My RBF proceeds me

So, missions are a real time of improvement and progression, but sadly, I've realized my resting face hasn't progressed. We were all at a baptism and I really wanted to go get lunch and everyone was taking forever and an elder had snapped some pictures and sent them. haha. Then, I realized just how hungry I actually was.

This week was great!! It was warm again, and rained again, so it was great! 

We had exchanges again and I took pictures this time! It was so fun with Sister Jager! We went to the bishop's storehouse and met a really cute family and ate 100 calorie popsicles. It was wonderful.

On Wednesday was Sister Mabila's bday and so we wanted to find a golden investigator and we had some people in mind but none of them answered so we went to visit Kora and for the 2nd time in a week we caught her while she was coming or leaving and it was perfect timing, and we were able to give her a Book of Mormon. I was holding it and just stuck a book mark in a random chapter, and told her if she reads it she will grow closer to God. And I was major stressing out because I didn't know if Alma 5 would be good, but as I studied it I know that chapter was for her! It was perfect!!! 

We met a really cool guy named Orlin from Bulgaria and he was nice and let us in and told us he isn't interested in changing but likes our church and we talked to him and his daughter for like 40 minutes. When he first answered the door he said “Sorry the dog is aggressive towards strangers but he will calm down" and that dog did not bark a single time, he just sat and cuddled with us. When we were leaving Orlin said “This isn't normal that Rufus doesn't bark". And I looked at him and said “Its because he feels the spirit because this is the true church". And he just brushed us off. Haha. 

Heres two Awkward Malena Moments going into mission prep: 

•as we were walking into the church it was dark and a woman who had the same hair as a young woman in the ward was walking out. Well, I thought this yw was ditching mission prep so I yelled "where do you think you're going!" And proceeded to tease who I thought was this youth. Well, it wasn't, and I apologized a lot, but felt so bad. hahaha

•in mission prep a Returned Missionary was there and we all introduced ourselves then he said “Oh I've met the elders in my ward! Elder Stanz and Stanley!" And I said “Oh yeah! We love them!" And they all looked at me and I said “Only as much as missionaries can love each other..." and wow, that just made it more awkward. 

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Anyways...

On Friday we visited an old folks home and these two women were conspiring against us and it was spooky. 

We asked Edgar if we could come share a message with his family right after dinner and his wife made us a second dinner. But don't worry, I just brought back my old tricks from when I was a picky eating child and most of it slyly went in a napkin in my pocket :). 

Then, we tried to show them a video and we'd never seen it before, and it was this super cheesy old 80s movie and I loved it. I invite all to watch “My Heavenly Father's plan" when you are sad, because I was laughing the whole time. And his wife didn't get anything out of it, which stinks, but Edgar liked it a lot! 

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On Saturday night we had a phone lesson with Tammy and wow it was so good! And then Sister Mabila invited her to be baptized and she said YES!!! She also came to church yesterday for the first time and LOVED it. A member came up to her and said "tell me when you are getting baptized" and I think it caught her off guard, but she's in the right direction and wow, I'm so happy. Tammy is great. 

Yesterday we had back to back lessons which is rare here! We first went to Jennifer, who is 11 and no one else in her family is interested, but she loves meeting with us. It's so great, and her dad had heard the weirdest anti I've ever heard and so we had to spend like 30 minutes explaining it all to him. He told us he is gonna read the whole Book of Mormon just to see what it's all about, which is cool. 

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Then, we went contacting and knocking and this guy was outside so we went to talk to him, Travis. And, he told us he believes in modern day revelation and all this stuff, and then invited us in and asked us some questions. His wife stood and talked to us too, and then we asked what he believes. It was the craziest thing because he pretty much taught us the plan of salvation!! I was speechless and then he said "now this is weird but I also believe in a second heaven/hell before judgement (aka the spirit world). They told us they don't want to change, but we can come back! And I said "you don't have to change! You believe everything we believe!” But, they are apprehensive of the Book of Mormon, but agreed to read it. So, pray for Travis and Maggie. God needs them on his side. 

