Strongest in the End

Dear Familia,

Well, as we all know, this week I started the second half of the mish! WOWZA! I read a talk this week by Elder Uchtdorf and one by Elder Holland that got me good and fired up! The one by Elder Holland talks about how his experience in his state championship basketball game, when they were down at half time, and how it relates to the mish. It reminded me a ton of the State soccer game...and all the soccer games where we were down at half. Every single pep talk that my coaches gave me talked about how this half is the time to give everything! I gave SO much for that sport, and at the end of the day, it was just a game. Here I am at half time, and my coach is asking for EVERYTHING I've got! Not just my time, not just my talents, but my heart and mind too. Right now it's time to come out in the second half and leave it ALL in the mission field. I just have 9 months left! Strongest in the end! 

The talk by Elder Uchtdorf talks about the dash between the dates, and how our lives are marked by the dates on our tombstones. He talks about how the part that matters isn’t the dates, but the dash. The dash is where everything happens, the dash is where the story is. This week I've been thinking a lot about the dash between the date I left on the mission and the date I'll return. I've been thinking a lot about what I want that dash to mean, and I want to always be able to look at that dash and know that it meant 18 months of fully dedicated service to building the Kingdom of God. 

I love the words and guidance we receive from living prophets and I love being able to share this guidance with the people of Chile! This week Jesuan accepted a baptismal date!!!! He is the son of a less active and cousin of a recent convert! But our miracle of the week was Graciela and Victor!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are going to be sealed for time and all eternity in the temple this July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We had lunch with Graciela this Wednesday and during lunch she told us she had a surprise for us. She led us blindfolded into her bedroom to show us the wedding dress she had bought displayed on her bed! She said that after our lesson with Victor and her last Saturday, they felt so strongly that they needed to trust in the Lord and take the step of faith! (We shared the story of Peter walking on the water and how it was a miracle according to his faith). We were the first people they told and I feel so honored to be part of this amazing process with them! Thank you so much for all your love and prayers for them! The mission might be nothing like I thought it would be, but it's everything I hoped it would be! 

Fun Facts:

I got the package from Timette and LOVE it! I give all the Smarties to the kids in my English class before we start so they can remember the words, and they think it's the coolest thing! 

Hna. Mariscal and I are focusing on married families and we have become MASTER ring-checkers! It's like the opposite of BYU, every time we see someone with a wedding ring we pounce! 

Millaray made herself a missionary name tag for when she comes with us to visit investigators! I LOVE that girl! She´s going to be the BEST missionary! 

I love you all and will send photos next week! 

XOXO-Hna. McKenna