Sister Malena McKee : Matthew 14

Email from December 30th….

Guys what a week:

Monday night we had another really good lesson with the VW's and they really liked the Book of Mormon and said they will read everyday! And, we texted them and they really are reading as a family and the ward is being awesome at fellowshipping and ahh, they're so awesome.

That night we also had a lesson with the H. family and their kids were crazy!!! So, I pulled out my emergency play dough and handed them each a chunk and they all sat down quietly and played with it. As we were reading their dad looked over and yelled "where did you get that!!" And they all looked at me and he felt really bad and went "oh no, it's okay. That was a good idea..." I spent 5 minutes on the ground picking play dough out of their rug and then took it all back. Supes awkward.

Tuesday was Christmas Eve, and it was the WORST! First, all our lessons didn't work out. So, we decided to give out our Christmas pass along cards by knocking and we ended up tracting on Christmas Eve and no one liked us and no one would talk to us! Then, we tried caroling and it didn't work and we tried to visit members... and really, worst Christmas Eve ever. Then, we went to 2 members houses and it was awkward. Essentially, it was a hard night. BUT, that night we had nothing to do and I was really depressed when I got a call from Kelly Kelly, aka my favorite person from Arlington, and she had driven 40 minutes and brought us a huge package of gifts and a gingerbread house and I was so happy I cried.

Christmas was better!! I opened all my presents and then we went to Carrollton and had a waffle party with the zone and it was so FUN! One mom sent fake snowballs so we had a snowball fight.

We called our families and had dinner with a family that really misses Sister Wilson, the sister that was here before me. The, we were gonna go caroling with the sisters and all the old people were asleep so we tried to carol at a gas station and he said no but then gave us Twizzlers and free drinks. I was worried the Twizzlers were drugged but Sister Tshimanga took one so I was preparing to carry her out.

This week was hard. We had nothing planned, no lessons, no planned contacts, nothing. Every night we spent contacting a bunch of people, and no one would answer! We went to 15 separate houses Saturday night and not a single person answered. Well, actually one guy did and we said “Hi we are missionaries and we'd love to share a message" and he said "I grew up Mormon, I've heard all the messages". People tend to forget that the most important step is "enduring to the end”.

Our neighbors are harassing us so we are staying at the Flower Mound sister" Apt. while they work it out and move or whatever happens, so we are all crammed in this tiny apartment and it's been so much fun!! We have been having a blast.

Tonight we did more contacting and we went to someone who had at one point had a baptism date but got dropped and we showed up and said “hi, is Jesus here?" (Not the actual Jesus) and the lady who answered the door said "I need you! I need your church!" And she wanted Spanish missionaries to come over! Jesus is in jail but it was really awesome. We sent her to the hermanas and she is really excited!

Awkward Malena Moments:

• We had a very awkward moment on Christmas Eve when all the adults got together and talked about how happy they are that they don't have to be with their families. We just sat and didn't say anything.

• We went caroling at a members house and when they opened the door the husband ran to find his wife. We sang to his daughter and when we were done the wife crawled out of the hallway. In his excitement the husband had ran and knocked the wind out of his wife and elbowed her in the ribs. I couldn't stop laughing. It was funny. She was ok.

I love y'all! I love Jesus (Jesus Christ, not the one in prison), He is amazing.

Sister McKee

Email from Jan. 6….

This week was so much better than all the past 3 weeks. It's been quite a hard adjustment and they dragged on and I cried a lot. But, this last week was so awesome! We had a ton of lessons set up! Like 1 a day, which is big for this area! 95% of them fell through but we had some really good contacts and we are starting to actually have work to do. I'm so excited! This area hasn't had a baptism in a year and so it's full of potential teaching opportunities.

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□On Tuesday we had interviews and had a training on teaching to needs. Well, I got caught off guard and instead of explaining simply on why we need the Book of Mormon, I went into a 10 minute history on how the Bible came to be and why addition scripture was important because of the principles lost in the multiple translations. It was crazy and the elder, who was being called Susan, just walked away after. #awkward.

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We had some really awesome correlations and presented all the stuff we've done in the area, which is so much and I was so excited to share it. And the ward mission leader in Lantana was so excited and told us there is a foreign exchange student who "you will baptize him". And we were supposed to have a lesson yesterday but they were out of town so next week!! 🤞 He wants to learn more and is super solid and I'm so excited to reignite the fire here!