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Then, we went to visit Pam and she wasn't home, so we left a card and she actually called us to come back!! So, we went back and had a pretty good lesson with her! It started bashy, because she's thought we were saying only we could pray to God and stuff and making all these weird accusations, but then we said a prayer and testified her ears off and we could see her face soften up and her demeanor changed and she wanted to know more. It ended great and she is gonna read and pray and wow, God is good. Pray for Pam.

Wow, today I filled the tires with air and I only had to call my mom and my dad and go to 2 gas stations, so wow, I'm an adult and everything now. The mission is really a great place to grow. 

I love you all! Read the Book of Mormon! As you see above, we just really want people to read it for themselves because that's the way to get closer to God and to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and be closer as a family and do better in school and pretty much everthing we need. Because, when we read the Book of Mormon it shows our Heavenly Father we are willing to work to receive blessings and he blesses us. That's how it works. 

I love y'all! 

- Sister McKee

Appropriate Street Signs, haha

 Beautiful Texan Sunset

 Bobbie went to the temple and did baptisms for the dead.  woohoo

 We went to a restaurant and they serve exotic meats, but they only were serving venison today. It was good.

 Thumbs up for mom!

Last p-day one of the elders brought the hottest chocolate ever.  His mom sent it to him, and everyone tried a tiny piece.  It was so hot! and then I drank 4 big glasses of milk to try and counteract the burning in my mouth.  Sis. Mabila ended up throwing up.  I was also sick for the rest of the day.

That chocolate was awful!

Oranges and Worcestershire Sauce

Hello everyone! 

So, it rained half the week and now its 72⁰ and we love it. We studied outside and tanned our legs up to our knees and had a lot more positive conversations about the weather with Texans. A Texan's day depends a lot on the weather, so we are enjoying it now! 

 

 

On Monday night we had exchanges with Sister Koyle and it was so fun!! No pictures to come because we didn't take any. Then, we had interviews and did a training on following up on commitments and my team lost the scavenger hunt because our clues weren't actually put out, so we just went to the end and got the prize. It's gamesmanship. 

During my interview President told me I might be leaving the area even though I've only been here 2 transfers because Sister Mabila is too scared of change, so we are excited/nervous to see where I go or if I'll stay!! But it's still 2 weeks out. 

Malena, Sister Chapman, and Sister Mabila at interviews.

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On Tuesday night we were trying to contact a member and as we were walking through this complex I just turned and walked up to this door without thinking, and we met our pal, Patty! She is awesome and told us we could come back! I know we were really led to her! She dropped us 2 days later, and said to come back in a few months, and we definitely will!! Or at least who ever is here will. 

Then, we went and tried to visit a man who in our area book is referred to as "Mike the Eagles Fan". Well, Mike the Eagles Fan didn't live at that address anymore but a woman does, who answered the door holding a parrot, and said I could hold it. Then, the stupid bird bit my ear and so I hit it and it flew away. Then, I wanted to make peace and went by the bird again and took off all my jewelry and she bit my face, but this crazy lady said I just need to take it. So, I was chillin there till he wouldn't let go of my face and got tangled in my hair. There are pictures and possibly a video to come. And then, we had a spiritual experience with the lady and it was strong and testifying, that this is the true church and she said no, but luckily Sister Mabila had a Book of Mormon, and she took the Book of Mormon!  2 days later, totally not a coincidence, we ran into her at Braum's and she had been reading it!!! We are so excited for her! Forgot her name though. 

 

 

 

 

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On Wednesday night we were knocking in the rich neighborhoods and people really didn't like us and were mean, but, we met this one Muslim lady named Ssma (pronounced asthma), and she was so funny and told us it was too cold to be outside, then she had us sit and wait outside while she went and got us European candy and Vietnamese coffee, which we had to explain we don't drink, and she was so cute.  As we were walking away she yelled "you should all change religions so you don't have to walk outside all the time!" And I yelled "you should join our religion so we can hangout more" and she said "you will hangout with me no matter what religion I am!" It was funny, I love her.

