Hey familia!

Hey familia!

This week was a pretty busy one, as they all are here in the paradise of Chile!

-The biggest news, would be that I got a new companion here in the office with me!

his name is Elder Johns, and he will be the new secretary with me! I will be training him and are gonna have a blast! He is from tennesee so we have already been making red neck jokes and what not!

-The past week we got to eat with a senior couple here with us. They made us an american meal and it was heavenly! Afterwords, he sat down and played us a bunch of really inspirational songs. It was a fun experiance!

-One day we went up to Santiago to get some carnets for differnet misisonaries! We got to show my new companion around. The big cities are fun and all, but for me, I would prefer little Rancagua or Springfield. There is just a sense of urgency when you are there.

-We had our first rain storm here in Rancagua. It was my first time seeing rain since I got here. It rained for a couple days and flooded, which wasnt too different from home. But the cool thing was that it capped all the mountains with snow. so it looks beautiful here now! Its starting too cool off. We dont have central heating in the houses here in Chile, so it gets chilly at night!

-Last sunday we actually had a cool experiance! We went out into the sector for once to teach some people. We had 2 lessons that night, and both of them were awesome. The first one, we took the new senior couple of missionaries out with us, who dont speak much spanish. It was cool to see how much I had progressed since I got here almost 10 months ago not knowing anything! Anyways, we helped out a lady who was really struggling, we taught her about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and how because of what he did takes the weight off our shoulders if she will let him in to her life. There were lots of tears of Joy and happiness! The second lesson we had we picked up a joven from the ward, and took him around not knowing where to go, cause we dont really know anyone in our ward. He took us to this house and we entered. The wife was an inactive member of the church and was having a really hard day. We happened to show up and shared a little message and she was just so joyeful and thanked us with tears. She has special duaghter and we helped her move her into her bed. They were just 2 really neat experiances and special (:

-We helped out the comisarios this week a little bit too and painted some of the mission houses we have here!

-Read Alma 32:15 in the Book of Mormon. It helped me out this week (:

-Today we went exploring around a lake for Prep day!

Love you all and have a good week!

How beautiful this world truly is!

Well I just wanna thank you all who participated in my super awesome birthday video!
That was soooo awesome (: It made me super trunky, but I loved it! I seriously have the best family and friends!!

Anyways, this week I turned 19 and it was a beautiful day! My companion and I went to a nearby lake and did our weekly planning! Then I just sat there and overlooked the different shaded blue mountains, the changes colors leaves, and the beautiful blue water, and just thought about how beautiful this world truly is!

We ordered pizza 3 times this week.. It was good. Papa Johns all the way!

I finalized and approved our new mission logo! President was very happy about it. It was cool to actually put my talents to use again (:

We went shopping all around town to find a person who could make us a big huge picture frame for the big map we printed off of the mission!

On tuesday we headed up to Santiago to get some visa work done for the other misisonaries, and we had the oppurtunity for my companion to go see his brother who will be serving a little more south in Chile. When you fly into santiago from chile, you have to leave and go back through security to fly internationally. So it was cool for him to see his brother! We also met some new missionaries, and one who was going home. It was cool!

One senior couple of missionaries named the Jetts invited me over for a birthday almuerzo and it was super yummy! curi Food!

One day I went to the district meetings and they were doing some practices, so I just hungout with President for a while. It was cool to just talk about normal stuff with him! He is a wonderful man, and really guides this mission where is should go!

Yesterday I ate with some members from my first area of being here in chile. It was really good to visit them. Their son is actually in the mission where Dallas is going! So they will probably meet! Small world.

Other than all that, we finished the change plans which are coming up next week. Basically we are in charge of getting the old misisonaires out of here and get the new ones here safe and sound! We have 19 new people coming this next change. The 6th of May. Thats crazy because each one of them needs a trainer, and they each of 2-3 suitcases. So its just a crazy week! But Im looking forward to it (:

I love each and everyone one of you! Thanks for all your support!

Love,

Elder McGee

p.s. There are alot of pictures this week (:

Crazy couple of days this week!

I forgot to wish you all a happy easter!

