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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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