mom!!! I love you so much and I am so grateful for all your prayers and letters!!! (but I would like physical letters).

LES AMO CON TODO MI CORAZÓN!!!!!

Elder McIff

Las Subidas y las bajadas-The ups and the downs

Hey there family!!!

So I finally got your letters this week! I was a little sad when I couldn't read about your awesome week adventuring!!! But I did get your photos which pretty much put me in a coma but it's okay! I got over it! I am glad you are all having a blast this summer!!! And the next because I get back right when it ends, oh well!!! But something awesome happened this week! I have now reached double digits!!! 10 MONTHS BABY!!!!! WOOO!!!!!!!!! It's been a rough road but I am so dang grateful for these ten months and for the 14 that I still have left. It is crazy to think that the next summer Mom and Dad will be coming to Peru to check it out! (cough cough, wink wink). 

I am so glad that you guys have had a good week and learned a little about the Book of Mormon! I love the Book of Mormon so so much. I have read four times now in my mission and everyday I find something new to mark and something new about the mysteries of God! It is the best book ever. I love it so much. It can answer every question that we have and we can use it to go against ever objection that comes to hit. For example, we were teaching a guy this week that didn't believe in God and he told me that the next time we come he is going to bring a bunch of anti religion books and tell us that we are wrong. And I said to him "okay cool, I am going to bring my Book of Mormon and discredit everything you say because God lives, He loves us, and there is nothing you can do that will make us deny our faith and what we know to be true." It was super cool. PMG teaches us that we should always answer the objections to the Church with the Book of Mormon. It truly has power and we can truly find peace strength and the pure doctrine of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon. I know that it is true and I exhort everyone to read it and feast on its word, because they are the words of Christ.

I am so glad i have to chance to teach and share the Book of Mormon with the people of Peru.

This week however did not go as well as last week. Me and my companion have both been sick with colds, food poisoning, and any other sickness you can name. haha. But we are still working!!! Suffering, but working!!! Woo!!!! No this week was really rough. For some reason my comp has been really sad all week and he won't tell me and and it is pretty frustrating but I know that he will get over it and everything will be good. 

I am really trying to keep a good outlook on EVERYTHING. "Los que creen en Dios pueden tener la firme esperanza de UN MUNDO MEJOR" "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith , maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." (Ether 12:4) I read this scripture at the beginning of my mission and it has been my catch phrase ever since. The firm hope of a better world. Everything can be better, everything will be better, you just have to believe, and everything will follow. I know that our Savior Jesus Christ loves us and wants us to be happy, for this cause he has given us his gospel, his church, and his love so that we can all have the firm hope of a better world. I love him so much and I am so grateful to be his servant. I am not perfect and I have not done everything He has asked me to do but I know that I can always be better, repent, and be the servant He wants me to be. 

I love you guys so much and I know that you all have a firm faith in Christ and be this faith you will see miracles and great blessings in your lives. Keep strong, keep your chin up, and pray. I love you all so so so much and I hope to hear form you soon!!!!!

Poco a Poco

Que El Señor este con ustedes cada dia, cada hora, cada momento

Con mucho amor 

Elder McIff

Estoy, no se, pero en una palabra feliz

BUENOS FREAKING DIAS FAMILIA MIA!!!!!

Como están?? Como les va? Yo estoy bien y estoy freaking feliz.

Well from seeing all your pictures from your week I can tell you guys have had an awesome week! And I am here to tell you guys that I think this week went down as the best week in history for the McIff Family, Because my week was absolutely amazing, as well as yours. 

To start, there were changes this week and remember Hermana I. from Alta? Well she is in my zone AGAIN! Absolutely crazy. And now Elder W., our district leader, got a greenie gringo, so now there are three gringos in our room. Woo hoo!!!!!! My companion is dying. I would send you a photo but I forgot my camera this morning.... Oh well!!! Next week you'll have a bunch. But his name is Elder H. from Thatcher, Arizona, and he recently graduated from high school about a month ago. He's a champ!!!! 

But as for my week with my investigators, it was amazing. Absolutely amazing. The Lord is blessing us in ways that I cannot even understand. It is absolutely incredible the tender mercies of the Lord. Right now we have about four families that are really progressing and like three other investigators that are really really interested. And we have a baptismal date for this month! His name is Jxxxxxx and he is an 18 year skater punk that is in love with the Book of Mormon. He is the coolest kid ever and he is inviting his skater friends to listen to us as well. 

Super cool story, last night we were walking to the chapel (which is right in front of our house by the way) and Jxxxxxx and his friend show up in front of our house and were like hey lets share something with you guys! So we sat down on the curb in front of our house and said a prayer and started teaching about the Book of Mormon and then the Bishop and his counselor show up and so we ask them to share their testimonies about the Book of Mormon and how it changed their lives, we then sat there for a good half hour listening to men who were lower then dirt share there testimonies of the changing power of the Book of Mormon. It was incredible. 

