My Plan

Sister McKee,

As your service in the Texas Dallas West Mission draws to a close, we want you to know how deeply we appreciate the contributions you have made to the mission.  As the finish line approaches, we hope that you will continue to consecrate yourself to the Lord's work with a determination to sprint to the end.  Then, as you cross the line with honor, we further hope that you will take with you all of the excellent habits and knowledge that you have gained from your missionary service and put them to practice as a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.

You should soon be able to access My Plan, along with other departure information on your Missionary Portal menu, which have not previously been available to you.  If you do not see these by the beginning of your final transfer, please let us know.  It is important that you begin using some of your personal study time beginning six weeks prior to the end of your mission to complete the six modules in My Plan.  It will guide you through the transition from your missionary labors to a rewarding fruitful life.  Please plan to print out your My Plan prior to meeting with us at the end of your mission so that we can review it together.  Also, please make certain that you share it with your Stake President when you return home so that he can support you and hopefully provide a valuable mentor who will help you throughout your first year home.

Your departure date is expected to be on or about 11 Nov 2020.  We will provide the actual date and time as your departure approaches and we receive your travel itinerary.

Please continue to work hard and help your companion to do the same.  Please review Section 6 of Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ and make a commitment to yourself and to the Lord that you will never stray from the path that you have encouraged so many to find.  Make that commitment be so strong that it may be said of you, as was said of Zoram, that our fears for your eternal welfare will cease with the knowledge that you will tarry with the Lord from this time forth.  (See 1 Nephi 4:37)

Much love and appreciation,
President and Sister Farley
Texas Dallas West Mission

Yay! Congrats for Jash!

Hello everyone! This week was really good! 

On Monday, during p-day I was playing volleyball with my district, and I had an idea to jump off a chair and hit the ball when it was passed to me. Well as i jumped, the chair fell out from under me and I face planted on the gym floor. I also was eating banana bread at that point so it went down my lungs and I was choking on the floor. So, I'm starting this weekly off with a bang.

On Tuesday, we had district council and had a lesson with Jash in the afternoon! It was raining, but our district had made a goal to bike more so we put on our coats and started biking to the park. We got there like 30 min early and the elders told us that we are no longer having it there. We started walking in the rain and found a different place to meet, with an umbrella, and we were trying to contact everyone, when I kept getting promptings that we should go to the original park, so we biked there and there Jash was! It was great! We had a great lesson about commandments, and then we biked home, but my tire was super flat so it was painful ride home and I was yelling the whole time in agony. 

On Wednesday we had our lesson with Jenni and she bashed us for 2 hours. I have to admit, I did have many counter scriptures and we explained a lot to her, but the spirit did not dwell with us, and we both walked away angry. But, I felt at some points "something" telling me not to contradict her on certain things. It was really a pain because when I'm right I like people to know it. Jenni came to church on Sunday though! She had to leave early but said she was glad she came! We prayed the whole time that she would feel the spirit so we are hopeful. 

On Thursday and Friday we had lessons with Jash, and they went really good! He was so excited to get baptized and it went really good on Sunday!! His baptism had so many members and so much support! Then it took him 5 times to be fully immersed, twice standing (and he hit his head on the step), twice kneeling and then finally he sat on the bottom of the font and laid down and it worked! Full immersion!! 

Arzola and I went on exchanges this week and it was a blast! I love her so much. 

I got to use my spanish a little. There is this Jesus billboard and I wanted a pic with it but when we pulled up this little homeless man walked to our car. Now I am paranoid, so I turned on the car so we could get away, but I rolled down the window to say hi! He started talking to me in Spanish and I just said "no hablo espanol" and he just asked for money. So I said “Jesu Cristo??" And we gave him a picture of jesus, and he said "ah papi!" And kissed it and looked at the sky and it was so cute! Then at 6 pm, I just said "buenos dias!" And drove away. I'll get the picture another time.

We got transfer news and I'm staying in the YSA for my 3rd transfer! It's crazy, it doesnt feel like it's been 3 months already! But, time flies when your life great! I'm thriving!! 

Love, 

Sister McKee 

All Is Well

Dear family and friends of the missionaries serving in the Texas Dallas West Mission:

Given the unique circumstances in which we find ourselves, we want to provide updates to you periodically about the missionaries and the work.  I recently finished another round of interviews where I had the opportunity to meet with each missionary.  What a wonderful royal army of consecrated young men and women!  I am so impressed by all the good that they are doing.

