10/26

Hello again!
Goll, another week has flown by so fast once again! We are almost done with October! And then you know the Holidays will go by so fast! Haha, so when ever an Elder goes home they go on a huge diet so they can look good when they go home... but I was thinking about it and what the ... I have the three Holiday strikes in my way of eating eating and eating... so basically I am going to come home fat because how can you say no to candy, turkey and chocolate!!! muahhhaha!It has been another busy week for me and Elder Fly! Being a trainer is fun - - but hard work! We have to be doing something every second of the day - but the cool thing is it is paying off soooo much! Seriously we are having so much sucess over here! Haha... it's funny to think back in the day I used to be a quiet person - but certainly broke out of that shell - and it's something I am so greatful for! Now just hopefully I can break Elder Fly out of his quiet shell. But thinking back, I was probably quiet at the first of my mission too??? But other than that we are doing pretty good as a companionship.One of my investigators (Wendy Flores) called me on Saturday. It was right before our appointment and she was bawling. She is such a sweet lady, but has a lot of health issues and problems with her back (she doesn't have marrow in some parts of her spinal column, so the bones rub together and pinch the nerves) She said that she almost called 911 in the night but didn't want to wake the neighbors and startle her family... haha she always thinks about others first [I think I would have not had a second thought if I was dying in pain!] So anyways we talked for (literally) 30 minutes over the phone and had a discussion with me and her. And the next day she showed up to church still in a ton of pain, but she said that she wasn't going to let this stop her!The baptism for Tiffini Hoff went great! President and Sister Reeves even got to be there! I was so happy to show them all my investigators! The spirit was so strong at the baptism too! And even after the baptism Tiffini's grandpa (who isn't a member) came up to me and asked if he could have the Joseph Smith movie that we watched at the baptism - he said that he had been pondering over "things" and needs to get answers for himself... so we might see something there in the future??? Haha, after the baptism my bishop was like "Elder McBride I told your mission president that I am going to keep you here till the end of your mission" and I was like- "I have only been out 9 months!" haha, he was like "ohh... well..." haha, He is a good bishop [oh oh, and as a side note - he created the Utah arches lisence plate and has a HUGE one up in his garage - I will have to take a picture and send it to you, way cool!]So last week we were knocking on this one door and talked to this one guy named Justin Underwood. We shared a little bit about prophets and asked if we could come back and share more. He said that we could just share it all with him right there.. haha, so we did and we just got into his house this week again and he was like "now what about baptisms.." So we committed him then and there to be baptized and he excepted! I have never got a baptism out of tracting before.. COOL! Oh oh, and another cool experience is when we went tracting on saturday morning. This guy opened up the door and we shared the message about the restoration and you could tell the spirit was there and so strong! At the end he was like "ya know, I had the weirdest feeling when I opened the door.. I usually just slam the door, or say I am busy.. but I just had something tell me that I had to listen to this message.. so I did and I love it." We were like WOW! haha So we are going back this next week! Well I hope your Halloween Holidays are fun and you all get loaded up with sugar! I have to be in by 6:00 pm ... so no candy loads for me.. maybe at the ward parties??? haha Alright everyone, be safe and follow the commandments at all times, I love you and the Lord loves you so much more!Love Elder McBride

10-19

Hello! Hope you are all having a great monday! Life is going great here! I survived yet another transfer in Lake Elsinore - which means that will be a whole 1/4 (6 months) of my mission here!! WOW! This is going soo fast, can you believe it!? I am really happy though because me and Elder Fly are going to have a lot of exciting things coming up this transfer...so stay tuned for the adventure!So I was going on splits with one of the High councilmen in our ward/stake (Bro. McBride [Sr.]) and he was talking to this guy who we were teaching and he was like talking about how there were just some missionaries who they wanted them to stay and some to hitch a ride out and how he would miss me soo much like a son... haha a good hence for the name - so I thought that was pretty nifty - - haha or maybe just a good white-lie.. hmmph, well anything makes my happy :)We had Brett Dudley's baptism this Sunday right after stake conference. It was really great.. sadly not a lot of our members showed up for it - but still really peaceful. & a happy ending to his 3 and 1/2 year path to getting baptized!! And yet again - what a blessing to be able to have the priesthood authority of God to be able to perform that oordinance for someone! Just makes you just want to keep doing our Heavenly Fathers work to help more of His children make that dicision!As for our other investigators... Coley McAvoy is doing great [a little side note: we are supposed to have daily contact with our investigators every day - which is kind of hard. Well since Coley reads Preach My Gospel - well he calls us every day and has his daily contact!! haha great man I tell ya!] Oh, and Coley is an actor/singer he has so many awards in his house and has been asked to play in so many lead roles! I will have to video tape him for all of you! sooo funny!! The Florez family (Wendy and Joey) are doing great - we just had another lesson with them and she started crying about the Plan of Salvation saying it was so true! Haha, we were talking about their baptism and she was like .. "WAIT, I can get baptized too! I am not too old??" haha we of course said that she was just under that age limit but better not procrastinate too long.. haha jk! I swear I am a good missionary.. I think???Things are going great and can't wait to tell you what's going to happen within the next couple of weeks. Thanks for your prayers of faith - I tell ya, they are working! I am being so blessed! I know this gospel is true with all my heart!Stay safe,Love Elder McBride

10/12

Hello Family & Friends, Well this week has pretty much been amazing and we are working really really hard! I have really gained a stronger testimony in prayer this week... We have been praying that our investigators would progress and (as our zone focus is on getting our investigators to progress to a baptismal date) that we could set up a lesson where the spirit could be there that we could invite people to come unto Christ by helping them to receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. ...One of the greatest things to complain about in the missionary life is being busy... and let me tell you complain complain complain (but in the best way) Me and Elder Fly have had so many lessons this week and have talked to everyone that we could see out on the streets. Our lessons with our investigators went great and we can really see that Heavenly Father is blessing us here in Lake Elsinore too!We had a lesson with Wendy Florez with her two sons Joey and Ryan. We went over the first part of the Plan of Salvation and they loved it! And are excited to learn the rest. At the end of the lesson we asked if the family if they would all be baptized and they were so excited they of course shouted a yes... haha They are such a fun family - and she is so spiritual because she has had so many of her prayers answered by getting to this very moment in her life. Their date is set for November 8th... Happy Birthday Cass!At the priesthood session of conference the two Elders from the singles ward came up to me and said that they were gonna give us one of the people that they had taught the first lesson to and that he was single - just too old for the singles ward (36) haha. So on Friday we met this guy whose came is Coley McAvoy. We went over to his house and we got to meet him and let me tell you WOWWY - he is so smart and if there is any word that I could use: ELECT to the MAX! We were going to teach the plan of salvation but one of his friends tipped him off to printing out a preach my gospel off the internet - so he did and read, hilighted and applied... He taught us the whole Plan of Salvation EVERY SINGLE piece of it! The crazy thing is that Coley is writing a book and he has been going religion to religion to find the true church and gospel and he prayed before he started the book that it would be a book of God... Well Coley said the when he picked up and started reading Preach My Gospel... THAT WAS HIS BOOK! Obviously not word for word -but it had the same basis and so Coley knew that this was the right thing to do and said that he had found the right church! The next day Coley called and was like "When we get to church can we schedule a baptismal date for me" haha - and all through church he leaned over and whispered "we are going to set up a baptism date right???" haha YES!!!!!! lol -Let me tell ya - best question an investigator can ask! Coley had the best time at church too - I think I am going to have to video-tape him for all of you [he sings and acts and for the girls - he started singing PERFECTLY the elephant love medley to our other investigator Tori Vargis in the hallway at church] haha WHAT A GREAT GUY!!!! We set up a date for November 8th... then he called and said that it wouldn't do and it was going to have to be earlier... so the 1st of Novemeber! hah! He just called today and was like thankyou thankyou - and I'm sending invitations out right now!! hahaThe only bad thing about having 9 people on date is having 9 people on date when you might get transfered!! AHHH Transfers are coming up this next monday and I have been here for 4 1/2 months! Chances are pretty good that President would keep me in Lake Elsinore for at least one more transfer to make 6 months - wow a 1/4 of my mission!! But I just don't know??? haha - if I get transfered we are just gonna have to move all the baptisms to one day so I can come back and have a line-up!! hahaThis recent convert whose name is Pam Lopez; who we have gotten really close to in the past couple of months, well she fell back into her smoking habbit and just will not quit. Last Saturday I went to her house and she was talking to us and in the middle of the conversation she asked her friend for a smoke... WHAT! - I was like: Can't you do that at least when I am not looking!! So I told her friend to NEVER give her a ciggarette again and she was ticked that I told him that. Then I told her that I wasn't leaving till she gave me the ciggarette! We sat there for like 30 minutes talking back and forth about how she needs to stop and I bore my testimony to her. She said that it was the best thing that she had ever heard come out of my mouth... but still that she was not going to give me the smoke.. that broke my heart. It's amazing the grasp that Satan has on some people through things such as drugs. Even when God is speaking they choose to use their God-given agency and choose Satans way :( So we told her that we would come and pray with her every morning that she wouldn't smoke and that she could stay away from it... but still she has her agency to choose right from wrong.Well things are going great - keep the prayers up and I hope everything is working out for the best for everyone and the everyone is safe and sound. I got a letter from my convert Jan Judd and I was so excited haha and [*and Jan I am so proud of you for going to the temple!!!] Well love you all very much!LoveElder McBride!

