Could I ask for a better life??

Could I ask for a better life??

This week was awesome! I got way into studying the book Jesus the Christ, which is killer! It put me to sleep the first few times I tried to read it, but now I cant put it down. Im reading the new testament along with it, and putting all the details together, I have just found such an "awe" at some of the things Christ did for us. I reccomend the book (:

We did service for a member who is the owner of our new house, inside our new house. SO I dont know if it was service for him or for us, but we painted our new house. It was a blast. We brought my little bose speaker and just jammed and painted. Good moments. We also dug a bunch of holes for another member who is building a shop behind his house!

Wednesday, I stayed in Santa Cruz, which is the biggest city in our zone here and about 2 hours away from here by bus. I went on divs with another missionary named Elder Bowen. We had a blast, and I had the chance to do my first baptismal interview. What a great experiance to see someone after all the changes they have made, look at you in the eyes and tell you that they have a desire to follow Christ and be a better person.

I also had the chance this past week to meet some gringos. They teach an english school here and come for a year at a time. They invited us to their school this week to talk a little bit about chile, and why we are here.

I gave a talk in church about the signs of the second coming, which was a blast, and the district presidency was there. 

We had a huge success this past week too. We had a less active we are working with come to church for the first time in 26 years. She is the mom of Vicente who is going to get baptized and his sister is very interested as well. We are going to baptize them in the ocean!! woo. Lots of happiness and success. The whole family came to church. We are excited for them. She thanked us and said because of our persistance she finally came. haha.

Today we found a waterfall next to the beach after a 2 hour walk out there, and then we returned another 2 hours, ate some shrimp corn empanadas, and enjoyed life to the full.

Love you all.

Elder McGee

p.s. this video is super awesome!!: http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3701964025001

Were having a blast. Im learning to network just like my dad.

Hi.

We are progressing. This week we found 5 new people to teach. Apparently that doesnt happen much in this turist ran town. But I am living proof to show that anything can happen whenever you give it your all with a huge motivation, a little bit of faith, and lots of juicy long prayers. We laugh, we run, we joke and just make the best of every situation. I never quite understood the famous Tarzan song by Phil collins that states "You learn when you teach, and you teach when you learn." We have hard weeks. We work long hours, but not long hours like a day job, we work long hours like Christ worked whenever he was here on the earth. He worked all day, all night, thought about his work, and was his work through his actions. I have found such a love for waking up early, getting down on a freezing cold hard tile floor and letting my heart explode in love for the people here in Pichilemu. I have never been so tired, or so exhausted with a permanent smile smacked on my face as we sweat, walk, get insulted, and get doors shut on us. Im happy, and im having a blast, and have learned more than ever than this just as anything else we do is all how we make it. "Come what may, and love it."

The best part about being here is taking a nice jog to the beach each morning, taking a nice plop in the soft black sand, and saying a little prayer thanking our maker for the beautful creations and amazing oppurtunities we have here in this earth.

Last week we had interviews with President, and he gave me some wonderful compliments and some great motivation. As well as it was the last time I will see my buddy Elder Harding for a while. We lived together for 6 months and he goes home tomorrow. He will be brother Harding now.

Were having a blast. Im learning to network just like my dad. Here in Pichilemu, Ive made friends with an ice cream lady who gives us free ice cream when we pass, a Radio Dj who wants us to take a spot on his show, and a man who rents horses on the beach. I dont know what that does for me, but its cool. I just have my heart so filled for the poeple here.

I love life. Thank you.

P.s. good luck to Dallas Rex McGee who will be taking a new look on life tomorrow.

just wait for the pictures to load, they will come (:

Elder McGee

A week to remember and a week that has changed me

Wow. Can I see a week to remember and a week that has changed me for who I am and who I will always be.

This week I went from the high life of working with President, and driving a car to the hard and dirty work of a normal missionary in the sector.