There have been a few storms hitting the Gulf Coast recently, but no unusual weather has made it to our mission.  We constantly monitor potentially dangerous weather and social conditions and want you to know that we will take every precaution possible to protect your missionary.  We have emergency plans in place that can be activated on a moment's notice to assure the safety of the missionaries.  Should we have the need to activate that system or move missionaries out of harm's way for any reason, we will advise you of those issues as soon as we are able to do so.  This would include communications before, during (if possible), and after any disruption of the normal day to day functioning of the mission.

We continue to be limited in the things that we are able to do, but are amazed by how the Lord is in the details of the gathering here.  I am witness to the fact that He is making this work move forward by laboring side by side with your sons and daughters.  The work is challenging, as it always has been, but there is no power or influence on earth that can stop its progress.

Under the direction of the North America Southwest Area Presidency, we are still in Phase 1 Covid-19 Missionary Activity Restrictions.  This requires that we observe all appropriate precautionary measures including social distancing and masks.  Most missionaries are now able to attend church regularly in their own area as allowed by the local Church leadership and in accordance with guidelines.  Missionaries serving in wards and branches that do not regularly meet, can now attend other wards and branches, in order to partake of the sacrament weekly.  For gatherings outside the church, we are instructed to avoid groups greater than ten.  We do not actively proselyte, but we do talk to people who are comfortable approaching us.  As such, missionaries are instructed to be outside as much as possible where they can be seen and interact appropriately with the public.  We do not meet with high risk individuals or visit places where high risk individuals might congregate. Exercise is also limited to non-contact sports and where social distancing can be maintained.  We continue to do community service where allowed, again while abiding by appropriate social distancing.

Missionary work in the time of Covid-19 looks different than the traditional work to which we have become accustomed, but it is no less effective.  In fact, much of what we do is significantly more effective than the work done in the past.  While the physical rigors may be less, the emotional and mental exertion required can be very taxing.  For that reason, the missionaries often take small breaks during the day or plan to do many different kinds of finding and teaching throughout the day.

We have found that the most successful and happy missionaries are those who remain missionary purpose driven (see page one, paragraph one of Preach My Gospel), embrace the Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ, and focus on the things that they can do instead of dwelling on those things that they cannot do.  For that reason, we invite you to encourage and help your missionary to do just that... be purpose driven, embrace Missionary Standards, and focus on the things they can do and not so much on the things that they cannot.

Thank you for your sacrifice, love and support.  It is an honor for me and Sister Farley to be here serving along side your missionary.  We pray for you and know that both you and your missionary will be blessed for their consecrated service.

Much love,
Duane and Kristi Farley
Mission Leaders, Texas Dallas West Mission

Pep Talk

I honestly have no idea where the weeks are going, it was last Monday 2 days ago. 

This week has been a good week! 

We had a lesson with Jenni on Tuesday morning, well really she talked to us tor 45 minutes about her ex, and then we introduced the Book of Mormon! She said she would read it and we are meeting again this Wednesday! Woot woot! She is so cute! She did want us to tell all our funny guy stories and so we had to explain "no, we are nuns". She also says "word" after we say something she likes so that was fun.

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On Tuesday I was asked to give a training in district council about diligence, and I had prepared a wonderfully inspirational training, but I left it at home so, I had to wing it. I had a few scriptures, starting talking about my immense love of the gospel and being a missionary, and that led to me standing on a chair while reading D&C 128:22-23. It was amazing. I felt the spirit so strong, no joke, I felt like my spirit was glowing. Am I bragging that I felt the spirit from my own pep talk? Yes, it was that good. I love hyping people up about the gospel, so if anyone needs a pep talk, let me know. Or read D&C 128, it's amazing. 

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We had 2 more lessons with Jash, and he started crying at the spirit world when we explained how all will be taught the gospel, and everyone will know about God and it was so good! 

At the second lesson us and the elders showed up, and he wasn't there so while the elders biked to his apartment we went into this prayer room. I took a picture, it was allowed in there.

We rescheduled the lesson for the next day and we were reviewing the restoration and I gave him my Bible to read Acts 3: 21 about the prophesy of the restoration and it was amazing, he kept reading and read vs. 22 and looked up and said "is this talking about Joseph Smith?" And we all were so happy! Turns out I had that written on the margin of my Bible, but he told us he received his answer that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God! It was so good! He is so happy and excited to get baptized next week! The ward invited him on a campout and apparently he kept asking if they could read the Book of Mormon together and pray together while camping! So good! 