10/05

Hello and Gud' Morning! Hope everyone had a great week and even a greater weekend watching conference! I am such a dork - I didn't even bring my notes with me! golly, I know - so now your just gonna get the stuff I remember... and the memory bank in Elder McBrides head is not too full ;) hahAnyways this week has been really good. Oh so last week I forgot to tell you that I had such a bad cold and my nose was runny, stuffed and just congested... but still being a missionary I went to all my appointments taught lessons and testified of truth... Haha, then this week a lot of our appointments canceled on us because... they had colds with runny, stuffed and were congested... sound familiar -- What a good sharer I am!!!Everything with my all of my investigators are still going great! We (so far) have 6 baptisms lined up and happening within the next couple of weeks. One, I don't know if I mentioned: but, this guy that me and E. Veater was teaching right when I got to Lake Elsinore (Brett Dudley), well we read the BOM with him but then he just kind of left without telling us... but like a week and a half ago he called me up and was like "I'm coming back and I want to get baptized!!" haha So we met with him on friday night and set up his program and he is getting baptized this Saturday! haha what a blessing.. a quick blessing - haha, the funny thing is - he has been investigating the church for over 2 plus years!! Also a girl named Tori Vargis we set a date with! She is friends with so many of the young women in the ward and has been to so many activities! She pretty much knew everything we taught her - so when we committed her she was like "Yup". haha and then all of her friends that were there at the meeting got up and dog-piled on her giving her hugs! haha And We are going to be setting up a couple more baptism dates this week! So keep praying - Heavenly Father is really blessing us right now! Conference was again a blessing to watch... haha for the 2nd time I got to watch it all the way through!! haha I think my favorite parts of conference though was everytime that Thomas Monson would walk in the room...I don't know why - but I could just feel the Spirit so strong that he is a Prophet of God! And after conference when he came and shook the little kids hands... all I could do was smile - what a great man our Heavenly Father called to lead the people! I have no doubt in my mind at all that he is called by God to lead the people right now and that he speaks to God - If everyone would just search his words, ponder his words, and pray about his words ... like the scriptures say "knock and you shall RECEIVE!"Gotta give it to Elders Holland and Hales! They were so bold! Haha, I think Elder Holland has been getting some anti.. lol. But it's so true! - Why would Joseph Smith die for nothing? Why not just say - 'sorry this book is a lie, don't kill me'??? He wouldn't because it is TRUE! and just like Christ knew that his Gospel was true and their was no denying it - well that was the same gospel that Joseph Smith was teaching - so there was NO denying it!! And I will never deny it!I will share more about what I like next week... when I have my notes.. Love you all so much! Listen and heed to the prophets words! Stay safe and NO GETTING SICK! Love Elder McBride

9/28

Dearest Brothers and Sisters,(haha, thought I would give you a different into...) Hope you are doing great and had a good week! I heard the last puppy just went to someone in Colorado - oh, how sad... I tryed to get people out here to buy it ... but no! haha.So the starting of my good week on last Sunday ("Best Sunday Ever") set a start of a great week! On Monday night we had a lesson at a less actives house in to ward: the Mayo's (who fyi drive Harrison Ford and his mom around - I told them that they can drive them to Lake Elsinore anytime they want... that would be a cool missionary lesson - would Harrison Ford except the gospel??? haha) Anyways, when we were giving the lesson one of the family members: Dylan who is 10 years old was like "I want to be baptized!!" haha, so we talked about them bringing him to church so he could get baptized!Tuesday was really fun! After our District meeting Sister Teter came up and had lunch with Elder Fly and I. It was so fun getting to see her again and to catch up on whats been going on in both of our lives! I seriously love that lady, so many good times we had (haha, didn't we Sis. Teter! Sorry no eggs all over your kitchen though)Oh and this week one of our past investigators that moved called and said that he was moving back and wanted us to baptize him and that he knew everything was true that we taught him and that he wanted to have the true gospel in his life! Haha, it was way cool - something I was never expecting! What a blessing!Oh here's an update for you and my investigators in Corona: if you remember telling me about Rhoda Clark - she was an investigator and really great lady who had a boyfriend in the church - well I just heard that she was getting married to him and that in a couple of weeks going to be baptized! And for my recent convert Rubi Bonilla - she I think had her baby and is doing great! And hopefully I will hear back from the Judd family soon!So that one family I met at Ana Meltons baptism (Wendy Florez and her family). Well we met with them on Friday and we had a great lesson with her. We went through the first lesson and the spirit was there so strongly! She never knew that Jesus Christ was even baptized - so when we mentioned that she was like "WOW, now I see why!..." haha, so pretty much she and her family are going to join the church! Oh, so yesterday we were out talking to these teenagers and this car pulled up and the guy started swearing at these kids and asked them if they hit their kid on his bike and that they couldn't find him. The teens said that they didn't but saw him bleeding a lot and the people in the car started swearing at them then spead away. So we then bore testimony and were about to leave when they spead back again and got out of the car (We power walked away) and they parents started beating up the kids - then this one guy that we talked to before them came out with a gun [just to scare them] (haha, wow - it was like a movie) so we got in the car and we drove away... haha fun cool story... nothing to scary but crazy people! Well Everything is going great over here (promise and didn't mean to scare ya mom). The people in Lake Elsinore are seeming to soften their hearts and tons are just coming to us to get baptized! The Gospel is true I tell ya and it make me just want to smile when people choose to heed to it!Well got to go and love you all so much. Remember to choose the right and follow the spirit! Stay safe and love ya lots!Elder McBride

9/21

Hello Everyone!

