No, you shouldn't join the Islam church....

Hello everyone! 

This week passed so fast! I swear, it was Monday night and then I blinked (which sometimes takes longer because my contacts dry out, but not much longer) and now it is Monday again! 

Monday night we recorded a video, Mckinnon, Hna. Harris and I. It was really fun. Elder Mckinnon is getting transferred and I am sad, because he's pretty cool, so we took some pics. I feel like his mission mom, I kept telling him to make sure he buckles up and wears his sweater because it's gonna get cold. 

On Tuesday we had a lesson with Jash and he is doing alright. Then, the elders told me my dress looks like a picnic blanket and asked me to lay on the grass to look the part, pictures included. 

Tuesday night we had a lesson with Tye, who was a referral and she is so cool!! We told her about the Book of Mormon and she started getting really excited and said "can you come over to my house and teach me about your Book of Mormans!" We went over last night and she loved everything we taught her! We have to give her to the sisters there in the family ward because she isn't YSA, so currently our teaching pool is back to 2 people.

On Wednesday and Thursday Hna. Seitz and I gave the same training at district councils 5 times!! It was about member missionary work and I had written a song called "50 ways to work with members" and each time we thought it was so funny, and each time everyone just stared at us. It was a well written song though, I promise.

We are having lessons with Jash almost every day, and Saturday night we call him and he says "so I believe the Book of Mormon is true, and I know this is God's true church, but my friend is teaching me about Islam, and I've been reading the Koran and I'm just really open minded to it. Its really interesting." So that's great. We tried to tell him that if he believes the Book of Mormon is true, then this must be the true church, but he didn't get that. 

We are worried about him, but I talked to president and he said "some people struggle in the church or out of the  church, but they are still children of God, so it's better to struggle in the church.” And, if that ain't the truth I don't know what is. We all struggle, and it's better to struggle with the truth than without it. 

We texted a man named Latre, because we had this awesome lesson then we haven't been able to get ahold of him. Well, he texts us and all he says is “unsubscribe." It was really sad, but also really funny. 

On Friday we also had dinner and a lesson with Donna and it went so good! She is so cute and we talked all about repentance. Donna is a member in another ward who wants to come back, but wanted sister missionaries to help her! So, we get too! We've been meeting with her for about a month now and she is darling! She wanted to make us dinner this week and we also sent her a chapter to read and she called us to share all her insights and ask us questions about it! She is so awesome! 

We ran into Jenni, our basher friend last Monday, and she was so excited to see us! She really is the nicest basher I've ever met! We also had a member at church who asked us "who was that blonde girl you brought to church 3 weeks ago, because if you need help teaching her, I promise I will take a special interest in fellow shipping..." then he kept coming back and reminding us to put his name down so the next missionaries don't forget to take him. It was so funny. 

So, I didn't fall off my bike, but while at a stop light, my bike fell on me, there is a scar. It did almost break my basket, which is a high commodity here, everyone wants it, but I fixed it. 

I gave a talk yesterday about sheep, and how we all need to work to gather them into the fold, and it was so funny. I wanted to wing it, but Sister Dixon told me to prepare, because when I try to wing talks they go terrible. This one did not go terribly, and I get really excited about the work of the Lord and was later described as "engaging" and "energetic" which are 2 great things considering I was telling everyone how they have to be like sheep. 

I love you all! Have a great week! 

-Sister McKee

My purpose is too...write break up texts?

Another great week, Let me tell ya.

Monday night we started a fast with Jash. There were a lot of reasons for this specific fast, one was because his girlfriend is not right for him and we fasted with him to know if he should break up with her. The next day at our bible study, us and the elders banded together to write a very nice break up text, and we also helped Jash set up a mutual account. I never thought I'd be doing these things as a missionary, but we are all fighting the good fight in different ways here. It was really fun. 

Tuesday at District council we did a training on accepting criticism and it was really fun. Sister Dixon made insults on slips of paper and we got with a partner and practiced having comp inventories. It was a good time yelling at an elder because we eat rameno often and don't wake up on time. I was also told I don't smile enough, or teach Lesson 5 terribly. Good times.

We had a lesson with Kristy that night at the church, and a member joined us and it went so well! Kristy is reading and doing all the things she needs too, she is just working on gaining answers to her prayers. Pray for kristy because she is so awesome and needs to get baptized before Nov 11... Jk, whatever time is right for her.