That is just an example of the blessings that the Lord gave us this week.

7 investigators came to church this Sunday with three families, we taught almost 40 lessons, and we are finding more and more people to teach. I thought the mission was good but this week showed me just how good the mission can get. 

One thing I have learned this week is the power of prayer. I have started to pray every night for everyone of my investigators and I am seeing the differences. The Lord has blessed us in ways that I can't even understand. I am so so so grateful for the chance to work here and the chance to have Elder B. as my companion. he may only have 2 months in the mission but he seems like his been out for 8. He really is a missionary and he will do great things here in Lima, if he learns maturity and humility. 

I am just so so happy this week. I know that the Lord is blessing me a bunch and I know  that we will achieve great things here in Valle Sagrado. I am so grateful for all the blessing from the Lord and I am just praying that this week can be as good as the last.

But I haven't gotten your weekly letter from you mom?? But i think the photos tell it all. You guys had a party this week!!!

Well I love you all and wish you the best week of your life again!!!!

Mosiah 12:21

Poco a Poco

Ora como todo depende en el Señor, trabaja como todo depende en ti

CON MUCHO AMOR Y UN FUERTE ABRAZO

Elder McIff

Cuenta tus bendicione​s-Count your Blessings

High on a Mountain Top: Doing Service up in the hills over Lima.

Wow, well I have so idea where to begin.

Well first I just want to say that I am freaking jealous of all the fun that you guys are having!!!! Sounds like so so so much fun!!!! I knew that you guys were gonna party it up once I was finally gone, I just knew it!!!! But no I am glad that you are all having a great time this summer and enjoying your time together. 

But jokes on you guys! I am preaching the gospel in Peru!!!!! WOOO!!!! Haha but really this week was a really good week. me and my companion having really progressed and we are really getting along better. I guess I was being super strict and hard with him and he was just rebelling against me. So I have calmed down and now we are having a lot of fun. 

Would you believe it? This is the last day of the transfer! It has passed by super fast and I can't believe that I almost have ten months in Peru!!!! Crazy crazy stuff!!!

Our new area has really really progressed and we are teaching a bunch of families!!! This week six investigators came to church and two families!! It was a really really good outcome and I am super grateful for the the blessing of the lord and the excitement of our investigators! 

We are teaching one guy, named Alex. We went with him to a massive baptism and afterwards we like, soon, that will be me. He is the coolest guy ever and I am so grateful that we get to teach him and help him come to Christ. the only problem is that he has to get married but his girlfriend went on vacation and she won't get back until the 15th. But the girlfriend is already member so it will be easy to get everything for their marriage. He is the coolest guy ever,

This week we are going to invite a bunch of people to baptism and we are going to set a lot of dates for baptism and perhaps have our own group baptism on the 26th of July!!! ( I am super excited for 4th of July by the way and it would awesome to receive some packaged Americana.) ;) 

The time here is flying by. Everyday goes by faster and faster and I am just losing track of the time. so so crazy. I almost have ten months and almost one year!!! It has passed so dang fast!!! But I love it!!! I wouldn't trade it for anything!!!!

Something really cool that we received this week was a talk by Lawrance E. Corbridge of the seventy called the Fourth Missionary. Its is a training he gave when he was a mission president. Look it up. It is really really cool.

Well I have to go, But I love you all and hope you have an amazing time in Yellowstone! I want pictures please!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of them!!!!!!!!

LES AMO!!!!!!! 

CUÍDENSE!!!!!

Elder McIff

Creemos en apóstoles y profetas-We believe in apostles and prophets

Hey there Family!!!!!

So it was so cool to hear all about your adventure in the DR and all the crazy things you got to do!! I hope you were able to communicate a little bit mom! I really want to go to central America, it would be so so cool! And it is already time for Girls Camp again?? I can't believe it. Crazy. But I know that you guys will have a blast and I can't believe that Jenni is going!!!! I am so dang old now.  I have Nine months in the Mission!!!!! Can you believe it! The time flies by so fast. So so fast. I basically have a little over a year left. That is so weird. Everyday I feel older and wise and more different than I was before my mission. I have changed so much in these nine months. I don't know if you can tell in the letters, but I have changed a bunch. I have a renewed faith in Christ, I am now more determined, and am now a little bit fatter. :) Haha but this is only the beginning. Great times are to come.

