Con todo vuestro corazon alma, mente, y fuerza

Well this week was a H-A-R-D week. Haha for reals. It was a toughy. My companion and I have been working hard this week and we have had the fruits!!! It has been a lot of walking, knocking doors, and chasing people down to teach them. Haha. This week we really focused on finding new investigators and well we found them! We now have a few really good investigators and some old ones that came out of the woodwork! It was really good. One super cool story. So there is an investigator here the is super old. She has been an investigator since I was here six months ago. And well last week we visited her and she was super negative and had lost her testimony of the church and everything for some problems she had with the members and it made me super sad because she was really good. But this week we went and she had totally changed. She had some problems with her husband and she could only go to God to look for help and she said that she had received an answer to her prayers and that she was going to go to church on Sunday and she came!!!! It was super awesome. She was super happy and she was telling to all the members, "the prodigal daughter has returned!" Haha she's a little funny but we are going to help her get married and hopefully baptized before I go home!!! That is what I am working for right now, my last baptism.

Mom you letter was totally right, I am so so grateful for the hard work ethic that you and dad taught me. So many times in my mission I have remembered the hot days pulling weeds or hauling the lawn mower all over the lawn or just doing strange chores that dad gave me, I have just remembered putting my head down and doing it. So many times in my mission I have been exhausted and hot, and just dead and I have recieved strength to keep pushing from the example that you guys gave me and the things you taught me. I am very grateful for the things that you taught me. Hard work will always be a great characteristic that I will take from my mission and something that my patricartical blessing says that I would learn. 

I am tired and my legs hurt and are sore more than ever but the field is still white and it is still ready for the harvest. We are heloing the branch grow and helping many people come to church once again. It is a great time working in the work of the Lord and well there is still a lot of work left!

This week my companion and I are going to go to the Lima temple for the last time! I am going to buy you guys some really cool stuff from there! The Peruvians are really creative and they do a lot of cool things related to the church so I will see what I can find there! 

We are also going to have a zone conference tomorrow in which I will give my offical last testimony, it will be intense. How sad! But it will be okay because I won't be the only one. 

Thank you for everything guys!!! I love you so much!!!!!

Elder McIff

La carrera continua

Thank you so much for you letter mom, just what I needed, and the letter you sent me last week, it was inspired. I had a change. I was in Jose Galvez for just one change and they have sent me to another area for my last change. But not just any area, THE area. Haha. I have returned to la Zona Tahuantinsuyo but now I am in a different area. I am in a branch called Quiñones. But not any branch, THE branch. Haha. This branch is dying little by little and well I guess President trusts me a lot because it is probably the hardest area in the mission. Wow the Lord does not what me to rest. This whole week I have been singing "I'll go where you want me to go."

I just finished emailing president and he told me that I just need to work FURIOUSLY hard. Those words where the greatest things I have ever heard. My companion is Elder C. and he is having some difficulties with his work ethic and his conversion and well President wants me to give him the example of how a missionary should end his mission, so I feel honored! This next week will be much much better! You guys will have a much better report next week because well this week was kind of crappy haha but that's why there is always next week! 

I am reading the new testament right now and it is amazing!! I am finishing 1 John and I am learning a lot of things, mainly about the sacrifice of our lord Jesus Christ. One verse that I really like was 1 John 2:1-3. Jesus Christ was our savior and to know him and his glory we have to be obiedent and keep his commandments! I am really enjoying reading the bible and learning new things everyday! 

I hope you guys are growing your knowlegde of the gospel everyday by reading the scriptures and studying the word of the prophets. I am learning a lot by reading the Ensign (Liahona), You guys should read it always!!!! 

Thanks for everything you do for me and your works of encouragement!!!

You guys are gonna be my pit crew in this last lap, help me finish strong and fast!!!!

I love you guys so much and I hope everything is going great over there and you are enjoying summer!!!!!

KICK KICK KICK!!!!!!

Keep on keepin on!

Elder McIff

Jacob 5:62

Buenos Dias Familia!!!

So this week was a great week!!!! Like a really good week. Like super good. We had a baptism. We taught a ton of lessons. Members came with us everyday. We found a ton of new people. We are preparing another baptism on the 25th. Things are going good and they can be better!!!!

On Saturday J. got baptized and it was an amazing experience. It started off a little rought but in the end it was awesome. We had planned with him to come and pick him up for the baptism at 6:15 and we were there at 6:15, and he wasn't at his house. So were waited patiently for a little bit and then when it was 6:40 and still didn't show up we started worrying. We starting praying super hard and asking the Lord to make him come. And to keep us calm, a young man that always visits with us, Jared, and I started singing hymns. It kept us calm until he got home, at 7:00!!! The baptism started at 7:00!!! So we called out mission leader and told him to wait for us and we finally got to the church, and there weren't any members.... Shoot.... Luckily there was another baptism of another ward at the same time and so we just waited until their baptism ended and we called a whole bunch of members and little by little they got to the chapel. Finally at like 8:15 started the baptism. It was a very special program and then J. and I got up to do the ordinance. We walk into the font, and it was like half full...... Definetly not enough water for someone to be baptized. We were like what the Heck!!! So we turn the water on and started filling buckets with water and we did that for like ten minutes and it still wasn't very deep but I just told J. to bend his knees a lot and I would push him really deep under water. Haha. And it worked! One time and it was perfect!!! He came out of the water and said I just feel clean!!! And we were talking in the bathroom and he told me that all his sins are gone and he has a new beginning. It was a great baptism and a great experience to be with him. It made me super happy.

Now, well today is tranfers. Do you know what that means? I am in my last transfer!!!!! What the heck!!!! But I loved your letter mom!!!! I testify of your words. In this transfer I have had a bunch of problems with my pride and accpeting the will of the Lord. Many times I have wanted things to go my way and they haven't gone that way and I would get really frustrated.  But your letter made me realize mom that I just need to eat up my pride and be patient and just accept the will of the Lord. Especially in this last transfer. I am really worried about who is going to me by companion but you made me realize that it doesn't matter I just have to work work and work. My companion shared a scripture with me that inspired me a lot. I is Jacob 5:62 and now is my motto. It says  "Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might thislast time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is forthe last time that I shall prune my vineyard." I have to work with all my might this last time.

I hope everything is going well over there in Utah and you are having a great time and are happy!!!! I love you guys so much and well have a great week!!!!!

Keep on keeping on!!!!

Elder McIff

Bueno, y eso

Haha well this week was a normal week! Nothing much happened! We found new investigators, our investigators are progressing, and yeah! Everything is fine! Haha we've been working hard with my companion and I feel good here! This ward is awesome. I am pretty sure that every day this week we went out with the members to teach and they are helping us a ton! We are super grateful for them and little by little we are motivating the ward! I feel good here.