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Ahna and Lilly came to church this week!!! It was so awesome!! They were so excited to be there! I love them!! 

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So, y'all better be ready for the MOST AWKWARD MALENA MOMENT in probably all my mission:

So, it happened. Most of the time when we have dinners people ask what we want and we say “We like everything, except Sister McKee hates oranges, and Sister Mabila hates mushrooms" and then we are okay. Well like 2 weeks ago this member didn't ask us, and we come and she made MANDARIN ORANGE SOUP! With rice and stuff. Well, I got my rice, and she asked if I wanted soup and I said "sorry no, I won't eat oranges, I hate them..." and this lady felt bad so I said " no no, don't worry, I love rice! So I'll just put this sauce on it!!” And, grabbed this sauce and dumped it on and then looked at the label:Worcestershire Sauce. And, I had proceeded to dump this steak marinating sauce all over my rice. And I choked down, all of it, because I felt so bad for not eating their soup. And then, when their son came home the lady said "they're plenty of food left because Sister McKee doesn't like it!" 

So, that was awkward, but they signed up again. So, we went back and she told us she wanted to redeem herself, and made us spaghetti casserole. Which was good, but I got insanely sick the next day with the stomach flu so it all came back up, and spaghetti casserole doesn't have a good image in my head anymore. 

I was sick all day Friday, so we didn't do much except watch all the movies on gospel media and sleep a lot. I was really bummed we had to be home all day but I kept dreaming that I was teaching and woke up reciting lessons in my head so I felt focused in spirit at least. 

Picture Malena sent to Mom.  Poor girl.

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My spiritual thought is weird this week: 

So, one night this week I had a dream that I was home from my mission and I had a baby. He and I were hanging out and having fun together, but when I woke up I really missed my baby, even though I couldn't remember what he looked like or his name or anything. But, it reminded me of that verse in 1 Nephi 21: 15-16,

15 For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

We are never forgotten and we are graven on Christ's hands, and even though I forgot my dream baby,  vs. 15 is supposed to show how unlikely it is that a (real) mother would  forget their child, but that is more likely than our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ forgetting us, so remember that. 

I told y'all it was weird!! 

I love y'all! 

Sister McKee 

The STL’S heart attacked us.  (See the Flamingo on my dress??)

And I made the candy hearts mission appropriate. Haha

Cute outfit

We are all fighting the good fight!

Hey everyone! 

It's been a while since a weather report, so let me tell you. Its frigid!!!! I was thinking Texas would be like Southern California, warmish all the time, but its been pretty cold and rainy these past few weeks lol. But, I'm forever thankful that we have a car and members who offer to drive us if we don't! Grateful, thankful and blessed.

This week was slower, we didn't have a whole lot because its been so cold and I have a bad cold so I'm just dead inside, but we managed to find 5 new people! A legit blessing becsuse they hadn't been finding people in this area for like 6 months! 

One was a woman named Shay, and her name was in our records from like 2 years ago but we didn't have much else, so we went by and asked for Shay and she seemed really apprehensive cause we knew her name, but her 11 year old daughter was so excited for us to come and her name is Jennifer and we asked if we could teach a lesson and she said YES!! And so we taught Jennifer a lesson, outside, in the roaring wind and it was so incredible! She loved learning about the restoration really quick, and when we looked at her mom, she had a few tears rolling down her face and Jennifer asked us if we would please come back again!! She was so sweet! We are going back again this week! 

So, there is this member, who I love, Sister Martin and she is actually moving to Utah so keep an eye out. We invited her and her daughter to a lesson, and when we were knocking Sister Martin pushed us aside and started knocking on the door and peeking through the window and it was so funny! Then, she asked if we could take them knocking so, I took her daughter down one side of the street and Sister Martin and Sister Mabila went down another and it was so fun! I love her! 