So I made a huge mistake in my last letter and I forgot to tell you guys something really really REALLY important. This week something really special happened. We had a visit from the apostle ELDER DALLIN H OAKS!!!!!!! Saturday he came and visited our mission with Elder Clayton and Elder Grow of the seventy. It was so so so cool!!!! My second apostle in my mission!! So awesome. It was a day filled with revelation and inspiration. I went into the conference asking God to teach me how to help my investigators progress and the entire theme of the conference was an answer to my prayer. All the speakers, President Erickson, Elder Clatyton, Elder Grow, And Elder Oaks, and their wives, all spoke on commitments and how we need to help our investigators keep the commitments that we give them. It was incredible. It was amazing to hear true prophets speak to us. I received new testimony that the church is true and that the Lord really has his servants, the apostles, seventy, the prophet on the Earth today. It was so amazing.

One thing I have to tell you, Elder Oaks is one of the funniest men I have met. I know he looks super duper serious and super spiritual in conference, but on Saturday, all he did was crack jokes! It was so funny!!!! He talked a lot about how God has given us a sense of Humor, we should use it! We should laugh!!! He said, "what else are we supposed to do when we see a Giraffe??" I died. I literally died. It was so dang funny. But besides being a comedian he shared some great council. He shared with us an experience when he shared his personal opinion on a certain doctrine and the spirit told to him that "You are not entitled to a personal opinion." As servants of God, we missionaries are not entitled to share our own personal views on doctrine or our personal opinions. It was a real game changer. I was really impressed and now I feel like I need to study my butt off to learn the doctrine and receive the revelation in order to answer the questions of my investigators. I know that God will give me his words. 

I know that Elder Oaks is a witness of Christ, but on Saturday he told us that we are all witnesses of Christ. We have the gift of the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost always testifies of Christ. Really, we are all witnesses of Christ. 

I know that this church is true and that it is guided by real servants of God who receive direct revelation from Jesus Christ. I am so proud to say that I am a Latter Day Saint and that I am part of the Church of Jesus Christ, our savior. I love him, and I serve him. 

I love you all so so much and I hope you all have an amazing week at Girls camp and wherever you are going!!!! Cuidense!!!!!

Les amo mucho mucho!!!!!

Poco a Poco

Elder McIff

Onward, ever onward!

Throwback Pday- wearing his dad's missionary tag and his grandpa's tie.

Happy Father's day!

How is everything going??? Mom that is so dang awesome that you are in the DR! completely nuts! I am glad that you are getting to see a little of Latin America! So cool. I bet The DR is the greatest! I want to visit other Latin American countries because I know they are all so different! I know you are having a great time out there!!! Just be careful that they don't rip you off. They do that a lot to me here. But I'm just like Oh no, esto no pasa conmigo. Soy Peruano. I fight a lot with the street vendors haha. But it's cool! I am having a good time down here in Peru. It is awesome that I get to know a whole different culture and a whole different people! But Mom, Grandma was never where I am right now. Haha. Only my Ward is called Valle Sagrado. I am in the city of San Juan de Lurigancho. The pits. Haha. There isn't a resort within 50 miles from where I'm at. Haha. Grandma whould never even dare to come where I am right now. Haha. I never wanted to tell you guys this, but it's freaking dangerous here. But it's not a big deal. The missionaries are friends with the gangsters and chorros so they don't mess with us. It's all good!!! Plus we have super blessings from the Lord. 

This week in our area was pretty cool! We taught a lot and found a much of new less actives to teach! Which was really cool. I really like teaching less actives. My favorite parable is of the Prodigal son and I just love being a part of that process!!! It is the greatest!!! 

Me and my comp are having a little trouble getting along. He is super rebellious and pretty immature and so he doesn't like to do things the way they should be done so I am getting a little frustrated with him. Because I will be honest, obedience is like one of the most important things for me and when other people aren't obedient  kind of bugs me. But I know that everyone has there agency and that the Lord guides them in the way they should act. 

But everything is cool out here in Peru! (and when I say cool I mean it, it is dang cold here) Think of Santa Rosa in morning in the Spring when it was super foggy, cold and wet, that's how it is here all day. haha. It is kind of rough. But it's coo because I'm not sweating anymore. Haha. 

Guys, I want to tell you that God lives and loves us ssssoooooooooo much. He wants us to be happy, that is his plan. So we should just be happy! An Elder yesterday said that if we aren't happy, we aren't following the plan of God and so we should just slap a smile on our face and carry on! I know that we always pass through hard times but I know that we will overcome those challenges and be happy throughout our lives. God Loves us immensely and he wants everything to go right for us. We just have to follow him. 

I love you guys so much and hope you are having a great time in Utah and the DR!!! 

Awesome: Emily got here call!!!! Que chevere!!!!

Awkward: I had like an allergic reaction to chile and I think I broke my toe playing soccer. haha.

I love you guys so much and have an amazing week!!!!

Mucho Mucho mucho amor!!!

Elder McIff