Watch this awesome video (:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S3TI4bYerU

Crazy couple of days this week! Sunday night we had a Hermana in the hospital because she passed out, then Monday we had an injury and another Hermana passed out and went to the hospital. We also had a robbery and someone enter into one of the houses! Haha Crazy South American stuff! Now don’t get me wrong, Chile is super safe, but like anywhere things can happen! Elder Harding and I have been working on a song together and we will be sending home a video muy pronto! So I hope you all enjoy soon (;

We had more conferences this week with some of the zones sown south. We haleped with the food, and was fun one day because President left us the keys to his house to go get the food early in the morning. We joked about telling him we spent the night and had a party (:

We got a large map printed off of the mission this week!

We pulled another million pesos out of the bank as pictured below.. (:

We went up to santiago one day as well which was a blast because we went by bus and metro. So we took a big bus up there and then went underground and traveled to all the different places to get our tasks done. Its ridicoulous how many people are going to different places up there in Santiago. We got one one metro that was so full it looked like those crazy japanese youtube videos where they just try to shove you on there before the doors close! We got one one bus that had a life band playing, and we also witnessed a drumline strike in the downtown central area. We got back to Rancagua, and got to do a service project with a member cleaning out a big pool.

And then for all your enjoyement, I had another mini vacation today. I actually do work during the week so you all know. But today we woke up at 530 to get onto the road and traveled to a little place called Pichilemu. It is one of the surf capitals of the world! They host huge surf competions there every year. We saw some huge waves! Some of the biggest ones Ive seen. This little town is so cool! Its just a little surf shack town where people are literally beach bums. Apparently Jack Johnson has a house down there and I got a picture with it! We went to the punto de los lobos. The point of the wolves. Its super famous here in Chile. It was super cold there, but there were some odd 50 surfers out there. It was way cool! Such a beautiful place, and it was amazing just to sit up on a huge cliff over looking the ocean and thanking God for this wonderful place to live. Its so great to sit back and Thank God for our breath each day, and the ability to walk or see! Never take things for Granted (:

So heres some pictures. Enjoy.

Love, Elder McGee

p.s. I turn 19 tomorrow which is why there is a big 19 in the sand!

Flu-Shots, Caribineros, and Conferencias!

Flu-Shots, Caribineros, and Conferencias!

Let’s just say that every week here in Chile is just a little more delightful than the one preceding. This week was another amazing week nestled amidst the Andy’s and the Pacific Ocean here in Rancagua. We had the opportunity to be attentive to the discourses from the sensational authorities of the Church on Sunday. If you want to hear some inspirational talks, I advise that you head over to Lds.org and click on General conference. J On Monday we set out on a journey to complete some tasks and travel to the grand city of Santiago, where one can find what is termed as the “Extranjeria” or Foreign Affairs. Whilst perambulating and in like manner, we happened to discover the Tallest architecture in South America. In the return home, we encountered tribulation and we had been “Pointed over” by a Caribinero (The Police). Now, let me explain. Here in Chile, they do not “pull you over,” they simply give you a stern point from the side of the highway. So I indeed veered off onto the shoulder of the highway (Ruta 5). We anxiously awaited for theCarbinero to come scold us for driving above the speed limit, but nothing happened for ten minutes. We finally determined to exit theauto (Car). As we approached the young Carabinero, he acted as if nothing had occurred. We made a small conversation with him, to find out we had exceeded the limit by thirty kilometers per hour. Oops.. He noticed our grins, and I’m sure our missionary spirits, and simply told us to be more careful. Whew! Close call. We also had the opportunity to stumble upon BAGELS and CREAM CHEESE. It was amazing. After 9 months without such a delightful treat. Likewise, we have been having Conferencias de Zona and our enfermera(Nurse) has given flu shots to every missionary here. The conferences are really fun because you get to meet and greet every missionary. It’s been a blast. 

Even this morning we spent the majority of our preperation day in a conference. But its fine, we enjoyed the rest of the day and arrived here in the office to write you all! This morning we went over the whats called the "Feria" which is like a farmers market. I think i have told you all about that. Anyways, we bought a ton of platanos (Bananas) and frutillas and palta! (Strawberries and avocadoes) It was a rathe rrelaxing week in the office just doing work. Last night we actually got to o out to the sector and teach an awesome lesson. You truly can sanctify yourself through missionary work. Its wonderful to feel the spirit like that.

