"We Are The Champions"

January 19, 2014

Dear Familia,

This week was fantastic! Fernanda passed her baptismal interview and is going to be baptized this Sunday! I am sooooo happy for her, this has been something she's been fighting for, for such a long time. I have loved teaching her and helping her understand how much her Heavenly Father loves her and how he has provided an amazing plan for her to return and live with him again. Teaching Fernanda has helped me realize how much I love teaching kids and has helped open my eyes to the possibility of being an elementary school teacher, like my dear grandmother and sister, when I'm back in the good old U.S.A.

Also this week, I had the lovely opportunity to learn a profound life lesson from Patricio (Recent Convert). Hna. Prates and I were in a lesson with him and one of his neighbors passed by to talk with Patricio. You could tell that the neighbor had lived a really hard and fast life. The neighbor asked Patricio for food and money because he hadn't eaten for more than 3 days. Patricio willingly gave him the money and food without asking questions. In my mind I was pretty upset at the neighbor for asking Patricio for food and money when Patricio hardly has anything to give. I was also pretty upset with Patricio for giving him the food and money. And boy was I humbled fast! When the neighbor left Patricio started to cry, and told us about the life and history of his neighbor and everything that has happened to him. He told us about how blessed he is to have food in his house and how he is so thankful to the Lord for all that he has. I started to cry with him. We are so blessed....so blessed.

Scripture of the week: Mosiah 4:16-19

16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

 17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

 18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

Patricio might not know all the doctrine of the Góspel, but he knows how to live it, and in the end that's all that really matters. I'm so grateful for the chance to learn from him.

XOXO-Hna. McKenna

Fun Facts:

I ate cow stomach this week! Yummy!

Hna. Prates likes to sing "We are the Champions" after we climb the stairs or hills.

Hna. Prates is fascinated with Area 51 in the United States and is convinced that there are aliens in the US.

Getting ready for Fernanda's baptism!