My companion is alright. Like we are getting a long well but sometime he makes jokes that get on my mind and well just patience.

J. is going to be baptized this week and we he really excited. His family is supporting him a lot and listening to us as well. YSA is helping him a lot because he doesn't have a lot of friends at all but now he does! It is awesome.

This week really was just normal! 4th of July was just a normal day, p-day was a normal day. everything just normal! haha. But it was good. I am really grateful for it and I am really grateful for my chance to serve the Lord with all I have!!! 

The other missionaries and members always make trunky jokes but I am just focused on working and doing what the Lord wants me to do. 

Something sad is that Elder Packer died this past week!!! He was my favorite apostle!!! We were at a members house and we opened lds.org to show them a video and on the front page it said, "Remembering Elder Boyd K Packer" I about died. I was so so sad. But I do know that this church is true and that the Lord is hastening his work and that he will now call younger more energized leaders to bring to pass his work. 

I am so grateful for the revelation and the true church. It brings us such peace and comfort. 

I know that this church is true and that everything that we do in the church is ordained by God. I thank Him for giving us this chance to progress and be happy here on earth.

I love you guys so much and I hope everything goes well for you guys!!!! Have fun with whatever you do! I still having received your letters!!!

Elder McIff

En el mundo, pero no del mundo

Hey Family!!!

Well I had a really good week this week!!! Even though that news of gay marriage ruins it a little bit, but it really isn't something that surprises me. I remember that just before I left on the mission the supreme court made a similar decision and I put up on Facebook that I was afraid of what the country would be like when I got back and I had all reason to be afraid. But you know, if there is something that I have learned on the mission it is "be in the world, but not of the world". When we really keep the commandments of our God and we "elevate every thought" to him, the things that happen here in this world have little significance compared to the eternal perspective of things. I know that there is an eternal marriage that can bind us together forever. Something much more than a marriage between a man and another man. 

It's sad that our society is reaching this point but that's even more reason to come unto Christ and find in him "peace that passes all understanding". One of my favorite phrases of scripture used many times by Jesus Christ is "fear not little flock". We as members of the Church are that little flock and as the world around us gets darker and darker, I find peace in the fact that Christ is our pastor and we his flock. I know he lives and as we come unto him we will find great peace and comfort as we live his gospel. 

One scripture that came to my mind was 2 Nephi 4:34-35 - "34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. 35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not a miss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen." We have to keep our faith in Christ always and trust in him forever.

This week was a really good one. We now have a ton of investigators and less actives that we are teaching and we are planning on have three baptisms this week, if not more. I feel really good here and I am really happy to be working here. I am pretty sure that this is the perfect area. It was rich parts, it has poor parts, it has flat streets, huge hills, it is big, and there is a ton of people. Across the street there is a huge mall, it is close to the stake center, it has a ton of good restaurants. The ward is super awesome and they always leave with us to do visits. There is A TON of RMs that do splits with us and it is super awesome. I am happy here. Really happy. 

J. is progressing well. He shared his testimony with us the other day and it was super powerful. He knows that the church is true and he is changing so much. He went to the church for the first time yesterday and he really liked it! He is a really shy guy and the members made him feel really good! 

We had a few other investigators come to church and many less actives! I was pretty happy yesterday! I am happy that the members don't think I am trunky and I only came here to die and finish my mission. I came to work!!!!! 

I want to finish well! I had an interview with President this week and he told my that he has seen my progress and he is happy with my work and trusts that I will finish well. He put me with Elder Peralta to help him out and help him be a leader so he can help out the mission when our group is gone. My group and the group before me are or were the leaders of the mission and know we are leaving and President is a little worried about that but the mission will keep having success!!!! 

I am happy here in the mission working hard to finish hard!

I love you guys!!! Hope you have a great week and everything goes well in Montana mom!!!

Keep on keepin on!!!

Elder McIff

I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday

Hey family!!!!!

So this week was a special one. We worked really hard and we area now seeing the fruits! We have an investigator that is going to be baptize on July 11th. His name is J. R. and He is awesome!! He is one of those 30 year old nerdy lives with  his mom kind of but he has a great desire to follow Christ!!! I wants to be good and keep the commandments and return to live with our Heavenly Father. We taught him the Law of Chasity this week and one thing that he told me really impressed me. He said that the law of Chasity was "hard to keep, but I have to do it, to be pure, to be with Him" pointing at a picture of Christ in a white rope. It was an amazing statement by him. He makes us so happy and we area so grateful for him. 

We have other investigators that are really great and well we hope that this week they will be able to progress and receive more blessings form the gospel. He have been working really hard this week and we are seeing the fruits. We are helping a lot of people come to church and helping a lot of people come BACK to church. One thing that I am learning here is how to help less actives come back to church and I am growing a new love for them. I am grateful for the chance to help and serve this ward and these families. 

Referring to my letter last week things are getting better. I am focusing more and trying to be more righteous and more reverent. the thing is that I get along really well with my companion and he is a really funny guy and sometimes we end up just joking around and losing our concentration. But I am trying to stop that and help him focus on the task at hand, and to myself as well. 

This Sunday was a very special Sunday in Peru. The Peru Trujillo temple was dedicated. It was dedicated on Sunday in three wonderful sessions. It is the second temple in Peru and it is a great blessing for the people here and now many more people area going to be able to receive these blessings. There are more then half a million members in Peru and they are now so so happy to have another temple in their country. People had to travel days to get to Lima to receive ordinances and do them on behalf of their dead. Now there is one in the North of the country for so many faithful members of the church. 

Presidente Utchdorf, Elder Bednar, and Elder Teh of the seventy came to dedicate the temple. They gave many messages but some things really impressed me. President Utchdorf said that the temple should be the central part of our lives, that we should be focused on it continually. He said "We shouldn't have two lives, normal life and temple life. There shouldn't be a difference. Normal life should be Temple Life." It was a great message. he said that we should always carry our temple recommend with us and it should NEVER expire. NEVER. 

Elder Bednar talked about doing the work for OUR dead. He talked about that it is nice to go to the temple and to work for the dead but when we go we should do the work for OUR dead, not for the dead but for Our dead. HE said OUR dead about thirty times. He emphasized the importance of looking for our family names and bringing them to the temple to do work for OUR dead. In the mission I have learned a bunch about Family history and well I know that our family tree and is missing a lot of names! We have to go find them!!! 

It was a really good week but my time is running short so I hope to hear from you soon and I hope you have a great week!!!! 