On wednesday Hna. Harris and I went on an exchange and it was soo good! We worked on singing this song and we tried recording it to post, but thanks to our great training on tuesday, we accepted the criticism from Elder Throckmorton, and we are now rerecording it after we practiced this week. woohoo! 

We got dropped by Anna. She has been trying to avoid us, and then we took her cookies and her mom chased us off. We are really sad, but she will come around! Hna. Harris and I also had this amazing lesson with Ria, and she has so many questions. We had a pass off lesson and Ria takes weeks to get through a chapter of the Book of Mormon because she looks at every footnote and defines every word. But as we talked and explained things, she told us "I have been seeing so many signs pointing me to the church, so I thought God just wanted me to learn more, but as you guys teach me, I can feel some of my defenses and my walls falling". It was incredible! The other Ysa sisters are teaching her tonight!

We had this three day long devotional with Elder McKay, a member of the 70. It was so incredible! President and Sister Farley also spoke and they taught a lot about working with technology and members and wow. Something I really loved was when President told us "miracles often don't come in the early hours of effort" wow. It really hit me, we work hard and continue to endure because we receive our witness after the trial of our faith. Last night we got the message to report our numbers at 8:30 and we decided to keep working to find someone until 9 oclock because we hadn't found anyone this week. As we called people this man named Felip answered. He only spoke s-panish so I said what I know and then said "uno momento" and went and got Hna. Harris who spoke spanish. But we wouldn't have found felip and set up another time for the hermana's to call him if we hadn't kept working! Yay! missions are amazing!

I love you all! See you soon!

- Sister McKee 

Sis. Dixon

Sis. Schumtz in Hawaii, in the middle.

Hola Tosadas

Hello everyone! 

This week was so good! 

On Wednesday we had zone conference and hna. Seitz and I were asked to give a training on "practical baptismal services" which makes sense because some of the baptisms in this zone have been train wrecks. And let me tell you, it was the boringest training ever. We basically talked about getting baptism clothes ready and making sure they bring a towel. We only gave a training bc I told president I want to be more involved and he cheered for me when I got up. Then, he roasted me while I was up there, it was great. President Farley is a legend.

We had a really good discussion with Jash on Tuesday about repentance and how God never forgets us. He broke down and told us how he wants to overcome his addictions and we are now helping him a lot more! Jash wasn't wanting to read the Book of Mormon but we read Ether 3 anyways and worked with him to apply it to his life and he was so happy! He has been struggling a lot this week, but he was able to receive the priesthood yesterday!! Jash is so awesome!

We also had 2 lessons with Kristy this week and she is SO SOLID! She likes everything we teach and actually knows a lot of it because her boyfriend already taught her, her only hold up is prayer. After her boyfriend hung up, we convinced her to do a repeat after me prayer and although she felt awkward she did it! She also came to church yesterday and the whole entire lesson about prayer! Then, when relief society was over I said "everyone be sure to say hi to our friend Kristy! She is really cool!" and I totally embarrassed Kristy, but so many people talked to her after church that we didnt't even get to!! I tried to say goodbye but she was in the middle of a conversation and brushed us away. It's great! She told us she is definately  leaning towards getting baptized!! 

Hna. Vestal and I went on exchanges this week and it was so much fun! We heart attacked someone, and then we went to this super bougee park and took pics and hid pass along cards. When we went back to the house I got my travel documents and I almost died, so we called a bunch of people and found 2 people! It was awesome! 

We went to dinner in Deep Ellum which is probably the coolest place in my area. We were walking around taking pics at the murals and we met this family that was taking family pictures! Their daughter was screaming so we were trying to entertain her behind the camera and then they asked if we could video them with a smoke bomb and of course we did, and it was such an insane video and the kids were screaming and running and the pink smoke was going everywhere and the mom was yelling "It does burn eyes! It hurts a lot!" It was funny, and it turns out the family is instagram famous so they gave us a free smoke bomb, and we gave them pass along cards and we went on our way!

We talked to some really nice people and spread the gospel and wow, being a missionary is so cool. 

Saturday was such a good day! We had a car wash in the morning and I was in charge of holding the ugly brown signs that the elders made in the street. Well, I stepped in an ant hill and now have 4 lovely red ant bites on my ankles. We had a lot of people come and it was really fun! Then hna. Seitz and I went to ZLC with the other zone and that was a party because these elders want to do fun stuff to hype up the zone! Apparently I scared all the Dallas missionaries when I came in because I am scary and mean but now they know that I'm nice and it's fun.