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A set of elders in the zone sent us a referral of a YSA they are teaching and we did a pass of lesson and Elder Vorwaller invited her to be baptized and she said yes!! Her name is Anna and she is on date for oct. 11th!! So, now we are teaching her and she is so sweet!! So many miracles!! 

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The hermanas sent us all the former investigators in our area and we called over 50 people these past two days, and have had a lot of great conversations! One guy told us we have the wrong number and we asked what his name is and he said "I don't know... Jose!" Another guy answered but stopped responding when we introduced ourselves so, we taught him the first lesson and hung up. Another guy said "I don't believe in the Bible, or Jesus, but let me bash you" and then told us he wants to get baptized Monday after he parties all weekend, so we are anticipating his call. 

I had to ask my roommates if I had any Awkward Malena Moments this week and one said "when the elders returned the car in the middle of the conversation you picked up a rock with your foot and threw it across the street and went on like nothing happened." And honestly I barely remember doing that. haha.

In the powerhouse section 128 in the D&C, vs. 19 is so amazing, and speaks of the blessings that we relieve from the gospel: 

19 Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth! As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them!

When I read this, I just feel so Much joy! It all comes back to joy, mercy, repentance, eternal life! And how beautiful are the feet of those who bring the gospel! (Even those that throw rocks in the middle of conversations) God reigneth! He lives! It's so incredible that we have a God who not only rules us as a whole, but also is so keenly aware and care so much about us individually. He is there to listen to us and help us, and bring us joy! The gospel is so true y'all, and I hope you are all saving your doctrinal questions and interesting conversations for me, because I'm pretty sure the gospel will be all I want to talk about for a while :) You've been warned! 

Sis. McKee 

Cold Hands

Hello Everyone!

This week was so much better! If I've learned anything, is that when you hit rock bottom, it can only go up or stay the same, and it goes up exponentially when you check your attitude.

This week may be the most awkward/funny week in a while. so much good stuff happened, just wait.

On Tuesday was interviews, and the first thing he tells me is "Sister McKee, I just told your companion how your life is a sad country song right now, "I lost my best friend, I lost my truck, I lost my people..." and you need to quit singing that song. Don't be so teary." It was really funny. I also dressed freaking sick that day and everyone roasted me on it, even though it was really cool. Pics included. I'm sad to say I haven't lost my sense of style.

That day we also had a Bible study with someone the Elders are teaching and it was really fun, except I think I scared him on my overzealousness for the Bible, but it was so fun. I love being able to use my love of the Bible for good. The guy we did the study with is named Josh, and we are working on the Elders sending him over to us and he is going to get baptized on the 27th!! Yay!

Jacob is doing so good right now! He got a JOB!! Which is so good, and a guy in the ward gave him a white shirt and tie and it was so sweet! He was so happy at church! 

On Wednesday we went to the temple! Sister Dixon wasn't endowed and so we got to go do a session! It was so great! I loved going to the temple! It was so refreshing!

On Thursday we had MLC and it was super fun! We talked a lot about Unity and we also had really good tacos.

On Friday we had a lesson with Josh again, and I had prepared a really good Bible study and it was wonderful, but I had again gotten excited about the Bible and I had over prepared so he lost his attention span. 

SUPER AWKWARD MALENA MOMENT:

So when the lesson had first started Josh was talking about how the wind was blowing and how he was cold. We were all grabbing each others hands to do a prayer circle (We fist bumped the Elders, don't worry) and he mentions that his hands are cold. I had been zoning out and said the most stupid thing ever, and said "You know, I just love holding Cold hands! Its just so nice, when one is warm and one is cold..." and I looked up and everyone was staring at me. It was so awkward, and Josh was really weird after that. and wow. guys, so awkward.

Another awkward moment is that while we were all cleaning the church and I showed up in my service clothes but everyone else was in proselyting clothes so I needed to change. The kitchen accordion door was closed so I went in there with the other sisters and threw my dress on over my clothes. As I was pulling my tshirt out of my sleeve this poor greenie elder OPENED THE DOOR AND THE SISTERS SCREAMED AND I JUST STARED AT HIM. HE was completely surprised too and we all just sat there frozen til after what felt like 30 years, I dropped to the ground. It was so awkward. Basically I did many stupid things this week. hahaha.