I love you so much and thank you for everything that you do for me and all the missionaries everywhere!!!!

Keep on Keepin on!!!!

Elder McIff

There ain't no rest for the wicked (and even less for the righteous)

Hey there family!!!!!

So this week I has been a test. It has been a really tough week. It started off well but then it just went down hill. haha. But we worked hard and had some investigators come to church and we are gaining more confidence with the members and we are having a good time. I really starting to like the ward and really starting to love the people here. My Zone leaders are bugging me a little but hey what I can I do. Just go to work!!!!

Right now I really just want to focus on keeping my mind focused one the work and on Christ. Which is a little hard that I don't have so many responsibilities. I find my self sometimes bored with nothing to do and my mind wanders to home, BYU and what I am going to to when I get back and it is pretty bad. I feel kind of bad. I am not sure what to do to fix it. I want to work hard and so everything that the Lord wants me to do. I need to find solutions.

But Hey what are you going to do for summer?? Any plans any crazy trips without me? I hope not!!! 

But well this week I am really going to focus on the obedience and the consecration. 

Here I am hoping for words of motivation and love!!!!!

I love you guys!!!!!!! Have a great week!!!!!!! I am going to do my best to have a great week for the Lord!!!!

With lots of Love,

Elder McIff 

Jose Galvez, Independencia

Good Morning!!!!!!

Well it is a great morning here in Independencia, Lima. Its a balmy 65 degrees with about 70% humidity. There is an overcast sky with no chance of sun for four months. Welcome to winter in Lima!!!!

Well Family I have left Los Angeles, it was a great area and a great ward and I left a ton of memories and friends there. I really enjoyed my time there and well like I said, I feel like I did the work that my father in Heaven wanted me to do. I am really happy for the chance to serve as Zone leader there. Now I am here in Independencia, my ward in called Jose Galvez. My companion's name is Elder Peralta, he is District leader here and do you know that that means......... I'm junior companion!!!!!! Haha. After more than six months of serving as Zone Leader the Lord has blessed me with the assignment of Junior Companion. It is great. Haha. I am actually really grateful for this opportunity because now I can put all my energy, knowledge and experience into my area and the people. I now can focus 100% on my area and the people here. I am so happy. My companion is super awesome. He is from the south of Peru and has like 14 months in the mission. It's kind of cool because we were in the same zone once when he started his mission so I know him a little bit. He is super cool, funny, works hard, and is obedient. I am really grateful to be his companion. I am happy that I have the chance to help him and share my knowledge and help him progress. My goal is that he can be Zone Leader after this change.

We are working really hard here in Jose Galvez. It is a great ward. It is in a place that is a lot more developed and civilized. In my area there is the biggest mall in Lima, so that's pretty cool. The people that live in the rich part of my area are a little hard but if you go more up in the hills you can find really good people. This week we focused a lot of finding people and growing our group of investigators. I am super excited to be here and working hard and in peace. As Zone leader it was hard sometimes to focus on my area but know I am 100% focused on my area. I am really happy here and just excited to get to work. We didn't have any investigators come to church this week but little by little we are going to help this area progress. I am excited. 

Today we are going to Lima for the last time in my mission. They told us on Thursday that we were going to day so sorry that I didn't give you anytime to think of stuff that you wanted but I will look and get what I can. In Lima there is all the cheap stuff but if I can't get everything today little bit little I will buy stuff here in my area. Like I said the biggest mall in Lima is in my area so I can definitely buy stuff there. 

But apparently the time has gone out here. Everyone in leaving so well I will talk to you next week with pictures from Lima!!!!!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!! BE HAPPY!!!!! :)

The goal is be happy always :)

Elder McIff

El fin comienza (And I totally don't mean to be trunky)

Hey Family!!!!!

How are y'all doing?? I am doing great!! This week has been an excellent week! We had J. baptism on Friday and then his baptism on Saturday with P. and O!!!!! WooOooooo!!!!! It was great. But a little sad at the same time. We had the baptism in the morning and NO ONE came. Only the ward mission leader, the relief society president, and the second counselor of the bishopric. I was pretty sad. But the important thing is that they got baptized!!!! On Sunday I confirmed P. and J. and now they three are official members of the True Church!!!! Happy times!!!

But there is other news as well. I have a transfer!!!! I have finished three months in this area and now I am leaving. It's a little sad because I liked Los Angeles but I feel like I did all the work I needed to do and now I'm headed out to finish my mission in my last area. I have less than three months left. I am one of the oldies in the mission now. I don't know what is gonna happen with me. I am pretty sure I'm not going to be zone leader anymore, I'm tired of it. haha. But who knows?? I just want to die in peace. That's all I want. But we'll see what will happen tomorrow!! 

Hey!!!! I got your package!!!! It was so awesome!!!! Thank you so much!!!!! Just what I needed!!! CANDY!!!!!!!! AND CLIFF BARS!!!!!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!! :) Now with all the food I have and all the exercise that I am doing I am in pretty good shape. And it is just going to get better. :) I am NOT going to come home fat!! I refuse!!!!! 

Ummmmm well I am not sure if you guys know, because apparently no one here knew, but I just found out the Elder Perry died!!! Literally like a minute ago! So sad!!! But and the same time I am in peace. It is a weird feeling but how sad!!!! What's even sadder is the he died two days ago and I am just finding out! But I know where he is and he is well. The good thing is that the Church keeps on, The Prophet will receive divine revelation and we will have a new apostle. The truth moves on!!!

Well that has been my week and I hope you week has been good!!!! I will talk to you guys next week!!! 

Love you!!!!!

Elder McIff 

Sorpresa!!!

Hey Family!!!!

Haha so today we are writing because on Monday we are going to have another mission wide soccer tournament on Monday and we have be there really early!!!! It is going to be super sweet!!! I'll send you pictures!! (I charged my camera) haha. 

But this week has been a good one!!! We've been working pretty hard and well everything is going well. We were able to finish all the papers for J.s marriage on Tuesday and they are going to get married next Friday! I am a little bummed that his family doesn't want to get baptized but with time they will. J. is super cool. Really excited about the gospel. He's gone to the temple to visit, he has a ton of church videos and he is learning a lot! He talks a ton!!! But he's a good guy. 

The other family that we are teaching, P. and O. are progressing a ton as well. they are really excited for their baptism. They are super humble and really really good. P. knows a ton about the bible so the lessons are pretty fun. 