How is everyone! Hope you are all doing great! Haha, it looks like the family had a great time at Grandma Edna's 96th birthday party! I love that lady... Hopefully I can get one more lipsticky cheek - that means she'll at least have to make it to 97 and a half!!! Thanks so much for the blog/email/picture updates I love to get them!So this week has been a major busy week... which is of course good for a missionary ;) . We have had meetings meetings meetings, missionary discussions, baptisms and more! Monday was kind of a sad day... We had a meeting with Geo and he said that his dad no longer wants him to take the missionary discussions and for him to look more into his "roots" - talking about how his family is all catholic and how he needs to see what they believe first. So he is going to compare and contrast and then make his dissision of which church he will join. We still plan on hanging out with him at the Yokshas's though! He is a great kid... & the better part - after we drove off he turned to Sis. Yokshas and said that he just felt empty inside and sad that it was all over.. Sis. Yokshas said "well, that's the Spirit!" So at least he felt something - hopefully he will remember that!Tuesday we had an early morning "trainer-trainee" meeting at the mission-home. We learned how to be better trainers and what President was expecting from us. Then as trainers we bore our testimonies. I thought I would bear my testimony about talking to EVERYONE. As missionaries we are expected to talk with EVERYONE we come into contact with - and if we don't we cannot have the Spirit with us because we are not being obedient and if we didn't talk to everyone then who knows if we would miss that 'one' person who would except our message. I told of this one story of this thing that happened the other day: Me and E. Fly were at this one less active members house and the less-active person roomed two men in her house so we came up to the door step and the two men were out on the porch smoking. I passed them and knocked and they said that the member wasn't home so I said thanks and walked back down the sidewalk. Then I felt the spirit whisper that I needed to talk to them.. I thought.. hmm no no, there smoking silly.. haha, but listening I turned around and asked them a couple of questions about what they believed and then started into the first discussion about the Restoration and one of the guys stopped us in our talking and said "hey.. can you guys come with me for a second" so we said "sure" and followed him down the sidewalk to the front of the garage. When we got there he said "I just wanted to bring you over here to tell you that I believe you and felt that your message was true and want to have you come back when my friend is not here because he is not interested, can you come back and teach me?" ... haha, we were like ... UHHH YA! haha, but that was just a cool story that we had about talking to EVERYONE and not judging anyone before you talk to them.Wednesday we had a Multizone meeting in a city named Hemet and I had to go really early in the morning to watch a "defensive driver video" ... golly - I put that I got in a crash on my record when I got into the mission field.. and now had to watch an hour pressentation of how to drive... haha BORING! The funny thing is last night I had a dream I wrecked the mission vehicle... haha, I like totalled the car while backing it into a stall... When I woke up I was like Glory Haleluah!!! That didn't just happen!!! haha The multizone was really great too! Pres. and Sis. Reeves both gave a training together on "Honesty" and how lieing directs the spirit to leave (of course obvious - but the training was soo good.. hmmm, well at least it's in my notes). Oh and guess what the Hemet Relief Society women made us for lunch... Meat ball Subs!!!! I had like 3 of them! haha SOOO good!! Jealous??On Friday I ate dinner at Chili's again! ... just thought ya ought tah know.. I am really making myself hungry..am I making you? No Molten Lava cake though...:'(And on Sunday I had a great day at church! This girl named Hannah Fardig is a member and I went over to her house to have dinner with her family. And I don't know if it's weird, but just with some members I'm like - I really need to get a conection with this family - and I had that with theirs. So I told them that they needed to invite their friends so we could come teach at their house. So everyweek at church when I saw her I would ask how her friends were doing, and then on Sunday she brought 4 girls to church with her and they had a great experience..( to be continued..)@ 5:00 on Sunday we had a baptismal service for Ana Melton! It was really good! There were so many people there, and even her non member father who doesn't like mormons was there to support her! She was so excited and her smile just eluminated the room! Then after the baptism I went up the Hannah Fardig and asked her how her friends liked church and she said that they LOVED it!! and that 3 of them want the missionary discussions and one even said they wanted to get baptized!! haha, how cool huh! I was so excited! and then one of the members pulled me away and took me to Sis. Meltons neighbor who was there at the baptism; Wendy Florez. And Wendy started crying and said that she was so thankful for the church and said that she wanted her and her 3 kids baptized - that through all the years Satan had been working on her and that nothing would stop her know-- she was going to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints!!! Then we gave her a blessing of healing and comfort for her back, because she had been in the hospital a number of times from the pain it gives her. THEN we just found out that the girl that lives with the Meltons: Tiffini Hoff (who is the same age as Ana [12]) can get baptized too - that she had got permission - so basically we are going to be setting up A LOT of baptismal dates! haha, wow can you say BEST SUNDAY EVER! Last night Sis. Reeves called to congratulate us on the baptism and I told her all about our day - and (being the angel and sweet spirit she is) she started crying and saying how greatful she was! It was a way cool experience - I love that lady!And as for today I played at the Yokshas's house all day and had fun with the family! Haha, Susan said she is coming down and going to see what this "muttin-bustin" is... I told them about the kids riding sheep and they never had heard of such a thing... haha, they think we are crazy up in Utah..haha We will show them!!!Well I love you all sooo much! Miss you like crazy! I am having a great time with E. Fly and we are working like crazy! Goll, I don't even think we got a hour to spare in our schedule this week! - Crazy! The Gospel is true everyone and it is so awesome that you get to see all the people that just go to a simple event like church or a baptism and then they feel that spirit that is there and know it - THERE'S A TESTIMONY FOR YOU!! Stay strong, be Safe, Hold True to the iron rod!!Love you sooo much!Elder McBride

9/14

Hello Family and Friends!

How are you all doing? Hopefully well! Well I had a pretty good week here in California - oh and I just have to tell you... it's like 70 degrees outside.. AHHHH feels so good! What a relief from the 105 degree weather!! haha, soon I might be needing to take out my jacket again.. what do ya think...still no snow though :( [I think my hopes of snow this Christmas are a little too high...]
So on Monday Elder Giles moved into the appartment with me. He is a pretty fun kid (he is like 16 months out on his mission). And then on Tuesday Bro. Yokshas picked us up and took us to the "Train the Trainer" meeting in Riverside (in which the AP's taught us how to by good trainers). The meeting was pretty cool, I got to see some of the elders that I have served around. One elders name was E. Potter - and he lives in Logan..hmm small world.. and great last name if I do say so! And then also E. Bosswell was training (I am his mom in missionary lingo terms) he is only 3 months out on his mission too! cool huh!
So after that meeting we went to the mission home to get companioned up with our new missionaries! It was a pretty big incoming (a lot like my incoming) there were 14 new missionaries that came in! We sat in the other room (before we met the missionaries) while President Reeves was finishing his interviews and getting revelation of who to put each missionary with. Then after we all came into their huge living room and had a testimony meeting and got paired up with our new missionaries. My new companion is ELDER FLY! haha and as my mom noted: i get some companions with the weirdest of last names (ex: Veater) haha. After we all received companions we had a great dinner that Sister Reeves made and then went home to Lake Elsinore.
Wednesday we went shopping early in the morning for E. Fly and E. Giles companion (E. Hulet)s stuff. Haha, there was a guy unloading grocieries in the parking lot so we went up to him and the very FIRST person that E. Fly got to talk to the guy was like "You guys are crazy and Nuts!!" haha.. I told E. Fly that that was not what everyone was like.. haha, kind of sad that was his first contact, lol. Then I got to show him around the trailor park to Bro. Gragson and Sis. Lopez.. haha they both shared their stories to him of how they were drug adicts on the street and homeless and how that impacted their life... he was like "uhhhhhh" - maybe I should have saved them for week 2??? NAH!! Then we went to E. Flys first dinner in the mission at the Divines and we had planned a "greenie meal" for E. Fly and so she had dyed EVERYTHING green : chicken, corn, mac and cheese, butter, punch, and the only thing that wasn't dyed green was the broccoli.. haha pretty fun!!!
This week me and E. Fly have talked to so many people. I think with being Senior Comp. and Training someone it gives me the extra push to go and talk to everyone we see! Haha, I asked E. Fly if he thought anything would be different then what it was in the mission already... and he said well I didn't think that I would have a trainer who was as excited and happy as you... haha ... haha, I believe that's a good thing?? haha
So we are going to have a baptism this Sunday! Anna Melton is going to get baptized! I am so happy for her, she is a great girl.. She does have a little teenage girl syndrome.. but can we judge her for that.. haha wish her luck!
Everything else is going good, I am loving Lake Elsinore better. We had a fun luah on Saturday with the ward! Stay safe everyone, love ya soo much!
Love
Elder McBride