We had a lesson with Christina,Shen, and Skyler again and it went so good! They were so excited for us to come and we sat around the table and there was a pot with woodchips in it and we asked if they were growing something and Shen said no, it had died a few years ago and ripped it out. Well, then the cat knocked the pot over and all this water came out. So, it turns out Christina had been watering this empty pot for like a year! We laughed and laughed and we used it to teach them about how she had faith and hope that it'd grow and how she is such a good example of hoping for this plant to grow, but we still laughed and her son teased her a lot. It was funny.

This week I have been reading a lot of talks by Jeffery R Holland and this quote is just so amazing 

"I had a missionary ask me once if I would give my life for the Church. I 

said, “Elder, I am giving my life for the Church.” I know what he meant. 

What he meant was, “Would you die for it?” Well, that’s the easy part. 

That’s a snap! On some days it looks really appealing. That’s the easy 

part, to die for it. Well, what God needs is people who will live for it, 

people who will go the distance, people who are in this race we’re talking 

about that will go all the way to the tape. And some may die along the way 

and that’s wonderful, but He needs people who will finish the work. He 

needs people who will wrap this up, and that’s the pledge I make to you, 

and that’s the pledge He asked. We’re in this together."

As my dad tells me every week, "We are all fighting the good fight! We are all in this together! Stick with it!”  If you want more, email my parents, their really good at pump up speeches. 

Yall are awesome! 

Sister McKee 

Sis. Johnson

How to be a good missionary by Andrew Bernard

If any of you have seen the office, season 3, episode “The Merger", Andrew Bernard gives 3 sure-fire ways he is going to climb the career ladder, these are: 

1. Name repetition 

2. Body mirroring 

3. Never break a handshake 

Coincidentally, these are also what to do to always be a good missionary. So, thank you Andy Bernard. 

Your character on the show wasn't completely useless. 

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Anyways, this week was super awesome! We had zone conference and it was super fun! We had a lot of trainings on "taking it back to the grove" which essentially is what Elder Renlund taught about how everything we teach should relate back to Joseph Smith's experience in the Sacred Grove! It was so cool! I always am so pumped after zone conferences! 

That night we had an awesome lesson with the Van Wagoners, the less active family trying to come back! We have been really struggling to know what to teach them and suddenly, Christina just opened up and pretty much told us everything we needed to help them, we got direction and she said she wants to get her patriarchal blessing. It was just so so good! I was so excited! 

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We went contacting for 4 hours but no one answered so we decided to go to Chick Fil A and use their wifi to send videos to our people. As I was in line to get fries I started talking to a woman and we chatted for a while! Turns out her best friend went on a mission to Indianapolis like 40 years ago and she really respected it and then gave us a 10$ gift card!! So sweet! What a miracle! 

We had another lesson with Misty, and as soon as we went over she said "my family wants to meet you." We sat on her porch and were slightly worried that we walked into a bash. But, her mom, aunt and sister came out and they were so sweet! Her mom told us how she'd been trying to go to church her whole life but hasn't found one that  fits her yet. We asked her why she's thinks there are so many churches and went into the restoration! Her mom, Joyce, thought it was so amazing and we were having a really good lesson then Paul came. And Misty said “Paul will want to talk to you, he loves church stuff". Then, I was worried. He started going on and on and Misty kept telling him to stop because she wanted to hear us and not him. At one point he wanted to analyze some scriptures with us and I said "no we don't want to read your scriptures :). We have our own plan! Misty, can you open to Alma 32?” And, I was really nice about it but, he was mad and left. We then had an awesome lesson with them! Joyce really enjoyed it and said she felt uplifted during it!! 

t was so awesome!! 

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We had a not good lesson with Ahna and Lilly (the 8 year old girls who we can't mention Baptism to) and I won't go into details but really, it's a miracle we are allowed to come back again. 

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Hey, I love y'all! And, don't forget the 3 steps to being a good missionary! 

Sister McKee

 Mom sent Malena this picture and asked who she was rooting for in the Super Bowl. 

 She sent back this photo.  Haha.