This week we have found some new families and we are really happy about that. We were lacking in investigators but now we have a good number of really good people. But we have to keep finding more! In our area there aren't a lot of members, less actives, or recent converts so we work a ton with investigators. And most of them are contacts. But something cool is that when we contact someone they know a member of the church someway or another, that makes me really happy, and our work a lot easier! When the investigator has learned or heard even a little about he church they are a lot more receptive and willing to listen. Its super nice. 

I am really excited, tomorrow we are going to take a family of five to church tomorrow! They are neighbors of P. and O.and we contacted them this week and taught them and they were like yeah! We'll go to church! So Its going to be awesome. I am excited to see this family progress. 

But everything thing is good here in Peru. Just working hard and doing my best to do what the Lord wants!!! I'm happy. :)

Hope you have a great week and have fun in Mesa!!!

Love you guys!!!!

????

Well I have no idea what to put for my subject.

This week was a pretty good one. Normal really. Haha. We have a family that we are helping get married, we have gone to Lima two times this week and today we are going to go again so that's super fun. Haha. But we do have two investigators super cool. Their names are P y O. They're mother and son. But P is like 45 and still lives with his mom so its a little sad but it doesn't matter! They're gonna get baptized on the 30th and they are learning a ton! They are one of those little gifts from God. They showed up one day to church and then we visited them and they said they wanted to get baptized! It's super cool. The other investigator that we are helping to get baptized on the 30th is a little harder. His name is J and well we are helping him get married and everything but he has a really big problem with criticizing the church and the errors of others. Yesterday we had to talk to him a lot about the imperfections of all and that the church is perfect but the people aren't.I hope he can just be a little more humble and really find joy simply in Christ. 

My companion and I are getting along fine. Now and then we have our little discussions but other than that we are good. We are working hard to raise our excitement and energy because lately it just hasn't been there. I am just trying to work hard and be humble. Humility is one of the great things I struggle with and this week I have learned a ton about it and well I feel better and happier, but there is still a long ways to go. 

I hope you guys have had a god week and that everything is going great in Utah and you guys are happy! 

What else is ne

w over there? Everything is hunky dory here in Peru!

I love you guys a lot!!! I hope you have a great week!!!!!

Elder McIff

welllll

Haha well I talked to you guys yesterday so I don't know what to say in this letter.... haha. Other than that everything is hunky dory here in Peru!!! Having a ton of fun and enjoying every second of it!!!! Haha.

Any questions? Jokes? Suggestions? Gossips? That's what I always say to the people at the end of lessons. haha.

Que es Gozo?

So this letter is gonna be a little short. Haha.

But this week was good. We found a lot of really good people and even new people came to church!!! One lady came to church with her son and when she got there she was like "BROTHER!!!!!! I CAME!!!" I had no Idea who she was. haha. I was super confused. But it turns out that like two weeks ago while we were walking through the streets and we helped her moved some bricks that she was going to use. Turns out that her sister is a member and she was really excited to come to church! It was cool! A definite blessing from the Lord! And also a man that we are taught named Jesus came to church for the first time on his own and he was even there at church before we got there!!! It was awesome. And before the start of the meeting he looked super happy and he asked me, "Brother, can I come here every week?" It was amazing seeing the power of the spirit working in him. I loved it. I have a lot of hope for these sons of God. I am really happy for the fruits we are seeing.

Remember that family that I told you about last week? Well they didn't come to church this week and well we talked with them about marriage and the Law of chastity yesterday and they got a little scared. haha. but they told us that that they were going to pray and ask God if they should get married. We will see what happens. haha. We are going to fast for them and hope that they receive an answer. 

This week I am tired again but I am going to keep working just like always!!!!  I am really excited to talk with you guys on Sunday!!! It is going to be awesome!!! I will be calling you sometime this week to work out the time and everything. Sunday is a little complicated. Haha. But we will see what we can do. 

But I am here good just working hard!!! Thank you for your support and everything!!!!

Love you!!!!

Elder McIff

ps- sorry for not sending letters. My camera has been dead and I just haven't charged it and well there aren't a lot of exciting things in Lima. Haha.

Estoy caminando y no siento nada

Well this week was a little tough. We were in a trio but Elder B. had a change and the president just left me and Elder M. together with the zone so this week was a little tough to figure out all the stuff now that we are just working us two together, but we'll handle it.

This week we worked hard as usual and found a few families really really cool. We found a family that I think is an answer to my prayers. In my whole mission I have never baptized a complete family, like mom dad and child, so I prayed for one, and I think it was given!!! We found a couple who has two daughters and they are really prepared! They accept everything and are really really cool! They aren't married so I am just praying that they can accept marriage and get married and baptized this month!! It would be awesome!!! I really want to them to progress. 

We had other investigators but they weren't that awesome aren't progressing that well so we are looking for new ones.

I am just trying to stay focused and control my stress and nerves. being Zone Leader I get super stressed out super fast. But I am learning how to control it. Little by little. Always diligent. 

I am hoping that this week can be a better one and that we can keep working hard and keep finding new people. 

I need your prayers and help in everything!!! I love you guys!!!!! 

Keep on keeping on!!!

Con mucho amor y besos,

Elder McIff

Work hard or don't work at all

Hey family!!!!

So this week was another awesome week!!!! We again worked really hard and had success! We had our three baptisms and it was awesome!! We had a group baptism with some sisters in our Zone and on Saturday night 7 people entered into the waters of baptism to clean themselves of their sins and imperfections. It was a very very happy night. My two companions and I we all baptized and it was just great. This was the fist time that I personally baptized someone since October!!! It was nice to get wet again and hep someone fulfilled this saving ordinance. It was a happy week.

This week I was once again super tired, exhausted really. Last week we worked super hard, harder than ever, and this week we had to be consistent so we gave the same effort and jeeze was it hard and man did it hurt but it was worth it. I ended the week learning a ton and I was really humbled by the spirit and guided by him. 

We have been contacting a lot of people and in out contacts we have been guided by the spirit a ton. This week we found many people by just going where the spirit told us. 

I had an experience really cool this week. It was like seven at night and we were coming down a hill and I saw a group of people out side of their house and so I Stopped and contacted them. I told them that we were missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints and that we were representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. And one guy was like, "Wait you're what??" "Representatives of Jesus Christ" I told him. "Wow," He said, " I have never heard anyone say that. So you guys are actual representatives of him on the Earth?" "Exactly brother" He then took out a notebook, wrote down my name, and underneath it wrote " Representative of Jesus Christ" He then permitted us to share our message of the restoration of the gospel and he loved it. He was fascinated with the Book of Mormon and with our message. It was an amazing experience. I loved it. But the only bad thing is that he lives outside our area and gave us a weird directions so we'll have to work hard to find his house and teach him more. But it was an awesome experience really strengthed my faith and testimony in my calling and authority as a missionary called by a living prophet. I love my calling and everyday I am understanding the meaning of it deeper and deeper. 