Pics from Patch

9/8

Hello Familly & Friends, Well ... where to start.. where to start? This week there has been a lot that has gone on! So, sad to say, but Elder Veater got transfered (MAJOR :'( ) I will miss him sooo much! He has been my favorite companion yet.. maybe because we are both a bunch of goof-balls, but hey - whatever it takes right??!! He is going to Riverside to train a new Greenie (another term for ya [new missionary]) So on the Saturday of the end of the transfer we have transfer calls given to the missionaries by President Reeves and by the APs (Assistants to the President). Early in the morning @ 6:30 President gives leadership calls to those who are called as new: APs, OAs, Trainers, Zone Leaders, and District Leaders. and then later at night the AP's give the transfer calls to who is leaving their areas and who is not. ... Well, early in the morning Elder Veater got his call and President said that he was going to be training a missionary in Riverside and then he gave the phone to me and said that President wanted to talk to me... so I nervously got on and was like "HELllooo" haha President said that he wanted me to train a new missionary too here in Lake Elsinore and that he was so proud of what I had been doing... So right now me and Elder Giles (the spanish missionary in the area) are together and are going to pick up are greenies tonight at the mission home... exciting huh! I will let you know what he's like next week and how that all went!Well for me and E. Veaters end days we had a lot of fun saying good bye (for him) to our most favorite people. The Yokshas family is one of our favorite members who help us out soo much! They even made me my favorite desert: Peach Delight! YUM! haha Oh, and on a not so happy note, one of our members died last sunday so we had a funeral for him on Friday. His name was Bro. Seti Mose. He was a really good guy, he had terminal cancer - so he was in a lot of pain, but the cool thing is that he made it out to church and the temple!! wow huh!Well I love you all soo much, I am growing tons and can't wait to tell you about my greenie next week! Wish us luck! Stay safe!Love Elder McBride

8/31 Power of Prayer

Hello Everyone! Hope you are all having a great week! And for those of you are at school right now.. haha Sorrry to be you!! Just kidding ;) wink winkWell this week has been a pretty fun week. Last monday we got to go over our favorite members house: The Yokshas family and play games with them "Mexican Train" if ya have ever heard of it, its a pretty fun game - except when Sis. Yokshas steals my dominos!! golly!Wow, so I had some really cool experiences this week, one being when I went on splits with a member from the Lake Elsinore ward. Me and him went to this family who had a non member daughter: Anna Melton and so we went over and taught the first lesson (Restoration) and then I asked her if she would be baptized on the 19th of September and she was soo excited she jumped up and said "YES!!!" haha wow, that was really fun - she wants to do baptisms for the dead too.Also this week we found another less active member in the trailor park. She had a heart attack because her son is a pest and getting in fights - so after she got home from the hospital we gave her a blessing and told us that she needed help (food for her and dogs and a washer and dryer to fall out of the sky for her) - so we told her that we would get food for sure and that we would pray for the washer and dryer - then on Sunday when we were walking up to the church this other less active guy came up to us and said that he and his business were giving away free washers and dryers and that they would donate them to anyone we wanted... WOW! We were so excited! What an answer to a prayer! The old lady who wanted the washer/dryer sat by me and church and I wispered in her ear what had just happened and she looked at me.. gasped.. and started bawling! After sacrament she turned and gave me a huge hug and I kinda had to pull away before she smacked one on my cheek.. haha life of a missionary I tell ya. - - but way cool huh!! Prayers work people!!I have no idea if I am being transfered or not... its about 50/50 right now?? So if you have letters just send them to the mission office on: 3233 Arlington Ave. Suite 107 Riverside, CA 92506 and the will get to me either way there.!!Love you all so much! Have a great week and be safe! choose the right and pray always!Love Elder McBride

8/24

Hello Hello! Well how is all of my AMAZING family and friends!? Hope you are having a great week! This week in Lake Elsinore has again gone soo fast - seriously, does time seem like it fly's by for you? Transfers are coming up again in 2 weeks! wow, that went fast... I had Interviews this week with Pres. Reeves and he said that he really doesn't know what me or Elder Veater are going to do.. stay or go?? .. I'll explain later..Haha, so the other day me and E. Veater were walking down the street and we talked to this old man (kind of a creepy bum-looking guy) and he turned us away so we started walking to the next house and saw two ladies across the street talking - so we walked over and said Hello and started talking to them about the gospel. One said she had a headache so she went inside. But the other lady (who was older, probably late 70s) was really interested and she said that she could feel the spirit of our message and new it was true because of what I was saying. So of course my eyes lighted up .. but then she started talking about how she always goes "soul Flying" -out of body experiences - and she also sees angels (with Fealers by the way) and when she is done she is all weak. Haha,... I was like um.. That's how Joseph Smith fealt when he had his vision.. hmmphh. haha. Then E. Veater started talking and she shut him up and said that he didn't have the spirit and he didn't know what he was talking about.. I was like "EXCUSE ME!" haha, she said that she could tell from across the street that I was a PERFECT angel of God and E. Veater was NOT... haha - I think she was CRRRAZY!! haha - she then said the only way if she could see if this message is true is if we wrote it down in black and white and sent it as an email attachment... haha.. wow.. only in California right... hahaPresident Interviews went great. I got to see E. Worthen again (who is our Zone Leader) and he gave us a training on getting more investigators haha- using his cowboy rope as a prop.. haha bracken ty and shaun would have liked it! When I got into the interview with President he said that I was such a great missionary! and that he was so greatful for what me and E. Veater were doing. He said the maybe me and E. Veater might stay together for one more - but that he would eventually want us to both train new missionaries... so he doesn't know if I am going or if E. Veater is????Haha, so we met with one of our investigators Elda on Friday. We taught her the plan of salvation and she started crying and saying that in the end that if it takes her getting divorced with her husband -that she would come to church and become a member... we were like...uhhh, ... don't want to brake up a marriage... ahhhh so hope everything goes okay??Well Life is great! I am having a lot of fun! It's still very very hot down here.. but loving it still, all is well in Zion, how is everything at home with all of you? having fun in school???Love you all, stay safeLove Elder McBride

8/17

Hello Family & Friends!

Hope you all are having a good day and for the 1/2 of you that just got home from the trip, hope you had fun... without me.. haha ;)So if I sound like I am half asleep - it might be because I am.. haha. Our downstairs neighbors (*yes the bikini wearing old mean lady and her family) were having a party and then a fight broke out ALL night long. So at like 5:00 in the morning someone in the complex called the cops and then I got some of that beauty sleep. Haha, fun times in Lake Elsinore.. I know!So we got to go bowling again for this past Mondays Pday event and hate to sound too prideful...but I am improving my skills... only a couple of gutter balls.. YAY! haha I told them I needed the gutters up, but NOOO! haha, they don't even have those helper-rack things that we have at our bowling alleys..LAME! Oh, we got to go to the temple this Thursday and it was a really cool experience. After the session I got to meet the temple president.. he just walked up to me and said hello! Also when we have our temple days 2 zones (out of the 9 zones) from the mission meet up together to go to the temple. And it is cool to see all the missionaries that I get transferred away from. I got to see E. Varney and E. Williams again! Wow, and can you believe that E. Varney is going home in two weeks! wow, he was only like at 16 months when he was with me!Well I think I better fill you normal people in on some of the mission "lingo" out here... so If I ever use it you know what I mean...-When you are BORN that is the area and date you entered the mission field. (Corona & Feb 11, 2009)-DEATH: is the area before you go home-Gator: Investigator-Dad: your Trainer (E. Varney)-Mom: if your companion trains after he is companions with you-Stepdad: The companion after your trainer (E. Williams)-Son: person you train-Golden: investigator that is for sure gonna be baptized-Bump: 6 months out in the field-Hump: 1 year out in the field-Slump: 1 1/2 years out in the fieldAnd I will update you on more as my mission unfolds :) Well most everythings been going good out here. Oh, on Tuesday I got to give another training to my district and it was really really awesome. My training was entitled "Being There" and I trained the other missionaries on not just being there physically but spiritually to your appointments with members and investigators. It went really well, and everyone enjoyed it... I gave the story of when I was on the doorstep and said "He Is Risen" to that one man .. ahaha :)Well thanks so much for all you do for me and for all your letters of encouragement! I love you allLove Elder McBride

