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