I am determined to work harder and harder. Not only to have lessons and contacts, but to have baptisms and baptize families!!! But more than anything I have to work FOR the Lord. I know that he will guide us and help us in everything. 

Today we got the changes and Elder B. has a change, and I am staying with Elder M. as Zone Leader. He has been an awesome companion and an awesome friend, he has helped me out a ton and I am sad that he is leaving. But He's going to BYU so I'll see him there. I hope I can have another gringo companion.

. Haha. But we will see!!!!

This week was an awesome week and we are really excited to keep working and preaching the Good news!!!!!

I love you guys!!! 

Keep on keepin on!!

Elder McIff

PS: Even though I am eating a ton and using the stuff you sent me I am still super skinny but I have energy!!!! Wooo!!!!

JUST WORK DANG IT!

Haha, well with that letter heading let me just say, we worked our BUTTS off this week. With all the excitement that i had from the conference we just went to work. Tuesday we had a district meeting and whew it was awesome. I had been thinking for like three days what I should say to the zone and what I should train on and the only thing that came to my mind was "ask them who they serve". So when I got upon Tuesday morning i was nervous confused and frustrated because I hadn't prepared anything, no notes, no scriptures, just faith. And I got up and started talking and the spirit guided me to a great talk in which I explained that in my mission I have experienced a change and that I now serve the Lord. I really serve FOR the Lord. Many missionaries come to the mission to serve the Lord but many don't come to serve FOR the Lord. There is a great difference. I don't have time to explain it but it was awesome.

And well in the week we were blessed for serving FOR the lord. In the meeting we committed to the Zone to do 35 lessons and 100 contacts, but we did 43 lessons and 145 contacts. I feel super blessed and we saw a ton of miracles. I am so grateful to my father in heaven. We have MIRACLES this week and it all comes from a devoted work FOR the Lord. Six investigators came to the church on Sunday and we have a ton of people in teaching. I don't want to be prideful so I won't write much this week but let me just say this week was the best week of my mission and the week where I have felt the closest to God. but I am just happy- :) 

This week we have the same goal and vision. We have three baptisms this Saturday and I will baptize a family that the sisters are teaching and I am just happy. It is just awesome being here. :) I love the mission. :)

 I am happy :)

I have to go to Lima today to do wedding papers so I'm not writing a lot. But know that I love you and I just wish the best week for you guys!!!!!

LOOK FOR HIM.

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Keep on keeping on. 

Just Work FOR HIM!!!!

Love love love love,

Elder McIff

Te damos Señor nuestras gracias

HEY THERE FAMILY!!!!

Happy Easter!!!!!!! I hope it was an awesome one and I hope that you guys had a great time watching conference!!!! I know I did!!!!! I absolutely loved it. I think the best I have seen yet. It was amazing. We were fortunate enough to be able to watch all five sessions in our stake center. It was an awesome experience and I just felt the greatest spirit as I watched and listened to our prophets and apostles. I received so many answers and I learned so many lessons. 

Saturday morning was awesome! I learned a ton about fasting and how if I want more blessings and more faith I need to fast AND pay my fast offerings. Elder Eyring gave a great talk. Another thing that I learned is that, well, I gotta get married fast. Which sucks, but we got burned too many times by the apostles. I don't want to be that RM bum. And well family, you've got four and a half months to set up all the blind dates okay? Haha. But I really did love how everyone talked about the family and marriage. It made me so grateful that I have grown up in a great family and I have received so many blessing for it. And it made me excited to have my own!!! but right now it's mission time. Don't go thinking that I got trunky. I'm more focused then ever right now. haha. 

Priesthood session was great, the talks that I watched anyways. I got to watch Elder Ballards talk and Elder Soares and then we got a phone call from the sisters. There is one sister that has heart problems and well we had to take her to the hospital Saturday night. But everything is fine now and she's all good. We just didn't get to see all of priesthood but I heard it was amazing!!!!!! 

And then came Sunday morning and it was AWESOME!!!!! I loved President Monson's talk about temples and it made me so excited to go back to the temple and feel the spirit there. I haven't been to the temple in over a year and I am missing it. I also really liked Bishop Causse's talk. I always love it when he talks and he gave a great talk about really seeing the things that we have right in front of us and not disregarding them, but actually counting our blessings. Seeing what we have and seeing how blessed we are. It was a great talk. And of course the heart wrenching, adrenaline filled sermon of Elder Jeffery R. Holland. It was AMAZING. So so good. I loved it and well I could receive an even deeper understand and appreciation of the atonement and the loving hand that Jesus gives me every time I fall. I am so grateful for him and his love.

I am so grateful for the general conference and I can't wait for October!!! Woo!!!! Its gonna be awesome. but for the mean time, To Work!!!

I love my family and I wish the best for you guys and all my friends. May God guide you and bring you peace and joy through your faith and obedience. 

I love you guys!!! Everything is just hunky dory here in Peru!

Have a great week!!!!

Elder McIff

Todo el dia, cada dia

What a goof!

Hey familyation!!!!

How is everything doing out there in the great state of Utah!!!?? I hope everything is cool and good. Everything is going good here in the dirty, hilly, dusty, paradise that is Lima Peru. I would just like to explain to you guys the amount of dirt there is here, but seeing that there is a ridiculous amount of dirt, I will not be able to. But its a cool place. Just really dirty and really hot. Haha. 

But this week was a good one! Especially thanks to some awesome quotes from our beloved prophets!!! In these past weeks I have really been looking for ways to have more love and more charity for the people and serve them more. I searched the scriptures, PMG, and the modern day prophets. And I could find a lot of things that really helped me. But what helped me a lot was the last conference talk from Elder Holland "Aren't we all Beggars?". In that talk he talked about helping the poor and the needy all that we can. One thing that he said was "Although I may be my Brother's Keeper, I am my BROTHER'S BROTHER, and because I have been given much I too must give." Even though we aren't responsible for all the things that the people do we should at least love them and do what we can to help them serve them, and go that extra mile to serve our Brother. 

That was an awesome lesson I learned this week and well I also got your package mom! Thank you for the candy and talks!!!! I had already read the Fourth missionary like five times but I had never read The miracle of Mission and it was awesome. I loved it so much. I love how Jeffery R Holland talks about giving your all all day every day. Just like in sports, to succeed we have to give our all. 110%. And in the mission it is even more important. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WILL EVER DO. Explained Elder Holland. I do not want to waste a minute I have. I will admit, my body is tired and destroyed. The physical toll of a mission huge. But now I am on the last lap of the mile. My body is weak, my legs are aching, I can't breathe and everything is telling me to rest up a little, slow down, it's okay if you're second or third place, you still get on the podium. The gold is my goal. Strong until the End! 