Im serving in the branch of Pichilemu, Chile. We have like 40 people come each week. Half of them are 2 families.

Last tuesday I woke up at 3am to take misisonaries to the airport and pickup the new ones. I didnt take a nap, and ended up in the sector by the nighttime working in the street and contacting people everywhere. I had need been so tired! It was pretty hard to say goodbye to all my buddies there in the office. We had grown together so close. We had all lived together for at least 4 months.

So I live in a beach house in the surf capital of the world. Our house is made of wood and very rustic. Its pretty cool. We live a 2 minute run from the beach. My bed here is essentially a yoga matt layed over some pieces of wood on a bunk bed. Its nice. haha. We got to my sector on tuesday, planned with my new companion for the next day and then went to bed on the worlds most un comfotable bed. We got up an hour early the next day to take a 2 hour bus ride to Santa Cruz to have our district meeting which was really fun. This sector is amazingly beautiful. We have like a couple cement streets and the rest are just mud and dirt. My pants and shoes were gnarly dirty this weeek. haha. We run to the beach each morning, take a nice sit, say a little prayer and then run back to the house! The church here is set on a hill and overlooks the beach and the whole little town. Its super chill here. Everyone just lives the beach life. 

I had the hardest week of my life though. We talked to everyone, we were 100 percent obedient. We did everything we could, but we had like no success in finding people to teach. I am starting what they call a white wash. Where we have no one to teach. We are starting fresh basically. So we are working hard. My companion is really new in the mission and Im just trying to teach him to love the mission. But he doesnt like talking to people, so Im learning very fast to teach and do everything! haha. We even had one day last week where it just rained all night. We were soaked from head to toes. We were covered in mud, and no one wanted to talk to us. It was probably the hardest day of my mission so far. But despite of all the hard stuff going on, Ive never found myself more comfortable with the gospel, and happier than ever. Im full of fire in my bones to teach and love and serve these people. Its amazing how when we follow Gods will, he provides us with happiness no matter whats going on around us.

Im gonna find my rythmn this week and work hard to find people to teach!

I love all of you and pray for you daily. Thanks for the support.

Love,

Elder McGee.

Last week here in la oficina!!

Its been a good run for my money. Ive been here working for 6 months now. I feel like I barely got a grasp of Spanish before I got here, and with all the work that needed to be done, I sky rocketed to being able to get things done in the moment. It was awesome to look back and see some of the miracles I was able to perform making sure missionaries were legal and making our process much more smoother. I definitely saw the hand of God in my life as I worked hard in the office. Thats a fact.

I found a good quote this past week: "Being sad with the right people is better than being happy with the wrong ones." I contemplated a little bit about that, and decided you could always be with the right people, its your choice. I have defniitely been sad and been happy with some of the greatest people here in the office and the ward Im in called Recreo. Its gonna be hard to say good bye, but its part of it. (:

Last monday, we had a meeting with President, and the other senior couples here in the office like we do each week to discuss matters of whats going on in the mission, and how we can improve. President always goes last in his report, and he gave me a warm goodbye and thanked me by saying that I brought my own spirit here into the office and the mission. I took it as a great complement.

This week I also did my last Santiago trip to pull out peoples visas and licenses for them. We had a fun day, and finished with eating at taco bell. I dont think you guys know how thankful I was to see a refill machine. It had been a while. Let alone eating taco bell (even though they only have have the menu).

We also got to eat at my favorite empanada store here in Chile. Its called "Lasagnas," and they sell amazing over cooked emapanadas! So good (:

One day we went down to Talca which is the farthest city south in our mission, which is about 2 hours away. We helped the comisarios (who are in charge of houses) paint a house. It looked super good after we spent the whole day painting and scraping the floor. We ended that day by burning a white shirt, which is a missionary tradition after you pass one year! I did it kinda late, but my companion and one of the comisarios passed one year too!