WE FOUND SOMEONE TO TEACH!!! HER NAME IS Jennie and she came up to us and talked to us in the park! Her ex is a member and so she was open to talking to us and we are meeting her for breakfast tomorrow!!

This week was awesome! I hope y'all have a great week! 

Love, 

Sister McKee 

Fourth Watch

Guys, it's been a hard week. I feel like y'all have heard of many hard weeks of mine lately, but y'all did not pay the deluxe weekly payment, so you do not get the sugar coating :)

So, Monday night we were planning on doing one last music Monday, Snoop and I. Well, Elder Throckmorton and McKinnon told us all these new rules for fb and we have to plan better so we were planning this live forever, and when we finally got around to filming it, it was so late and everyone was super frustrated and it was a wreck and all our rides were waiting around for us and we all went home and cried for a long time because it was also Snoop Dog's last night and she and I had to pack all night. Which was also fun, because I learned of her excessive hoarding skills. She has over 100 pens, plastic bags, rope, a headlamp (which she made me pack in her carry on incase the plane lights went out and they were crashing, which made me ask her, "how will you get your 50 lbs carry on out of the overhead compartment, while the plane is crashing to get your headlamp out!" And she just scoffed), enough sticky notes to cover our truck, 4 English BofM's which I confiscated, and random peices of paper she has collected. It was fun to go through it, she's like a tiny traveling hoarder. I'm gonna miss her a ton. 

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Tuesday was full of losses. First, the Elders made Snoop goodbye cinnamon rolls, which were great, and we jammed in the car on the way to the church, but then I had to say goodbye and she got in the van and we stared at each other through the window and I cried and she just frowned (not very emotional), and it was the most heartbreaking experience of my adult life. I feel like my child got taken from me, and it's been a hard adjustment with her gone. 

THEN, right after that, I had to take my new comp (Sister Dixon) to Enterprise and they took away my truck and gave us a small car with almost no road authority. 

Then, I got the program I have to complete before I go home, which is pretty much saying "hello, get trunky". What are they gonna do if I don't complete it? Send me home??? 

All we've done this week is call members! It's been cool to get to know the ward, and we've gotten a few meals out of it! One member we called is spent 37 minutes explaining a dream he had to us and then asked us to interpret it. It was sacrilegious so I won't explain it here. Another member told us she hasn't come to church in 3 years but wants daily scriptures so that's awesome! 

Jacob is doing well, he is going strong right now, but is struggling to find a job! Please pray for him! He also told us he doesn't want the priesthood because he doesn't want to be a missionary, and so once we explained that he felt a lot better! He is praying about when he should recieve the priesthood because he wants to be ready! 

We also have been trying to help with the zone facebook page! Yesterday this lady messaged me a long story about satan and asked me to interpret it, so obviously Facebook is going great. 

We got a referral this week for a guy named JD who is cool, his mom is being taught and referred him, and he is excited about the Book of Mormon! 

The elders also brought their friend Josh to our ward yesterday because he is YSA, and soon we will be able to teach him! 

We are really, really, really struggling to find people right now. Which is really weird, because everyone else in our zone is doing fine at it. 

Awkwardest Malena Moment of the century:

So, there is this member, Tiffany, who is a ward missionary and she was helping me and Snoop and the Elders with the Facebook page. After our meeting I told her thanks and that we will bring her brownies or something. Then i said "but don't worry, they won't be pot brownies because we are missionaries" and she joked "well if they aren't pot brownies I will be very disappointed." 

So, we decided to make her and her roommate brownies and doorbell ditch them with a note that said "these brownies may or may not contain pot! Love the sister missionaries!"

Soo, flash forward to this week, Tiffany takes us to dinner and I asked if she enjoyed the brownies and she said "I didn't get them." TURNS OUT SHE MOVED AND WE GAVE A RANDOM STRANGER BROWNIES AND SAID THEY MAY OR MAY NOT CONTAIN POT. So, wow that was so awkward. Idk who got them, but I hope they enjoyed them. 

We went on exchanges with Hermana Bronson and Skidmore this week and it was so fun! Hermana Skidmore is so cool and didn't even care that we had nothing to do all day! I tried to make it fun, but there is only so much you can do when it's pouring rain and you have no one to teach. hahah.