8/10 From Spirit to Prayer to Engaged

Hello Family & Friends!
Hope you are all having a great day and the past week has been good for you! Wow, this week just seemed to fly by! I just remember typing last weeks message! The weather man has decided to be nice and give us a break for the past week - things have been a little cooler :). But even when he desides to heat it up we'll still be out knocken those doors!If there is one thing that I have learned thus far on my mission is *learning. I have learned so much already! It weird to think if I have not chose to serve a mission - if I would have received all the blessings from learning and getting knowledge from what the gospel brings. Sometimes I think we take the gospel and the church for granted... well a lot. I really didn't have that much of an appreciation for it. I went to church.. went to mutual..did hometeaching [when dad pushed me into it ;)] and etc. When really what we should want to do is go to church EVERY week and want to benefit from the blessings that we would receive from partaking of the sacrament and renewing those sacred baptismal covenants. I should have wanted to express my love to everyone about the gospel and about my testimony. We should want to go out and visit our families that we home teach - and that is a big on! So many families go without being home taught out here and they are just starving for spiritual attention. *when even in Utah our families could be starving for that attention - I guess when I get back, that will want to make me go every month and have an influence on those specific families that I will be assigned to! Its funny, I could report that me and Elder Veater have a lot of 1/2 baptisms coming up... haha, almost all of our investigators are on the wall for that question. Dorothy Hicks is getting so close! We went over there Tuesday afternoon and we gave her a lesson on the Plan of Salvation. She loved it and again - believed everything! It was fun to see how when people don't have the answers to lifes questions (where did we come from, what's our purpose, & where will we go after this) and when they receive them how their face just lights up! After the lesson we committed her to baptism. Lol, we asked her if she would follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized and she was like "YES, of course..." my face flew to a smile.. then she quickely said "Yes, in due time".. ughh! so close! haha, I think we just need to get a family in there to support and fellowship her and her kids!On Thursday we had Mulitzone Conference and received trainings from Pres. & Sis. Reeves and the AP's. They all talked about how important it is to keep the Spirit with us ALWAYS! Sis. Reeves started by telling a cool story from Russel M. Nelsons wife. She said that Sis. Nelson was traveling down from Canada and on her way down to Utah she saw a barn and on the barn it had some HUGE letters that made up a sign written on the barn and said that this phrase inspired her life! Sis. Reeves then asked what we thought was on the sign... my mind quickely thought of the barn on the back highway by grandma Edna's that has the "Dr. Something or other Medicine" on it haha I don't think that was inspiring though.. haha. Missionaries then decided to guess. "In god we trust" "Not of this World" "Jesus is Lord" "Love one Another"... no one was right... then Sis. Reeves put up a picture of what was actually written on the top of the barn: "NOT EVEN ONCE". We all were like HUH?? haha but then we each shared what this phrase could have meant and how it could be inspirational. We talked about how almost every prophet in the scriptures didn't even "ONCE" stray from their path. Joseph of Egypt is who I thought of - He was tempted by Potiphers wife many a times and "NOT EVEN ONCE" did he give in. Another that was mentioned was how David was such a great person of God and that just "ONCE" he slipped up and looked on temptation. That talk helped me a lot on how as a missionary or as a member of this gospel how we can't even "ONCE" give into Satan and always have to have the Spirit with us!!!Well guess what! The power of prayer works! That Thursday night we went over to the dear trailor park and had dinner with one of our members. Now if you really knew me you would be so proud of me for doing this - I am a very picky eater and not so keen about dirty things.. especially eating it. Well she cooked us some chicken and so when we started eating I bit in and blood just started gushing from the chicken, BLAUGHH! I tried to slice around it, but I don't think that would have done a difference. Later that night me and Elder Veater said about 100 prayers that we wouldn't get sick and that we could stay healthy to do our Heavenly Fathers work. Well our stomachs made some noises a couple of hours after dinner but no getting sick or anything!!Oh and just an announcement.. I am now engaged! Last night we were at the Rices house for dinner and I was playing around with this cute girl and she said "guess what, We are going to get married!" haha, I was like "really! where?" she then quickely said "the TEMPLE!" haha so just to let you know, that's the plan... oh ya and she is 4 years old... so I might have to wait a little bit... hahaWell I love you all! Be safe! Have fun in St. George without me! Love,ELDER MCBRIDE

8/3 Pancake in August

Hello Family & Friends,
Hope you all had a great July and are having a great August .. wow, the summer's just flyin by ain't it!!Well things in Lake Elsinore have been going good. We are finding some new 'gators to teach which is always great! Haha, we actually found this lady who lives on a street named "Moroni" haha and she is really a great lady who had us come over and teach the family and told her kids that we had the power of God. haha when I told her about the 'coincidence' of her street name she was like "ohh,... I thought it was mor-own-ie" haha.Haha, still more trailor park drama with the less-actives, recent converts and investigators.. I think they could make a soap-opra from it for those hilbilly tv watchers... they would love it... haha. And to make the show a sure hit, we will stick to missionaries in it preaching and teaching the gospel... ehh ehh, want to see it huh!I have gotten to be really good friends with some members down here: the Yokshas family. They are friends with our investigator Geo and had us over for a pancake breakfast on Saturday (and our next breakfast adventure is going to be good ol ableschevers!!! YAY!) But ya we had a lot of fun eating apple pancakes!! so good!Yesterday we ate dinner at this family who lived kind of up in the mountains and when we went out to our car there was a family of coyotes by our car.. haha they were waiting to eat us.. one jumped at me and bit my arm and I had to go to the hospit.... okay, so we looked out the window and they walked past our car.. but would have been a cool story for the week right... maybe next time.But Hope you are all safe and have a great week!Congrats Cami on getting into school!!Love you all!!Love Elder McBride

7/27 Aguirre Baptism and Celebration!