Ive been working on my family history alot when I have some down time. I have found a whole bunch of poeple, and added a bunch to my family tree on familysearch.com which is super awesome!

All in all, I had a good week! This week I head out to the sector in Pichilemu! Which is the surf capitol of the world. Google it. They have huge surf competitions and big waves there! Im super stoked! Its 1 of the 2 beach sectors in the mission! Ill also have a companion from Chile who only has 6 weeks in the mission, so Ill be finishing his training. Fun stuffffs.

Love you all,

Elder McGee

The glass is more than half full!

1 Jordan 6:14​

"And thus ended his first year​"

3 Nephi 7:26

​[​

And there were many in the commencement of this year

​(my first year)​

 that were baptized unto repentance; and thus the more part of the year did pass away.

 ​]​

​Im officially and sadly half way through! But not half way done, for this work does not ever stop!

We had a good one! We are going to be burning white shirts tonight in honor of all the hard work we have put forth so far!

I have a hint of where ill be transferred to! Its not in Rancagua, and it might be located along the coast! WOOOO. (;

We got home late almost every night this passed week with all the stuff we have been doing! Lots of flights for people going home, lots of visa work, and other good stuff that President wants us to do. This is my last week to give it my all here in the office, and then back to work in the sector! Woooo!

I spent my one year helping out the comasaries paint a house! It was super fun, we had a minor paint war and ended up painting ourselves. Good thing it was water base.

Yesterday we had a big reunion for all the new missionaries for the past two changes! We had some 90 people there. We had chilean completos (hot dogs with mayonase and palta(avocado)). We bought all the bread. It was like 100 dollars. We had to get 180 freshly cooked pieces of bread. It was good to see alot of my good buddies who came out with me, who are now training people! (Ill probably be training this next change or 2)

Pretty basic week, but lots of fun as usuall!

I love all of you guys!

Babe Ruth once said: "Its hard to beat someone who never gives up."

​So whatever you are working on, don't ever stop!

​James 4:1​

4 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what isyour life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away

​We dont have much time. Get things done. Change your life. Come unto Christ. Thank God for everything you have daily.

I took no pictures this week. This is a picture of Harding and I just to show you we are okay. (:

I guess I also have a pictue of all the coins here in Chile I took today.

​

Elder McGee​

My last week being less than a year old in the mish! Ahh!

My last week being less than a year old in the mish! Ahh!

It was a pretty relaxing week here in Rancagua, Chile.

Lets see. Last week in church an hermano from the ward had a heart attack and like all the men from the ward left. It was pretty weird because the meeting kept going on like normal, but like half the people left to go see what was going on! The hermano was fine, and everything worked out, but it was pretty dramatic in the moment! 

This change has been pretty crazy. In the first 4 weeks (out of 6) We had to have special changes 5 times now. Which means that 22 people were affected to make everything work with companions and what not! Thats why you gotta be obedient and not be a bad missionary! Being in the office, Ive learned a lot more of the administrative things of the church and the mission rather than what most missionaries are called to do with ministering the church.

On Mondays we always have a meeting with all the office elders, the finance elder and the senior couple in charge of the houses as well as President and his wife. This Monday, my companion and Elder Harding's companion went to Santiago to do some visa work, so out of the 12 people that are usually in the meeting, we were only 10. Then the comisarios (who are in charge of the houses) left too. So usually we have this meeting in Spanish, and there are only 2 Latins in the office. So when they left, there were no Latinos, and we all just finished the meeting in English. It was just kinda funny! 

Tuesday we took another senior couple up to santiago to help them finish their visa process. Something we usually send the missionaries up to do by themselves, but with the senior couples, we usually help them out. It was a fun day, and we cut through all the lines because they are senior citizens. We finished the process early, and headed over to a... SUBWAY! I haven't eaten a nice sub with sweet onion and mayo for a year now! Wow. nice. huh?