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One night after all our lessons cancelled we went and visited this family who the mom is a "dry member" (someone who is active but never baptized) and we sang “We wish you a Merry Christmas" but yelled the "and a Happy New Year" part. And she said they had just gotten home from a trip but thanks and we left. Well, yesterday at church we got bombarded by the ward council because apparently this woman had called the bishop and she wants to get baptized!!! Not from us coming over, that was just a cool coincidence, but now we have another solid person!!! Ahhh

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One night we were going through people who had been dropped in the past and came across a family of a mother and 2 girls. They seemed super solid but had left town and gotten dropped. So, we stopped by and the girls said they are interested in taking the lessons again!!! It was so great!!

There is this couple, Tammy and Mark, who moved in and aren't members, but Mark's stepdad is in the ward. So, we have been trying to teach them and Tammy has been reading the Book of Mormon, but all our lessons at members houses keep falling through. But, Brother Ray, who is friends with Mark told us we will have a lesson Wednesday! And, he didn't even keep it subtle, he told Mark “The missionaries want to teach you so come over" so that's awkward... we were dying when he told us and said "that is NOT how you do it!!" But it worked.

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So there is this family that doesn't like me that much. Because they love Sister Wilson and I'm not her and it made Christmas very awkward when no one would talk at dinner so, I was jabbering on trying to fill the silence. I was also talking so I didn't have to eat the Pea Soup they made for dinner. Well, this week we had dinner again and they were a lot nicer! And, told us of how their son, who is on his mission, has a ward member who doesn't like him because he got transferred in and is different than the past missionary and how rude it is of that man to dislike their son!! So, that was definitely a blessing because I need them to like me. So, I am thankful for the Elders Quorum President who doesn't like their son.

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Me, being Native American has softened so many hearts. Three times just this week we have met Native Americans who have loved to talk to me about it! Members who said they are busy end up talking for 25 minutes and showing me all their decorations. One lady did say to me “Your hair isn't Indian hair though! Look at those blonde highlights!" And I said “Any hair I have is Indian hair! Because I'm Indian!” And, she thought that was funny. But, it has helped so much. What a blessing. And they always mention how those lamb-an-ites are our ancestors and one woman told how her tribe has a similar story to Nephi and Laman and the feud between tribes. Super super cool.

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We got to move back into our apartment on Thursday after a week of living with the Flower Mound sisters. It was a fun time, but we are happy we don't have to sleep on the floor anymore. Our apartment has been deemed safe and we are good to go.

Awkward Malena Moments: I haven't had these in a while because missions are hard and sometimes boring. But, opposition in all things:

▪︎We were visiting a member and could see him through the window and as he walked up I said “Oh, he doesn't have a shirt on. Thats so awkward" And then I realized they have a Ring doorbell and everything I said is on that. Usually, I'm better at Ring doorbells and just compliment their doors and wreaths but, oh man, super bad.

▪︎We visited another family and they were talking about Disney Plus and how it has all the Marvel Movies but 2, and then at the next house I was talking to this girl about movies and still remember a lot of stuff and they jokingly accused me of watching movies since I've been out. Well, then she mentioned Marvel and how 2 aren't on Disney Plus, and I said “Yeah, Infinity War and Black Panther are still on Netflix" and everyone looked at me, and I had to explain how I knew that and no, I haven't watched any Marvel since I've been out. So really, some families might assume I'm apostate, but I shared a really good message, so that's ok.

▪︎Aa little boy climbed on my lap yesterday at dinner and I had to push him off because #cantholdchildren

▪︎My razor broke so I only had the razor head and not the handle so I just used that and now have huge cuts on my legs again.

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A friend of mine sent me this story and I thought it was really good: It's in Matthew 14: 26-31 about Peter walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

I have been thinking a lot about this story and the amount of faith Peter has. 1. He had the courage to ask to step out of the boat, for Jesus to give him that power to walk on stormy seas, to rise above the storm which he feared. 2. He had the courage to trust in Jesus and actually get out of the boat. He asked Jesus to help him and then actually stepped out! And he trusted that when his faith faltered, that Jesus would save him.

How often do we have the faith to step out of the boat. We may have the courage to ask God to help us, but we also have to take that step of faith on our own and trust that Jesus will save us when we fall. We cannot doubt. And if we start to fall, just like Peter, Jesus will immediately catch us if we call out to him. I know this is true.

I love you all! Have a great week!!

Sister McKee

Wow this email is long. Good luck reading it! If you made it through it I'm impressed and you can email me and I'll send you a painting. Let me know. Jk jk, but my email is malena.mckee@missionary.org