Anyways,

S/O to my homeboy DallyBoySwagMcGee for getting his mish call! Im so excited to share some south american pride with him. and its gonna be tight to speak in spanish (: I actually have a good friend there in Columbia. He is from a family I met here in Chile. Im super animated for Dallas!

P.s. I will finally be old enough to serve a mission next week (: haha

Other than that, not much other stuff happened!

We are starting week 4 here and I will probably be training a new secretary this next change!

Miss you all and thank you for the support each and every day!

Love,

Elder McGee

enjoy some pictures...

Especially my boss america hoody that I bought for 2 dollars!

This week Chile was hit by 2 huge earthquakes

This week Chile was hit by 2 huge earthquakes up in the north. We are all good down here because Chile is longer than the tip of mexico to the top of canada. We are like 1100 miles away from where the epicenter was. But last night we did have a pretty strong temblor. (Temblor means like a small earthquake) Henceforth why this email is entitled "Tembloritos" Cause everything here has "itos" on it. Basically means like small. Hey Perrito (little dog), I want some tortito (Little Cake). But its weird cause it doesnt mean little on really anything. Its just how they talk here!

Anyways, we spent alot of time here in the office recouperating from week one in office work!

Some of the highlights:

-Made Strawberry Daquiris… TWICE

-2 Earthquakes in northern Chile

-Copied and sorted 250 passports

-Had a little training meeting with some guys from Santiago. (Which was really cool and helped us with alot of things)

-I Redesigned the Mission Logo

-Winter Happened this week.

-GENERAL CONFERENCE

-Found canned chicken breast in a gringo store (Still looking for mountain dew in chile) (They do have rootbeer)

For all you who might not know what General Conference is... Its basically a huge meeting with our Leaders of the church and they teach us awesome principles about Christs life and how we can become better people. Millions of people are tuned into the live broadcast that shows in Churchs all around the world. There are 2 more sessionstomorrow if you would like to hear from one of God´s living prophets on the earth today. (:

Last week I was still sweating and wearing short sleeve shirts, and this week I had to get a jacket, and I got some new gloves! Lots of continued office work. We get new projects it seems like every day! When the guys came down from Santiago it was pretty much like an audit. They wanted to see our system and how we work. They were surprised to know that everything was going great. We just had to change a couple little things and we were good! Other missions have a lot of work ahead of them. Haha. Im half way through a book called Milagro de perdón. "The miracle of forgiveness!" Its so wonderful. I have learned so much through Christ´s example and his Grace for us. Its way hard to truly comprehend, but when you learn more and more about his atonement for us. It BLOWS your mind.

I hope you all had a wonderful week this past week.

You all are the best support.

Love,

Elder McJazzy 

Hola mis queridos amors (;

Hola mis queridos amors (;

La semana loca ya paso, asi que estoy super relajado ahorrita!

The crazy week has passed so I am now relaxed. (:

Anyways! Whats UP! My fellow americans. I miss the stars and stripes. Dont ever forgot how amazing our country is!

So where do I start off for this week. LEts see.. Sunday we were enjoyig a nice meeting in church and a dog just ran in. It was really funny, so we chased it out and everyone was laughing. We had 2 investigators and a less active in church this week. HOW cool! Thats crazy cause we never have time in the sector.

Monday night all the gringos flew home, and we spent a couple hours waiting in the airport for different people to leave on their flights home. A little trunky(trunky means like thinking of home) so we didnt get back to Rancagua until like 12. We had all the latins suitcases in the cars, and they were all leaving in 3 different trips in the morning so we had to take all their suitcases to them in their different places where they were staying the night. So we finally got to sleep around 1:30. Then we had our shift to drive up to santiago at 4:30 so we woke up at 4. So we got a couple hours of sleep. Then on our way back we picked up all the news in the Training Center here in Chile. 7 Hermanas and 5 Elders. That was way fun. So we mad eit back to rancagua around 830ish and has a conference for all of them. We then had varias tasks to do so we didnt get back home until about 11ish to get some sleep. Very long day. Its cool though because I just see all the small mircales in situations like this. Like I dont know how I had enough energy to keep going and driving and doing tasks. We also needed to buy some propane for the lunch and we were in a huge hurry and had no idea where a propane place would be close to presidents house. So we contuniued doing other errands, and lo and behold a propane gas truck stopped right in front of us and sold us some propane. It was amazing because there are like 3 gas companies here, and we had one called lipigas in the trunk. An empty one. And what do we know, a lipigas truck stiops and sells us gas on our way back to presidents house. How crazy.