I am loving my mission right now. A little stressful at limes but it is fun and I am happy. Just a tired happy man. 

Thanks for all your love and support and everything you do to motivate me and keep me going!!! 

I love you all!!!!! Keep strong until the end!!!!!

Elder McIff

Sabias? Dios es un Dios de Milagros

Hello family and friends!!!!!

Well Just to start off, I want to tell you guys that GOD LOVES US; HE EXISTS, AND HE IS A WHOLE LOT POWERFUL THAN WE CAN THINK!!!!!! Now with that said I would like to relate what happened this week, the best week of my mission.

So everything started last Saturday night with a phone call from the sister missionaries. they called us saying that they wanted to marry a family they were teaching this week. But I kind of freaked out because the deadline to turn everything in was Monday, we had two days, two days to do papers and a process that takes at least two weeks. Obviously I told them no and that they would have to wait until next month. Obviously they didn't like that answer so they decided to take manners into their own hands and started calling the whole world to find the papers necessary for this family. Sunday we get to church and they tell us, hey! We got it!!! We got the papers!!! What??? I said how???? Obviously they had a lot more faith than I did. So we said right there and then that we would go to Lima first thing Monday morning. 

So that's what we did. Right after I wrote you guys we grabbed a bus with Elder B. and booked our way for an hour and a half to Lima to sign up the family for a group marriage. Now, like i have explained before, Marriages here are super complicated and require lots of papers and certificates. So in Lima we had to go to a government building to take out a certificate, but it was closed.... We were like no.... So we didn't know that to do so we ran over to like the city hall, I guess its called that, to what we could do. It was the last day and we just needed one paper but we couldn't get it because there was no power in the place!!!! But Thanks to God, the lady there told us that we could come back like on Thursday to turn it in. But she told us that we had to come tomorrow so the couple could sign some papers. 

So ya we went home and we got back at like 6:00pm. Making all the plans to get everything done on Tuesday and Thursday. So Elder B. went on Tuesday with the family to sign the stuff and got back safe and sound and told us the only thing left was go on Thursday. Whew, were good.

So then came Wednesday, and guess who else came, Elder Godoy from the seventy!!! The Seventy that spoke in general conference in Portuguese!!!! It was awesome!!! the conference started at 8:00am and first he met with all the Zone Leaders and it was super sweet to talk with him and learn some new things. He truly is a man called of God and he gave us a lot of tips to help our zones and receive revelation for them. Then we got together with like 2/3 of the mission. Like 160 missionaries. And President Erickson taught us and Elder Godoy as well and it was awesome. And well Elder Godoy was teaching us a bunch of about the mistakes we make and the traps we fall in and then we asked for one companionship to come up and do a practice with him, to teach a seventy!!!! And then out of no where Elder M. jabs me in the side with his elbow and lifts up his hand. I was like, WHAT! Were gonna teach a Seventy!!! What are you thinking?? And well I raised my hand too. And so he told us to come up, Me, Elder M., and Elder B., to teach him and commit him to baptism in front of 160 missionaries. 

In this moment it didn't even cross my mind what I was about to do. But he told us that we was going to be baptized this Saturday but now had decided not to. So we had to fix his doubts and commit him again. So we fixed his doubts and everything. He believed that the church was true, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and the Book of Mormon was true. But he still didn't want to get baptized. So we whipped out our scriptures ready to share a lot of scriptures about baptism and repentance and then he told us, Elders, wait, just think a little bit, why don't I want to be baptized. And then he taught us that Even though people know that the church is true, if they don't keep the commandments they won't want to be baptized. So we had to find out what commandment he wasn't keeping. Turns out that he was unfaithful to his wife and he had to change it. It was so awesome!!!!!!!! I learned a bunch!!!! WE TAUGHT A GENERAL AUTHORITY!!!!! A SEVENTY!!!! Amazing. So dang cool. 

So the conference was amazing and we learned a ton and it ended around 1:00 and right when it ended Elder Blackham got a call from the guys in the mission offices and they said that we had to go that same day to Lima to finish all the papers. Oh no we said. But we acted. We grabbed a bus back to our house, changed, grabbed the papers that we had to turn in called a young man to do divisions, grabbed a taxi and Elder B. and I were off. This was at about 2:30 pm when we left our area heading to Lima. We were freaking out because the city hall was going to close at 4:00 and we still had some papers to do in Lima to have everything ready. So he told the taxi driver to step on it!!!

We got to Lima in like 45 minutes, went to the government building did all the papers and started booking it to the city hall. By this time it was 3:30. So Elder Blackham I started running to get there. Running running and we turned a corner and we realized, crap we don't know where we are. We're lost, and the City hall is gonna close in twenty minutes. Right there I just shouted out, GOD GUIDE US! And started running down the first street I saw. Running Running and running, we pass a lady, ask her where the city hall is and she says, oh, one block that way. THANK YOU GOD. We got to the city hall with 15 minutes to spare. And then the sisters showed up with other papers about 20 minutes later and they let us sign up everything and it all happened. The family got signed up and now they are going to get married and their family of 5 are going to Baptized this Saturday. 

This is God's work. We did not have faith and God showed us that for him everything is possible. I was humbled more than ever and I now know that God is doing everything here. We are just his servants. 

That was just until Wednesday. A lot more miracles and blessings happened this week. But we don't have time and has Mormon said, just the hundredth part of the miracles and occurrences I can write this week. But I want you to know that this has been a mission changing week and I am very very happy right now. :)

Thank you for all you love and support!!! 

I love you guys!!!!!

Livin' it up in LA

Hey there!!

Well Tuesday was transfers and I am now in La Zona Los Angeles!!! I am now in a trio with Elder M from Santa Fe Argentina, and Elder B from Las Vegas!! We three are the Zone Leaders here. It is super cool. Being in a trio as Zone Leaders we are doing work visits everyday to the missionaries. Helping them out how we can. It is pretty cool! 

We are in a city called Carabayllo, and it is ENORMOUS. Our areas are huge!!!!!! Right now the ward I am in (Los Angeles) has 9 missionaries, 4 companionships and every area is about the size of an entire ward. Our ward alone is about the size of an entire stake here in Peru. Lots of Work to do!!!! My area is pure hills. We climb tons of stairs and tons of hills everyday and it is just super killer. My legs are dying. My last area was somewhat flat but here its just straight up. super crap. But strong mind strong body!!! 