Sister Dixon and I had another lesson with Donna, who is a member and she is working on coming back and is so awesome! But, we were so exhausted that we were almost falling asleep as she spoke and I almost curled up in a ball on her couch. So, that was kinda awkward. But, we made it through and I used the trick Jake taught me of just covering and resting one eye at a time. 

Here is a funny Awkward Sister McKee Moment:

So on Tuesday we were going to bike to our lesson with Jash, and when we were leaving one of Sister Dixon's tires was a little flat. We went back to the garage but our pump wasn't fitting on the valve, and I said "well, maybe if we unscrew the valve, then we can pump it up really fast" and Sister Dixon said "No, that will cause all the air to come out of the tire." but I unscrewed the valve and tried to pump it really fast, and soon the entire tire was completely 100% flat. And so the only thing we could do was walk, so we walked to our lesson, and it was a really nice walk through downtown Dallas. I enjoyed it, but when we got to the lesson, the Elders and Jash asked where our bikes were so we had to explain and Jash says "oh, that is why you guys look so... Refreshed...". Thank you Jash, I would definitely use the word refreshed over hot, sweaty and gross. But, it was really funny. The hermanas came to pick us up, and the elders and Jash were waiting and when the Sisters drove past I started booking it towards them to chase them down but I was too slow. This man ran out of a building and started running after the car too and got them to pull over! He was so nice! He told us if they had kept driving he would've kept running. Not all angels wear capes. 

This week I shared 1 nephi 21:14-16 a lot, and I really like them. They say: 

14 But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.

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.

Often when we feel like God has forgotten us, really we have turned from him, or we are not taking the time or energy to remember him. Sometimes we take a lot of time to remember God, but we take no energy. We read our scriptures for 20 minutes but we don't actually study them. And when we put in that energy to remember God, He shows that by blessing us!! God loves us, and he can't forget us! Did that make sense?

Love,

Sister McKee 

Sister Wind came to Texas.  So good to see her, and she kissed my eyelids for my mom.

The End is Near

09 Oct 2020 

Dear Sister McKee,


As you conclude your service in the Texas Dallas West Mission, we want you to know how deeply we appreciate the countless contributions you have made to the mission and to our Father's children. Many will remember you as a savior on Mount Zion as you have faithfully represented Jesus Christ and helped them to come unto Him.  Souls have been forever changed as a result of your efforts and we know that your joy will be great with them in the Kingdom of our Father. (D&C 18:16)

While we want you to remain focused on your missionary purpose, there are some things of which you need to be aware.  Your departure date will be 11 Nov 2020.  You will need a state or federal ID such as a valid Driver License or Passport to travel.  If you do not have a current ID, please contact the mission office immediately.  You will be allowed one free carry-on item of limited size and the mission will pay for two large bags, with a 50 pound weight limit each, to be checked.  If your bags exceed 50 pounds or do not meet the airline's size limits, you will be required to pay the additional charges, which can be expensive.  If you have more than this, you should consider sending some of your belongings home prior to your departure.

The day before your departure will be transfer day and you should arrive, with your luggage, at the announced mission transfer location.  Until the situation with Covid-19 has been resolved, we will need to be flexible with our planned activities commemorating your departure from the mission.  Sister Farley and I are hoping to spend some time with you prior to your departure to celebrate your excellent service to the Lord and give you the kind of send-off that you deserve.  Please plan to say good-bye to all of your friends prior to the transfer meeting.

Sister McKee, please continue to serve with all your heart, might, mind and strength until the moment of your release so that your departure plans are not disruptive to the work in your area or the labors of your companion.  The weeks remaining have the potential to be the finest, most thrilling and rewarding of your mission as you remain focused on your purpose. Then you can look forward to magnifying your next calling with similar enthusiasm.  It has been a personal pleasure for Sister Farley and me to work with you and to come to know and appreciate your fine qualities.  We wish you well as you prepare for your departure and return to your home and future endeavors.  We pray that Heavenly Father's choicest blessings will be upon you, that you will have the ability and strength necessary to accomplish all the desires of your heart.  You have much yet to give and many people to influence for good.

Words cannot express our gratitude for all you have done for the Texas Dallas West Mission and your consecrated efforts on behalf of our Father's children whose lives you have touched.  Please remember the joy you have felt in the work of the Lord and continue to be a valiant disciple of Christ, serving Him and His children wherever and whenever you hear Him call.