The zone meetings are going on right now (Where president and the assistants travel to every zone and teach how to be better missionaries.) We went to one on Wednesday which was here in Rancagua, and then yesterday we went down to Talca which is the farthest point south in our mission. Chile is a country where you can really only travel north and south. So that's interesting!

We had one house in an area here close get hit by a car. The hermanas weren't home at the time, so everything was good. But that resulted in the hermanas needing a house while their house is being repaired. So that turned into them moving into the house where the other office elders live. We live in an apartment with 15 stories, and 4 apartments in each level. Its like the 5th tallest building here in Rancagua. Anyways now there are 6 elders living in one house. As well as 4 hermanas living on level 5, and another 4 living on level 13. There is a senior couple that lives on level 11, and we live on level 9. So in total, there are 16 missionaries living here!

Today we wanted to go exploring so we went to a nearby city called Doñihue because its located very close to the mountains. We just kinda went and found a sweet mountain and climbed all the way to the top. It took all morning. It was super fun! After, we went to what the call the Safari. Its like a little cool zoo, and they have a thing where you can get into a little cage jeep and go into a field where lions jump on the car and eat meat and what not! Cool stuff. Check out the pictures (:

Anywho. That was my week.

Its interesting. One year ago, wearing a shirt and a tie with slacks was the worst thing and it needed to come off as soon as church was over. Now its the opposite. Its so nice just slipping back into some nice slacks, and a freshly ironed shirt. (:

I think one of the greatest things Ive learned here in the mission is just to love everything that God has given us. The ability to breath each day. The opportunities we have to be with our families, to learn how to communicate, and love. I think this video really explains the idea of just being thankful for what we have:http://www.mormonchannel.org/more-videos?v=3641596636001&cid=HPTH070314304

Awesome huh?

I was reading an old talk this week and found a quote I really liked:

"A man and a woman can come together and bring forth life, but a missionary can come forth a bring eternal life."

Prepare for missions. Be a missionary. Share your feelings. What we have can change others lives forever, and bring eternal life!

Love you all.

Elder McGee

¡Feliz Nacimiento de América!

¡Feliz Nacimiento de América!

Uno de los mayores días nunca!!

I hope everyone had fun blowing up water dynamites, and bottle rockets! I was here in the office working with missionaries visas’! haha. We had a pretty good 4^th though. We made a huge American flag, and everyone in the office wore American flag ties, even the Latinos, and president!!

Today we celebrated the 4^th with all the senior couples and Elders here in the office. We all went over to president’s house and one of the Senior Elders spent a bunch of money and we grilled a TON of meat. It was super fun! I kinda took charge and organized it because the 4^th is one of my favorite holidays. It was super fun to organize another party. I realized how much I had missed that! We got stuffed, and after had a little concert with people playing guitar, piano, and I played some harmonica I’ve been working on. (:  I had a really good week though!

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzP8WWdTiti0LTN2MUs2amZRdnc/edit

We had 3 different special changes this past week which affected some 15 missionaries... They aren’t good because usually something happens with the missionaries and they have to change areas so that there are no more problems!

On Tuesday, we had an awesome leadership council and president said “No hay ninguna persona quien logrará el reino celestial haciendo lo minimo.” (There is not a single person who will achieve the celestial kingdom doing the minimum.) I learned a lot, and it’s always fun being in a room full of the best missionaries in the mission.

One morning this week I woke up super tired, and went to go pray in my study room. I turned my heater on, started to pray… fell asleep and woke up 45 minutes later to a small earthquake.. Good prayer huh?

I’m just having such a blast! The mission is the best! I hope everyone had a fun 4^th of July for it is like my favorite holiday besides Christmas.

I saw a good quote this past week: “The Whole Idea of Mormonism is Improvement, mentally, physically, morally, and spiritually” –Lorenzo Snow.

I love it, it’s everything we are and what we are trying to accomplish in this world!!

Another food for thought this week:

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you?

I love you all, and hope everything is going good!!

Elder McGee