Like I told you in my other letter I am just tired. just super tired always. just the thing is that the food is super bad here. Well it tastes good but it doesn't do much for your body and it is rough. So some vitamins would be awesome and maybe you can suggest like food to buy so make it myself or something but now I am just tired of the food here.

But other than that I'm good!! I am learning now a bunch from the scriptures and having sweet studies. I now look forward everyday to learning from the scriptures and growing my knowledge of the gospel. I am having a lot of fun with my studies and learning a lot of interesting things. I am going to start looking for stuff to share with you guys from my studies. 

But something cool that my companion and I could learn was thanks to Elder Uctdorf. In the last women's conference he said something very interesting.He said "Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren’t like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us." That just blew my mind. I always thought that I Had to keep the commandments and doing everything right to receive the blessings of God. But it is the other way around. He is always blessing us, it is just us that impede those blessing from getting here. I loved it so much and know I just need to look for more blessings of the Lord in my life to be able to feel his love and do his work. I am so ever grateful for his love and help and I just hope that I can find more of his grace in my mission and my area to keep pushing on. 

I have to tell myself that always. Let us all press on.

I am just trying my hardest to do the best job that I can do to have success. 

Let us all press on. 

Poco a Poco

Elder McIff

Otra aventura empieza

Mom thank you so much for your letter this week. I am super grateful for the song you gave me. That is what I need to sing to myself now. LET US ALL PRESS ON!!!! In the coming months I will need that a lot. I have news. transfers are today and I have a change. I have been here for three months and a half now and now I have a change. A little crazy but I am grateful. I learned a lot here in Tahua but I was ready for a change. I had worked very hard in my area and I am going to leave it much better then how I found it. I am happy for that. We are teaching a lot of families and have a few people who have committed to baptism. I am sure that the new elder that comes will do a good job of helping the investigators and the ward. 

Now where I will go I have no idea. I am nervous but I will go and do. I WILL GO AND DO! AHHH!!!! Haha that is my battle cry today. I know that the Lord will help and bless us in everything I do if I just focus on him.

In this last week I have really reflected on where my allegiance stands, with the Lord? or with men? I realized that I was focused too much in what men thought of me and my personal achievements. I got caught up in worrying about what everyone thinks or says of me. I know that that is not the right mindset and I have been reflecting a lot and doing a lot of personal inventories. I have a lot of things to improve but I know that the Lord will help me and provide the way to win and complete my calling. I am excited for the things I am going to learn and how I am going to progress. It is going to be a good month. Woo!!!

Thank you for all you do for me and I am excited to see my package!!!! 

I love you!!!! Have the greatest week of your life and work hard!!!!!!

Voy a Gangar

I now have 6 months left in my mission. I now have six months left to serve the Lord with everything I have. I now have six months left to share the gospel and invite people to Christ. I now have six months left to wear His name on my chest. And that scares me. I don't want to end, I don't want to leave. I want to keep going. 

This week I learned from the scriptures that when we sin voluntarily, or sin knowing fully what we are doing wrong, that is when Satan has power over us. The Nefite people in 3 Nephi suffered this plague. They knew the gospel, knew the covenants, and knew what they should do. However due to their pride and earthly desires, they fell in sin and in doing that fell under the power of the Devil. In 3 Nephi 6:15-16 says "15 Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world. 16 And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed peace but a few years."

Satan had captured this people and had destroyed their peace and joy in only a few short years. And he still does that with us. Little by little things that we do Satan can destroy our happiness and progress starting by little things. Making us doubt and sin in little ways. And before we know it we have fallen in his trap and we have lost all progress and peace that we might have had before.

I had unfortunately fallen in that trap. Puffing my self in my pride and not doing all of the things that I should have been doing until I hit rock bottom. Really when the Lord gives commandments and rules and norms he gives them so that we keep them, and he means it. Right now I find myself in a deep repentance process looking for whatever way to be better and gain progress and joy. 

But just little things that make a big difference. But my companion and I have committed to make changes and do things how they should be done. I know that as we keep the commandments and do what Christ desires he strengths us, helps us in every step, and guides us in everything that we do. I am so thankful for this gospel, eternally grateful. Right now I am learning much about the power of the gospel and the power of repentance. I thank you for your words and comfort and I know that as I move forward the Lord will bless me greatly. It is a process but my goal is inner peace and power to serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.

Con Cristo voy a ganar!!!!!!

Other then my call to repentance, this week we had the Baptism of Arturo Bocanegra and it was a day of miracles. IT was on Tuesday at 5:00 and wow I will always remember that day. It all started off Tuesday morning. Every Tuesday morning we have Zone and district meetings until 1:00 so we were really busy with that but we knew that we had to prepare for the baptism. On Tuesday morning we still didn't have baptism clothes. The brother is a very large man so we had to find very large clothes. WE LOOKED EVERYWHERE. Could not find anything. At 2:00 we started freaking out and panicking. We called everyone!!! We called other zones, bishops, secretaries, even missionaries that were on the other side of the mission, and NO ONE HAD CLOTHES. NO ONE. My companion and I were dying. We had no idea what to do, but we were not going to let that this man not be baptized for clothes. So I just started praying, praying praying praying. 

And then around 3:30, to add to our stress and worry we realized that we hadn't cleaned or prepared the baptism font. I about had a heart attack. We booked it to the chapel. Busted through the doors getting ready to do a 10 minute font cleaning and we get there, and everything was done. Everything. The chairs were all set up, the hymn books were set out and the font was filled to the brim with pure clean water. I just about died in that moment. We had no idea who had done it or when or how but all we said was "Angels". 

And so we just sat down in awe, just thinking about what we could do about the clothes and then I receive a call from the sister training leaders in our zone, and they tell me that they had found TWO baptismal clothes in their ward. So we grabbed a bus and headed our way to  their area. We get there at like 4:00 and the nicest lady in the world gives us her husbands temple pants so that the Brother could be baptized. I am now eternally grateful for those miracles and the great mercy that my father in heaven has. 

We got back to our area around 4:304:45 just in time for the baptism. Everything worked out perfectly and it was the most spiritual baptism that I have ever attended. The brother Arturo was baptized and confirmed that same night and then shared a powerful testimony of the great love he has for his family and the gospel. The Lord blessed us greatly that day and I am so so grateful for the power to pray and ask my father in heaven for help. Later we found out that the bishop had gotten up at 6:00 am to clean and prepare the baptismal font. Our bishop is very special but this time did a great deed. I am very grateful for the blessings that the lord gave us that day and the help he is giving us. 