Hello Family & Friends!
Hope you are all having a great Monday and had a good safe week! Wow, it's been a whole transfer since I've been gone from Corona - & yes I am staying in Lake Elsinore.. for at least another transfer?? Life has been full of ups and downs over here - I am still loving being with Elder Veater; we have tons of laughs [which reminds me - we need to send you our music video] haha. The other elders in the appartment (Worthen & Olsen) I have also grown really close to. Except we just heard that Worthen was getting moved :( goll sometimes transfers just arn't fun! - well I guess I will make more friends! Oh dang... hope the new elder cuts hair!!! hahaSo on Monday after emailing on my SLOW computer we went over to one of my favorite members houses: the Yokshas's and they had our investigator Geo over to eat. We ate and then watched "On the Way Home" - haha, I haven't seen that movie forever, but Geo loved it and afterward Bro Yokshas asked Geo when he wanted to be baptized and Geo said he wanted to but he just had to get permission from his dad- which he said was probably going to happen :) so fingers crossed on that! Afterward we went out and had a fun ice cream party with them at Cold Stones! I think I might have ate a little too much... hahaSo one of our referrals I might have mentioned: Dorothy Hicks, we went over to teach her about the Restoration. She is such a great lady and she eats up all of what we say.. So then we told her to pray about it and she gave us a weird look and said "why, I already know it's true?" we were like "huh!!!" lol, she said that it was all about Christ and that she believed it and wanted to know more - so we are thinking that she is pretty darn hopeful for becoming a member of this gospel! Haha, I can't say I will ever get sick of those experiences!Oh, so funny experience that I forgot to write about last time and just expresses how blond I really am... About a week ago me and E. Veater were tracting and we got to the last house on the block and knocked into this born-again christian guy who then talked to us about the trinity. Being E. Veaters door and turn to talk I guess I zoned out for a split second...and he (the born-again) started talking about the "son" a lot and how he is dead and I thought he was talking about Jesus Christ - so with a bold voice I told him "He Is Risen!!" .. They both gave me a funny look and E. Veater then said "he is talking about his son that just got into a car crash and died"... well... If that isn't false doctrine, lol, I felt like a total idiot! - I swear I didn't hear car crash in there though. Well I guess it just goes to show that you ALWAYS need to stay paying attention... haha, that was the joke of the next week - everyone was saying "He Is Risen" to me.Al Aguirre's Baptism was great! He had tons of people that came to his baptism! Unfortunately the AC wasn't working ..so everyone was sweating bullets! But everything turned our really good. He is going to be teaching Gospel Doctrine in no time - like everytime we go over there he is like: "tell me more thouroughly about Joseph Smith and the Egyption translations".So the whole stake got together and had a huge dinner and game night for Pioneer day on Saturday. We ate so much (everyone fed us there left overs) and then we played a couple of rounds of tug-o-war and got sooo sore! haha Great fun though! Did you guys do anything fun for the 24th???I have no idea what I am going to do with my wards though. Sometimes they just drive me CRAZY! We have explained the mission plan to them so many times and they still arn't grasping it... ughh. I do just try to smile and make the best of it but sometimes I just want a little help! Oh so I have been having a lot of weird dreams lately. For the past couple of nights I have had this re-accuring dream of the old lady down stairs that dresses in the bakini come up and yell at us again the shut up. Then last night I had a dream that I was tracting with E. Veater and I didn't have my contacts in so I couldn't see like an inch in front of my face.. so E. Veater said that this kid was throwing rocks at us so I started swinging my arms and hit this african american kid right in the face and he called it a hate crime so we started to run from him. Haha, don't think I would ever have dreams like thoughs if I didn't come on the mission... maybe I will start praying for GOOD dreams!Well how is everyone else doing? Sorry if you haven't gotten a letter in a long time - I'm quite the slacker with that, but I will try my hardest to write back! I love receiving all of your letters though, and they make me feel loved :) Well any big news updates?Hope you are all doing well, and staying safe! My prayers go out to each and everyone of you! I love you and miss you all very much and know that my Heavenly Father is there and keeping me safe and I know that He will keep you all safe too :)Love Elder McBride

Pics from Patch

7/13 Sizzled, Quenched, Spiderless & Baptized

Hello Family & Friends!

I hope you all had a great two weeks! Sorry I you didn't get an email last week, I swear these computers drive me CRAZY!! But all is well in Elsinore :)To catch you up on the latest two weeks: my 4th of July ... hum hmmm, well lets just say there's no 4th like Cache Valley's. We went to a pancake breakfast in the morning with one of the wards and it was pretty darn good. I was so excited for fireworks (I heard every year they shot them off over the lake!) Well that morning it hit the newspapers that Lake Elsinore was running low on funds - so they couldn't have ANY fireworks - L A M E! haha but thanks to the fam I had fun throwing firework poppers at the other elders ;)Last Monday me and a couple of elders from the zone went out into the mountains to scout for some terrantula's! We went up to one of the highest peaks and found a trail and started hiking. We brought some equipment with us to catch these deadly beasts: a Box, a Broom (to sweep him in), and a mallot (just in case things got out of hand). - You could imagine what you'd think if you saw a group of boys in the mountain with equipment like that ..haha. Oh and a crucial part of the story - we didn't bring water (who needs that right??). So we hiked in 5 miles up and down the riggerous terrain ..and NO terrantulas. Then hiked back 5 miles - scorched, quenched, and spiderless!! So going down the mountain we thought that we would stop at the nearest restaurant to get a drink of water - and yes the place that was nearest was a biker bar called "Hells Kitchen" haha and we were realllll thirsty.... haha and the rest is another story ;)This weekend was a blessing in itself. Jan Judd decided to get baptized and wanted me to come back to baptize her! And President Reeves being as nice as he is; let me! Bro. & Sis. Teter came and picked me up - Oh, it was so great to see them! Seriously I miss Corona soo much! The ward put together so much for Jan for her baptism: her own scriptures, family home evening stuff, music, etc. And being it was my first baptism.. I was ... A little nervous - Jan is a tall lady! haha so I took Jan into another room and told her we were going to practice - I told her not to be scared and just trust me and BEND her knees... we did a demo and she screamed so loud! haha... I told her she might not want to do that during the real thing, lol. The baptismal program went amazing and then it was time. I said a prayer to my Heavenly Father to help me through this baptism and He was there all the way - Helping me through it all. All me and Jan could do is smile at each other and then after saying the prayer she was baptized [just once ;)]. There is probably not a lot of things in life that could make you as happy as I was at that moment. I am so proud of Jan and for all the progress that she has made! I know she will be a great member of this great Gospel! And I am so thankful that I could participate in her baptism and that I chose to come here on a mission and meet her! The night ended a little too fast and as soon as I knew it - I was back in Lake Elsinore away from one of the best experiences in my life... well I guess it makes me want to have more of those experiences if anything... oh and Ruby got baptized on Sunday... I was sad that I didn't get to go to that one but am so proud of her too!!!Well I hope you are all doing fantastic! I am getting fried down here! The temperature hit 111 degrees yesterday... ya - burn baby burn! haha Stay safe, I love you all!!!
Love Elder McBride

6/29 Short and sweet :)

Dearest Fam & Friends,

Sorry, I only have like 10 minutes, but I loved chatten with all of you! This week had acctually gone by really fast - but each day as the sun came and shined its rays on my head seemed to drag for a couple of hours... It got seriously up to 110!!! AHHHHahah, so funny story... w6/29e went out tracting one day and we knocked on this one persons door and it was just kind of a scronny looking guy and we asked him if he wanted to hear more about our message and if we could help him out in any way and he said... "No, but I have attack dogs if you want to meet them.." HAHA, wow, we almost laughed... rude but funny!So we got this one referral to visit this "Eve Lee Sweeney" girl who called into the MTC and wanted us to come visit. So we went over there and talked to her and she invited us in and started crying saying that she got on the MTC site to bash and just as a joke but she actuallly liked what she saw and wants to convert... haha - funny huh! But she keeps looking up anti stuff and so we are going to have to ween her off that!!!Sorry for the shortness, hope you are all doing great!!! love you all sooo much. Stay safe!Love Elder McBride/Sunshine

1st transfer

From Sister Teter:

Hello McBrides. At this moment I am sitting next to one Elder McSunshine (aka Patch). He wants you all to know that be is leaving our home and moving on to the land o' the disgusting missionary apartment. Yes he is being tranferred to Lake Elsinore/Menifee. For those of you who don't know the area this is the place where old hippies go to die. It is a very interesting area with a diverse group of people. I don't have his address yet, he doesn't either. However you can still send his mail here so that I can read it and forward it. Just kidding. We are going to miss him terribly. This is the only downside to having the missionaries live with us. It hurts like crazy when they leave. Elder McBride is one of my favorites. He is a great missionary and the people love him. He will give you his new address as soon as he has knows it. Thanks for sharing him with us.

