Dear Familia,
Well folks I have officially finished 1/3 of my misión here in Chile! I honestly can't believe how fast the time is FLYING by!!!! In a lot of ways it scares me that I already have 6 months in the misión! It makes me reflect on what I've done with these six months...what have I accomplished...where am I with my goals and my personal growth...how have I helped those who I'm serving!? It's a good misión marker to help me think on how I can better use these next 12 months to their máximum potential!
Hna. Prates and I have been working hard, and this week we were able to see the fruits of our labors! We are teaching a little 11-year-old named Fernanda and boy, is she a cutie! But she is more than just a cutie...she's a fighter. Fernanda is the granddaughter of Hna. Celeste (one of my good friends from the branch and a strong faithful member). Hna. Celeste's husband is less active, and the dad of Fernanda is also a less active member/alcoholic. The mom of Fernanda is Católica and wants Fernanda to be baptized in the Catholic church. However, because of the example of her Abuelita, and her aunts and uncles that are members, Fernanda told her mom that if she's going to be baptized, it's going to be in the Mormon church! At first her mom was pretty upset about the whole thing, but we've been working with the family and her mom has accepted the idea of her being baptized in the Mormon church, and she's also allowed us to start teaching her the lessons. Fernanda is the first young person that I've taught in the misión and it's sooooooo fun! She's so smart and gets so excited about the góspel. She's started Reading the Book of Mormon with her grandma and this past Sunday she attended Sacrament Meeting. It's been such a blessing and milagro to teach Fernanda and also for the chance to help reactivate her family. There's a LOT of work to be done with her dad and abuelo, but already Hna. Prates and I have started to see a change. THE GOSPEL CHANGES LIVES PEOPLE! She has a baptismal date the 25 of January. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Also, God showered down another blessing on Hna. Prates and me this past Sunday when Valentina attended church! Wahooooo! Valentina also is the grandaughter of a less active member and is 16 years old. She's lived a pretty crazy life and has had a lot of rough experiences, but she knows that the góspel can help her. And more than being baptized, she wants to go to the temple. WHICH IS AWESOME because in reality that's the goal...not baptisim. However, she really struggles to attend church...which is why the heavens sang a glorious chorus when she attended yesterday! But sadly she received a very cold welcome from classmates who are members in our branch. Nobody talked with her and after the first class she left. NOOOOOOO!!!!!! People, I'm here to tell you that having a friend in the church makes ALL the difference with investigators! Please, Please, be a true friend and help the investigators feel comfortable in the church, and invite your friends to attend church with you, to sit with you, to go to classes with you! It makes a world of difference in their progress as investigators, but also it's what helps keep them active in the church after their baptisim!
But long short story...God is great, miracles are real, and members make all the difference.
Scripture: This scriptures reminds me of Fernanda, Alma 57:27 "Now this was the faith of those of whom I have spoken, they are young and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually." This scripture also rings true for my rocking and studly brothers!
Fun Facts:
Hna. Prates loves to do Cat's Craddle (hand game with a piece of string). In the night when we finish planning we play Cat's Craddle
This week, due to the placement of the onions in the fridge and the placement of my milk, I have been drinking onion milk with my cereal all week.....YUM!
Because there are soooo many hills in our area, all the Chileans, ages 7-65, practice soccer by kicking the ball up the hill and waiting for it to roll back down to them. It's a great way to practice! I'm telling you, it's the secret to success with these Chileans!
Love you all!
XOXO-Hna. McKenna
P.S. I love you too, Mom! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I honestly can't express how much I love you and the family! If the misión has taught me anything it's the importance of the family, and having a family that's rooted in the góspel. Thank you so much, Mom, for providing me with that happiness!
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