I am very grateful for your love and council. Thank you for everything that you do for me and please pray for me!!!

I love you!!!!! KEEP ON KEEPIN ON!!!!

Elder McIff

Estoy.... can..... sado......

HEY THERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey I am really sorry that I haven't been writing very much. My life has turned crazy and there are so many things in my head and well, I am losing my self in the work. And I love it.  I have been learning so much as a missionary and as a servant of the Lord. But little by little I am learning it. Right now I never thought I would know the things I know or be doing the things I am doing a year ago. My mission has changed completely and for the better. Right now as Zone Leader we are working like crazy people. My body hurts, but my spirit is full. Seriously, every night I get home and I just hurt, everything hurts. haha. But that is just the fruit of our labor and we will find rest for our souls.

In the Zone we are working very hard to teach many many lessons and contact many many people. And well this week the Zone contacted 1000 people, or 1000 people had the chance to accept the true gospel. It is an achievement that shocks me and makes me really happy.

But I am really good mom. I am happy and skinny. I have lost a good 10 pounds here in Tahua. Haha.

Right now we are working with a lot of families and they are really interested in the Church. It's really hard to for them to come to church but we want to work with them and help them progress.

We have a baptism planned for next Tuesday. Its of the brother I told you about that finally decided to get baptized. I am super excited for him!!!!

The zone is really progressing and we are working really really hard to have more success and better results.

Really mom I am losing  myself in this work. I have never been so determined and excited to work and have success. I am hungry. I want the success.

I am seeing many many miracles and many many blessings. But I have to keep working and I have to keep improving, I cannot rest, and I cannot be satisfied. The Lord everyday wants more and more of us and we have to give him that, we have to try our hardest to be the best we can be. That is our quest, perfection.

Mom, I am so grateful for everything that you and the family do for me and all the missionaries. You are a great support for me and I just hope that you know that I am fine and growing every single day, maybe not upwards, but inside.

I hope you   have a great day and I hope everything goes well in your week.

If you have any questions or something just ask me!!!!

I love you!!!!!!!!

Poco a poco

Elder McIff

Off to Lima!

 Sunset in tahua!!!

 My best friend Hno. Yoyi

A family that I taught a year ago. I baptized their kids a year ago and on Friday they got married and on Saturday were baptized. The fruits of the labor are sweet :)

I am so sorry !!! I am not going to be able to write this week!!! We are going to Lima today for pday and I didn't have time to write and do the reports this week!!! But just know that I am fine and learning a ton and having a lot of success!!! we are working really hard and having a great time here in Tahua!!!! Thanks for the letter!!! I hope you have a great week!!!!!!!

I love you so much!!!!!!

Elder McIff

Por cosas pequñas y sencillas, se realizan grandes

Hey there family McIff!!!

How is everything!!! I hope it is great because today I am feeling good!!! I have a new companion named Elder G., he is from Honduras and he has 13 months in the mission. I am now training him as a Zone Leader. I am super happy that he is my companion because we were already together in Magnolias for six months and we are pretty good friends!!!! With my last companion I had a super hard time. He really damaged my spiritual progress and really discouraged me. So now I am really grateful that I have my buddy as my companion so that he can help me and help the zone. I am super excited to increase my spiritual power and guidance and I know that this change is going to be a really good one.

This week was a really good week as well. We have an investigator named A.. He is the only non member in his family and the patriarch. This week he decided to be baptized. The missionaries had worked with him a ton and helped him out a lot and now we are just reaping or their labors. He will be baptized on the 21st and we hope that the whole family can come to church and participate in the blessings of an eternal family. His kids are super less active and so we have to work with them as well. But am just so happy that this family has received so many blessings and they taught me that little by little great things can be achieved.

This week I hope to learn a lot from reading the scriptures and boost my spiritualness once again. I know that the Lord loves me and wants to help me, I just have to let him.

I am now receiving a lot of ideas and help from the Lord to help my zone and progress the work here in the Zone. We are seeing a lot of fruits and results from our work and we are really proud of the Zone right now. But we can't be satisfied!!! We can always be better!!!! We can always do more!!!!!! We have a big focus in the Zone of contacting three families everyday and it is helping the zone. We might not teach these families but It helps us have the mission spirit and really just makes us happier. Even if they don't progress, I feel good sharing the gospel.

I hope that this week you guys can share the gospel and help others have more faith in Christ and progress to a  more perfect way.

I love you guys so much and how you have a great week living like and following Christ!!!!

I love you guys!!!

Elder McIff

Estoy lsadkjflksdjflñskdjf​ñ

Well mother with your wonderful letter about college and rooms I am now totally ahksdhfksdhafishdfjha. If you can understand that. But we will see how the cards fall and well the consequences will come.

But other than the tragic blow to my concentration you have given me I am perfectly fine!!!! This week was a pretty good week and I have had a good time. I am learning a lot and progressing little by little. The letter that dad sent me helped me out a ton today and I am now super excited to go to work and ACT. I am just praying that the Lord gives me strength and power to move forward and achieve many things. Things are moving along just fine here in Tahua and I am just hoping that in February we can have a super successful month.

But really mom with this news that you sent me about the whole BYU thing has really made me think and freak out a little bit!!! That's why my letter is going to be super short this week because well, my mind is going crazy. I just hope everything is going to be alright!!!!!

I hope you guys have a great week and have many stories for me next week!!!!

I love you all!!!!

Elder McIff

Dingo, diligente, y valiente

Well this week was a pretty good week! The only thing is that my breakfast this morning gave me diarrhea so I am not up to writing, like at all. So this letter will be short because I was writing reports the whole morning.

But this week was a good one for my companion and I. We taught a lot and well we help the Zone a ton. We did a bunch of work visits and we trained a lot about the diligence and we helped them get excited and work hard. We are super excited with the Zone now. Everyone worked really hard this week and we are really proud of them.

This week we had interviews with the president and it was cool!!! He talked a lot about the stake and how we can help out the leaders and then we talked about the missionaries and then he gave me some awesome advice. I asked him what I can do as Zone Leader and what I can do to be better and he just shared two Scriptures with me about revelation. He told me that I need to look for my own revelation to help the missionaries and to help myself. So I studied that this week and I have learned that the revelation comes from being worthy, working diligently, and being valiant to follow the impressions of the spirit. I need to e better with all of those things and I need to look for my own revelation.

I love you so much mom!!! I know that this letter is short I just have no energy and I just want to sleep. haha. But don't worry! Everything will be fine!!!

I love you guys!!!!

Elder McIff