I barely have enough time to write in my journal too!

Wednesday we went up to Santiago.

Thursday and Friday were office days. I bought some chalas (slippers) for the office. SICK.

Today we had a conference for all the northern zone leaders and ate papa johns for lucnh. EVEN SICKER. Now Im just hanging out talking to you all.

I also redesigned the mission logo this past week (:

Last thing is that I am in charge of taking out the checks from the bank because we got a new finance guy here, and he is waiting on his visa in chile. So this week I took out 1 Million pesos in cash. I felt like a rich missionary. (;

Say your prayers, thank God for everything he has given you becuase without Him, you would have NOTHING.

I miss and love you all. Que tengan una semana bacanisimo!

Love,

Elder SwagToTheMax McGee

photos:

-Dads birthday present for me

-Elder chagoyan from mexico and elder dixon ffrom utah, both good buddies who went home now.

-Saturday night papa johns!

-A Million pesos (2000 dollars)

Ustedes son mis ejemplos!

Ustedes son mis ejemplos!

 

Gracias por su apoyo!

This last week was a good one!

Well, I started off on sunday teaching a lesson in church which was wonderful! I had such a blast doing it! I really tryed to prepare myself more this past sunday for church, mentaly and spiritually.Just studying a little bit before for the different classes, and listening to some great mellow relaxing music. I realized that by preparing for church a little more, I was able to go to church with a jug instead of a cup because I really filled myself up with good stuff! Its so great to be able to have the opputunity to partake of the sacrament every sunday! (For those who may not know what we do, we partake of some bread and some water to rememeber the blood and flesh of Jesus Christ to remind us of the sacrfices that he made. The prayers that are offered before are beautiful. They help us to always remember Him and that we can always have his spirit to be with us. I highly reccomend listening to them!)

This past week in the office consisted of getting everyone who is about to go home arranged for some interviews and a last dinner at the Presidents house. As well as planning for this next coming week which is called la semana loca because we have like 14 people leaving and going home and 12 coming. So we are in charge of flights, getting people out and getting them here. So we do alot of santiago trips to the airport and the misisonary trianing center. Also we recived notice that alot of visas are ready to be taken out. so we made alot of calls to let people know what to do and how to get up to santiago!

We unfortunately had to take one elder home this past week, so we dropped him off at the airport at 430 AM that was a fun one.

Another time we we up to santiago we spent 6 hours driving around different places and paying different fines so that one missionary could get her package that was uphelp. It was ridicoulous, we payed over 100 dollars in fines (50000 pesos) and had to print off pictures of what was inside. My companion was very frustrated that day. haha. but we had alot of fun as well. We even found a SUBWAY in santiago! How awesome is that! I hadnt eaten a perfectly made sub in 8 months now! It was heavenly.

Along with all the confusion of people coming in and out, we got a new matrimonio this week ( Umm I think that means couple? Like a senior set of missionaries) So we are also losing some as well! They were great and fun, and now we have some new ones to work with here in the office! They are great people, we have got to spend a little time with them. They dont know much spanish so we will probably be answering alot of phones and helping them out becuase they are in charge of the houses and the money here in mission! So fun stuff.

The batemans are the ones leaving and they bought us McFlurries from McDonalds this past week! They are really expensive, so it was really nice! You dont each much ice cream here in chile!

I also got to look through a Brail version of a book of mormon this week. Way cool!

We even got one night this past week where we got to go out to the sector and be normal proselyting missioneries! Super awesome! We met alot of great people and even did one contact in English! haha fun stuff.

Today we went over to hangout with President and we played pingpong all morning and they made us a wonderfully delicious breakfast! President and Hermana Warne are seriously so great! Its wonderful to get to know them better!

So that was about it for my week! (:

Hope you all had a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder McGee

Pictures:

1.) These hot dogs are called choriplops. They are huge and just covered in mayonase and ketchup and tomatoes and goodness

2.) Mcflurries!

3.) We fit bikes in the elevator to take up to the house one night when we didnt have a car.

4.) Beautiful morning

5.) and 6.) house pictures to motivate us!