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