June 8th

Dear Family & Friends,

Hey Hey, how is everyone up down and all-around - wherever you are?! haha :) Hope you are doing Great! I heard you are getting a couple of snow flurries up there.. HAHA! oh what a laugh! it is gonna snow till Christmas!So we had President Interviews this week and when we got there Sis. Reeves had a movie there for us... Planet Earth .. haha she was freaking out on how amazing it was - And it kind of was! The Video was about amazing things and creatures on the Earth and how great Gods creations are. Wow, I miss watching TV! but hey, it was good stuff. So Sis. Reeves gave a really good training to us on how much God really loves each and every one of us. She told us about how there daughter who was about 13 died about 3 years ago in a car accident and how she could still feel her daughters presence at hard times in her life. And that she knew that she would be able to see her again. It was really sad, I really don't know if I could be as strong as she was about it... Everone better stay SAFE at home!!!So happy day... Pres Reeves said that I could play card games like 5 Crowns - he basically said the only thing I can't play is poker and gambling. And I asked him about disney music and he said that it was fine. :) So wahoo for me - I will be sending you MY score-sheets!! Muahhahahaha! So this week has been good. I told you about Ruby Bonilla right.. If not then bah ram me! She said she wants to be baptized on this coming Saturday... but her inlaws are springing a surprize baby shower for her that day.. then she might go out of town.. but she said she for sure would the next week and anytime durring the week too........ lets just hope I'm here though.. and don't get transfered... [President Reeves said Pres. Monson wants missionaries to stay in an area for at least 6 months, but he will transfer me if he thinks he needs me somewhere else.. so I really don't know.. 50:50 {transfers are next monday} ~wahoo how many fun symbols can I put~]I'm still trying to get the hang of playing the piano... I really forgot everything!! UGHH! why did I ever quit? WHY!!!! President Miller was right on the money with what he said before he set me apart as a missionary.. Obedience is Everything! So I am striving to be the best that I can be and follow all the rules as best as I can so that I can have the Spirit with me!So I had no idea about how big my testimony/feelings were about the temple! We have been trying to activate this elderly woman so we can get her into the temple and sealed to her husband. So we went over and talked to her and she was having problems with excepting that she had to wear garments FOREVER.. haha we told her that she would be doing it to show her love for God, and she said that all she wanted to do was get in and get sealed than get out and never go again... It really made me feel bad about how she didn't even care about what the Temple means!! Well I hope all is well back at home.Hope you are having a great start of the summer!Good luck Nicole on the Race! You're my #1!! I'll be rooting for ya!Thanks again for all the prayers and everything you do for me, Stay safe!Love Elder McBride

June 1st

Well Hello there my Fam & Friends!Happy June!Well I hope all is well back @ home! Can you believe its already JUNE!... So I am pretty much thankful that I live close to the ocean, because there is something called the "marine layer" of clouds that comes over the mountains and lasts till later in the afternoon so it pretty much gives us shade from the hot sun.. but it's called 'June-Gloom' which means it's only here till June then we have the full fledged SUN!! AHHH, I am gonna come back looking like Brack and Nayvie!! hahaSo life in Corona is going good... this week has been a little died down.. meaning not too much has happened. Haha, I don't know if I should share this or not.. well it will make ya laugh.. we went to one of our Investigators houses (Kathleen Palmieri) who is a really old lady.. and speaks her mind whenever she has something to say. So when we got into the discussion we were talking about faith and she said that she wanted to share a story.. so we let her and she told us about that one time she was sitting on the toilet and she was constipated and that she blew her colon (you could imagine our faces at this point) then she said that she didn't want to go do surgery because that would be serious... so she didn't do anything about it and is just having 'faith' that nothing is wrong... aAHHHHaaaa, we were like .. um, ya faith like that ..and in Jesus Christ.. wow, if she converts we will have to tape her mouth shut in release society! ;)The Judds are doing good.. Adam is still waiting for his answer.. He told us he had a dream and there was this mad who told him that the answer to his question [Is the Book of Mormon true] was "25 of 32" Adam questioned him and said "what does that mean" and the man said "you know what it means...".. then the next day Adam saw tons of things dealing with '25 of 32'! Hmmmm, haha kind of cool huh! Anyone got anything special on what "25 of 32" means???? oh and for Nicole.. Jan wants the Homemade Oreo recipe... she wants to make me some :)I am not going to say we are going to have a baptism this Saturday.. because it always never happens when I say that.. knock on wood or somethin'. But Ruby Bonilla is getting really close and we have a good feeling about her. She is ready - a little nervous - but ready. She is having a baby in a couple of months and is dating a less-active member who we are reactivating with her :) And that is about it... haha most everthing is going good The Teters are great... Transfers however are coming up in two weeks ... uhhhhLove you all! Stay safe, congrats on all the Graduations! Have fun on having No school! [Sorry if this letter is too graphic.. just laugh :)]Love Elder McBride

May 26th

Holla mis Familia y Amigos,
This past week has been good and filled with spititualness...& yes that's a word ;) I don't know why but some weeks just seem to fly by and this was one of them... I feel like I just was sitting here yesterday... even though it was 8 days ago!So I hope everyone is doing well - recovering from sicknesses, surgeries, and all! It sounds like it is warming up over there... and as for over here.. it is warming up squared!! haha, everytime I see a pool (which is everywhere you look) I am like, UGHHHH! hahaSo we have this Investigator Ronda Clark who was introduced by her kind of boy-friend Ron. We have not met with Ronda because she and her boyfriend keep breaking up and getting back together... so it kind of makes it hard for us to create a trusting relationship. However when they got back together this time, we went over to her house and we decided to talk to her finally about getting baptized... She is a very great lady (she has a lot of trials in her life: a son in the military, a son in jail, and a son who is handicapt and can't move.) But she really loves reading the scriptures - and she even made a chart of who was who in the BOM!! haha, pretty funny! Hoping for a baptism in the next two weeks for her!We didn't get to meet with the Judds that much this week :( ... Adams foot fell into a gopher hole and got twisted up so we couldn't meet. But on Saturday we met and played a game for the ten commandments doing little role-plays haha. Then afterward we had a talk with Jan & Adam about how when you get baptized you will be blessed and asked if Adam would be willing to let Jan, Jessica, & Jacob go on with baptism and (not showing a lack of faith) him wait for an answer. We know Adam will get his answer in time.. for me I think it will happen when the family gets baptized. So we are hoping for the best with them :)Haha, on Wednesday I went on an exchange with a spanish Elder: Farrington and the whole day I was just shaking my head in lessons saying: "si" "gracias" "uh huh" haha but it was still very fun. I actually talked to this Indian lady on the steet and asked if she spoke English.. she said yah, so I asked if she spoke spanish too (just to get more aqainted) she was like "no I'm not Spanish" .. (lol, NEVER ask if someone is spanish because of their color!) haha, but she was really nice and I started sharring the Gospel with her and she said that she had read the BOM and believed it to be true.. I was like "HUH? You sure?!" lol, but then she said that her parents wouldn't let her join :( how sad! That night we went to a members house to eat and when I walked in the door the guy was like "Elder McBride?? Do you have a brother?" I was like "uhh, ya" and he asked if he served a mission and where.. I said Cochabomba Bolivia and he was like "I served with your brother!!" Lol, SMALL WORLD! His name was Elder Boots and he was a really cool guy haha, all the other elders really didn't get a word in between us.. Do you remember him Ryan???So have you ever tried Indian food... Cause I can now say I have! and it is ... well lets just say my American stomach is just not used to that kind of food. hahaha Really Hot and spicy... and for the desert they had these soaked in milk cheeseballs ... what the... that not desert!! I want Molten Choc. Cake!! haha, no complaining though ;)We went over to this one investigators house (Lydia Enriques) and asker her to get baptized and she was like "Yes Yes Yes"... then she was like " oh wait... maybe I should pray about it first..." haha.. and since we by any means don't denounce prayer in our religion... we said that was fine ;) hahaMemorial day was good ... At a members house we had a couple of fun experiments... along with some mentos, diet coke... and some dry ice.... haha tons of laughs and fun!! Well I love you all and hope you have a great week! Stay safe! see ya next week :)Love Elder McBride

May 18th

Hello My Dear Family & Amigos!, I hope your past week has been amazing and Grrrreat! Thank you for all the letters and packages! lol, I loved hearing from all the family on the phone call and I loved reading what you all had to say after it too ;) haha.