So, before she left Snoop gave me this really good talk, called 'Bread or Stones', from a BYU Hawaii devotional. I will include an excerpt here: 

And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea. (6:46-48) In John’s account of this particular story we read that the apostles had rowed the equivalent of about seventy-five football fields against the wind. There are times in our lives when we toil, rowing against the wind. We are trying to make progress and sometimes it seems that there are forces that are against us. There may be some great blessing that we deeply desire. There may be some trial that we want deeply to be over. And it doesn’t seem like we are making any headway against the wind. We wonder if the Lord is listening.
Now we need to understand something about our Father in Heaven, and that is that He is a fourth watch God.

... Sometimes that creates a bit of a problem for us, certainly for me. I worship a fourth watch God. One who tends to feel that it is good to let His children toil in rowing against the wind to face a little opposition. My problem is that I am a first watch person. Now there is something inside of me that understands that it is good for me to toil in rowing against the wind. But certainly by the second watch He would come. And when the second watch has passed and He still has not come. Sometimes I forget that as Mark says, He is watching. He watched them toiling and rowing.
...I began to make some assumptions that are often dangerous to make—maybe you make the same. We begin to assume that, number one, He is not there. That is why He’s not responding. And then we calm down and understand that He is there; He is always there. Then the second assumption is if He is there, He must not be listening. And then again, in calmer times—He always listens. Well then the third assumption is He must not care. No—He’s there, He listens, He cares. Maybe the most dangerous assumption, the fourth assumption is I must not be worthy. Now that fourth assumption we are probably correct on. But when has that ever stopped Him from responding; we are as worthy as we can be. We must assume that we have not yet reached the fourth watch; and He is a fourth watch God....

We worship a fourth watch God. So when the trials aren’t over and the blessings don’t come, don’t assume that He is not there, or He is not listening, or He doesn’t care, or you’re not worthy. Always assume you have not yet reached the fourth watch.

I really like this excerpt. We all go through hard things, and we all struggle to endure. This week was probably the hardest week of my mission, and as I've shared this thought with members I've had two thoughts

1. About those who leave in the 3rd watch. Those who feel like they've endured enough, they made it to the 4th watch and no one came, and stop trying. Those who feel like God wasn't listening and probably never will be. But God is always listening, he always cares, and he's always watching. He wants us to grow! If God came as soon as we called, what good would that do? What would we learn? So if you feel like giving up, keep going, keep enduring. It's not always great, but nothing is ever great without first being really hard.

2. We don't actually know how long the first 3 watches will be. I think about prayers I've had which I feel unheard, questions I've asked that aren't answered, and situations I've been in that have lasted WAY to long. Sometimes the first 3 watches last 2 years, 5 years, 30 minutes... but God will come. He made a covenant with us that he will. He always will come. So, if you feel like your first 3 watches have lasted too long, keep going. Enduring to the end makes us stronger. God is not a lazy God and God needs strong children.

I love you all! I hope you don't get super depressed reading my emails! All's good with God! I hope you have a great week! 

-Sista McKee

444

Hello everyone! I don't have much time so I'm going to bullet points.

1. We had zone conference on Tuesday and it was so good! We talked about bike safety and about other fun stuff, and then President and Sister Farley each gave us 5$ to go to lunch. What can we even buy with $5???? Not much we learned. The only thing we could find was the 4for4 at Wendy''s, and Snoop wanted to bike. 

2. So, we decided to bike to Wendy's, which was 2.2 miles away in the big city. haha! It was a nice ride there, once I figured out the gears, but after we ate the 444 and left quickly after, we realized that eating fast food and biking really fast doesn't mix. I almost puked on the side of the road. It was super fun.

3. We had Jacob's baptism this week! It was so incredible! He choked when he went under the water, and it was really sad when he came up, but also a little funny. It was so cool when he recieved the Holy Ghost and he couldn't stop smiling!! :) It was great! 

4. We went to a cute donut shop!

5. It turns out I haven't been as sufficently humbled as needed, and so they are taking away my truck and my companion tomorrow. I'm kinda sad, i'm very sad Sis. Snoop dog is leaving.

5.5 I locked us out of the bathroom, so we had to take an early morning trip to Lowes and it was so fun.

6. We dropped every single person in our area book. It total depressed us out, and we don't really know what we are going to do.  We have ZERO people to teach, so i'm super depressed. I don't know what we are gonna do...

7. I'm getting a new comp tomorrow! WOohoo!

I love you all! I'm sorry I Don't have a spiritual thought this week, but I have many great photos that I will include. So Have a great week!

-Sister McKee