With deepest appreciation and love, 

Duane & Kristi Farley
Mission Leaders, Texas Dallas West Mission

What does Darth Vader Say???

Hello everyone! and welcome to the final countdown of my mission. This week was pretty cool. 

On Monday we had a call with Jash, who got baptized on Sunday, told us he only wants to read the scriptures in chronological order, and wants to read the Bible and then the Book of Mormon. While we promptly explained, "no, that is not how it works" he got upset and so we decided to read in chronological order, and in the middle of Genesis chapter 11, we told him about this cool book in the BOM called Ether! Which is all about the tower of Babel and he was all for it! The Lords work will go on. He also told us he now believes in the trinity, so we are worried because we are super confused. Pray for Jash.

We had a lesson with Jenni, and she had bashed us so hard last week but then came to church and so we were excited to hear her thoughts. She told us she believes in divine intervention and wants to learn more and we explained our purpose is to help people grow closer to Christ through the Book of Mormon and baptism and she skedaddled. She is so great though and told us she will give us rides to our lessons if we need it!! 

We had an amazing lesson with a girl we will call other Anna because we are also teaching another girl named Anna. Other Anna was way cool, but then proceeded to drop us afterwards, so that's a bummer. 

We had our lesson with Kristy and she is so cool! Her bf wanted to join in and we talked about the restoration and she already knew so much of it! She is really excited to learn more and her only set back was she had never prayed before. Her bf and her were very phone flirty during the lesson and it was kinda awkward because as a missionary, and as a person, I did not know how to respond. She is really excited though! 

We also were asked to visit this member who hasn't been In a long time, but has a lot of questions about the plan of salvation. As she asked some really hard questions Sister Dixon shared Mosiah 4:9 with her: 

"Believe in God; believe that He is, and that He created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that He has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend."

And when we shared that her whole countenance changed and she told us how although she has a lot of questions and worries about the next life, she knows that God is in control. We told her how God loves us so much, and if we keep his promises, he won't let us be unhappy for eternity. She was so sweet! I am so glad we were able to meet her! It really helped me to understand that although I like to know things, I don't get to or need to know all the answers! That is why we have faith. I also realized that there isn't anything that is worth giving up your family for. We can be with our families forever through the gospel, and there isn't anything on this earth that should be ahead of that. Now, some people don't want to be with their spouse or children for eternity, maybe they don't like them THAT much. But God strengthens those that work towards it. There are so many blessings that come from families. Did any of that make sense??

Saturday and Sunday were conferences and they were wonderful!! We had a good set up in the church with all the district and it was really fun. I loved the talks. I feel like I have received a lot of guidance for the next few steps of my life!

Now is the time for AWKWARD MALENA MOMENTS!!

So, I have learned that a lot of the moments I have are moments that I don't realize are awkward until after, and someone tells me.

We were walking to the park and there was a little boy in a ninja costume. I was chatting with him and he told me he is going to be Darth Vader for Halloween. I asked him for his best Darth Vader impression, but he is 4 and had no idea what to say. So, I did my best impression, which started with a Chewbacca groan and a really deep “Luke, I am your father". He just stared at me for a minute and his grandpa also just stared at me as we walked away. I wasn't thinking anything of it until Sister Dixon almost fell over laughing because apparently i'm just the most awkward person in the city of Dallas. It was really funny.

We also call our recent convert Jacob every few nights and he is ultra depressing and so I'm trying to infuse sunshine in his soul. A few days ago it was raining and we asked how he is doing and he said "ehh, I'm fine, it's raining" and the first thing I thought of was to say "I love the rain because then I am the sun!! Be your own sunshine!" and now Sister Dixon keeps saying "I am the sun!” Then, last night We were kindly encouraging him to endure to the end and I said "Jacob, have you ever seen Meet the Robinsons?" and he said no, and I said "There is this slogan, "Keep moving forward! Keep moving forward!" But I didn't just say it, I sang it opera style into the phone and then there was a good 30 second silence and he just said "okay..." and it was really funny and Dixon and I couldn't stop laughing.

I love you all, I love the gospel and I love being a missionary so much. There are so many blessings that come from the gospel and I am so grateful I have it in my life! We are all on the Lord's team! Make sure you are doing your part!

Love, 

Sister McKee

Malena getting her shoe down after the Elders put it up on the basketball hoop.

Sis. Dixon

Josh  opened his mission call, and Malena was able to call home.