So I haven't been up to too much ... just missionary work - if you could imagine that ;) lol, sorry I am just in a funny mood today. This week went by really fast (which is good - because that means we probably taught a lot.)Last Monday the Citrus Hills ward had a F.H.E.-in-the-Park & it was really fun... the whole idea of it is for the families in the ward to bring non-members so they can have fun eating and playing games. [which of course we went to ... non-members + missionaries = you know what!!] This is actually where the Judds and Brett Moore was first brought to and then they got to know the missionaries :) I really love the ward, everyone is soo nice... haha, and (you'll get a laugh out of this one) out of the corner of my eye I saw some of the ward ladies playing a card game with *purple cards... so my heart jumped and I ran over and sure enough.. they were playing 5 CROWNS!! haha, so I watched them play it (i can't play face-cards so that is out :'( but it was still fun).The Judds are doing good! They are committed to preparing for baptism on THIS Saturday May 23, 2009!! We decided to fast with them to have the Spirit help them throughout the week and for them to get more of a surer answer. We are going over there tonight and want to go over there at least once everyday for the next week so we can check up on them! So Darla Sauceda was one of our investigators... but her mom didn't want us to teach her anymore because we were scary mormons!! ya know lol. But anyways, she has a bad back and no furniture, so we have been looking for free furniture out on the sides of the road for like a month to give to her... and hopefully get back into her life to teach her :) .... then this week at one of our appointments we went in and was talking to this lady and sat down on this couch in her garage.. and @ the end of the appointment she turned and looked at us then had this weird look on her face, and said i don't know why I'm asking, but do you want to have this couch? We were like " .... Chaahhh, YA" It is so awesome how the Spirit works! So we got the couch with the Millers help and took it over to Darla and she said the we answered her prayers!!! AWESOME!!!The Millers were very fun! It was so fun to hear the I am "related" to someone out here! (thanks to you Mary) lol.Thank you for all of your prayers I love and feel them in my behalf and in the lives of my investigators.Stay safe and Love you all so much!Love Elder McBride

A mission call for Mothers Day

Elder McBride called home on Mothers Day and we got to talk with him for an hour. I loved to see how everyone reacted when they talked with him, to see the looks of anticipation, then hearing the sound of his voice and seeing the smile on my families faces.

Patrick is a bit homesick right now. He talked with Ryan and Mike about how they overcame this point in their missions. He got emotional a few times, and has realized how much he loved his family since he's been on a mission.

He told us that he's living in a pretty wealthy area, but a lot of people are losing their jobs right now. Although it's such a scary time in the world, he said it's helping people become more humble and teachable.

He also talked a little about the people he is living with and how much he appreciates them.

I (Veronica) think this is actually week 16 - and the family is planning a trip to California in January 2010... I'm sure Elder McBride will love to either be picked up or a chance to go back a few weeks after he comes home. Either way, we can wait to see him! We are so proud of Elder McBride and his choice to serve the Lord!

Week 14: A Californian rollar coaster Ride‏

Hello Family & Friends!

Hope you are having a great day! Haha, heard it is still cold there... sorry about that - we definately don't have frost on our windows in the morning!!

Can you believe this will be my 100 day mark this week on Wednesday!! haha, I am not counting ... there are just page numbers in my journal.. and that is what page I am on ;) lol. already almost MAY!! wow it's flying by fast!

So this week has been a rollar-coaster of ups and downs!... We have been teaching some people and some lessons go good.. and the others..hummum, don't? lolThe Judds are doing good. Adam had to get a shirt to come to church so we have kind of been bugging him about getting one :) and FINALLY FINALLY.. we got the whole family at church... well I am not going to say 'we'.. because really, yet again when Sacrament started they weren't there.. and so I said a prayer to myself that nothing would stop the whole family from getting there.. and sure enough seconds later I turned around and all of them were coming in and sitting in the back, so I went and sat by them. [My testimony in Prayer is sure getting strenghened!!] Jan and Adam still have their baptism date scheduled for the 9th of May, and Jessica and Jacob are praying about it. So we are excited for them. Brother Teter is even coming with us now to teach them.. he's great!

We taught Darla The Plan of Salvation (and yes, I got the right house now). Haha, so I bought a magnetic board and made some Plan of Salvation cut-outs to stick on there.. haha they are really cool and it makes the lesson funner [yes that's a word] to teach! But the thing with Darla is - she had back problems and can't sit down for too long - so she won't come to church...hmmm.. excuses excuses! lol ... arn't the pues comfortable enough??

We had President Interviews on Thursday. I really love Pres. and Sis. Reeves, they are great! Pres. Reeves talked with me about how he is probably going to move E. Varney this next upcoming Monday to somewhere else and he thinks I can handle this area well enough... so ahhh, we'll see how that goes. There is still a 1% chance he will stay though??? When we get to talk to Pres. Reeves he gives us time to ask questions to him... so I asked him a question about there being "other worlds" and all of that stuff... and if there was a Savior in other plans (and not just Jesus). And he said that there was. That this has always been the Plan - but we only have one Savior for us who is Jesus Christ.... hmmm interesting... and yet uncomprehendable! Then I asked some more questions about the Plan of Salvation - Pres. Reeves seriously knows soooo much!!

So you are probably wondering about Brett Moore and the Baptism... welllllll.... I OFFICIALLY HAVE A BAPTISM NOW!! It was great and such a great day! Brett is such a strong person (E. Varney said he has never baptized someone so strong in their faith). Haha, we are thinking he is most definately going to be a Bishop or Elders quorum pres. soon!! lol

Well I've been doing great and I hope I will have more good news for next week. How have all of you been doing? hopefully well! Well I Love you all! Stay safe, keep the love, keep praying!Love

Elder McBride

Week 14

Hello Family & Friends,

Hope you've all had a great week! I hear it's getting sunny finally down there.. but hey... it hey it could be bipolar and snowin cats and dogs on ya for all I know... haha.

Well this week has been going great. And I am excited to say that I am going to be having my first baptism on this Saturday (the 25th) for Brett Moore! I am sooo excited! AND IT IS GOING TO GO THROUGH! haha, no really - he is so strong in the gospel and will be a great member of the church! ... although he did say he did kill someone last week and hopes there's no problem with that... JOKEINGLY of course!! haha

The Judds are going to still get baptized on the 9th of May. and Jan even came to church - which I was SOOOOOO HAPPY for! I told her that it would make my day and that I would only except a "yes" out of her for coming to church. haha.. Now we are just working on Adam now... lol

Well how is everything at home... getting warmer.. cause it is down here.. Holy cow - I woke up to like 85 degrees and it is going to get like over 105 degrees today... AHHHHHH... now I'm jeleous of you!! hahaWell sorry this is so short.. had to write my president email..

I love you all, keep staying safe, always have the love, stay close.I love you all so much!

Love Elder McBride

11, 12 & 12

To quote Patrick - "I hope you are doing amazing good!" He says the weather is HOT!

One of my favorite things from the past couple letters is how nervous Elder McBride seemed about general conference. He says he has never sat and watched all four sessions. I don't' think I've ever done it either.... Focus.... The next letter he said how much he loved watching it and it was historical because he made it through all the sessions.

The people he is around are taking good care of him, he's eating ribs and sent home a picture of the missionaries in front of wonderful looking pool. He is making plans for returning in couple years so he can actually use the pools!

Patrick has been busy teaching and preparing people for baptism. He had one girl who backed out because she wanted to tryout for America's Next Top Model. Patrick was so disappointed, but has asked us to keep praying for her!

He also wants all of us to focus on our friends and neighbors with missionary work. "Have you guys ever heard of the Perry Plan? All of North America are supposed to be doing it in their wards with missionaries. L Tom Perry went over it briefely in his talk and gave a really good story that applied so good to it - listen to it if you have it recorded. It was about the sheep way up on the Provo Mountain without a way down and rescue workers were trying to get it - but the sheep would probably get scared by them - so he wondered where the sheppard was because the sheep knows him...oh I LOVED it! Us members are the sheppards to the lost sheep (nonmembers and less active members) and us missionaries (the rescue workers who sometimes scare the sheep) it is by the members help that we are going to be successful - so my assignment for ALL of you is to take these words seriously and talk to your friends about the gospel and bring them into your homes and the missionaries too so they can receive a message comfortably with someone they know and trust!"

Each letter Patch puts the week # in his letters, this week should have been 13, but he did 12 again... He's already losing track of time! Go Patch!

Weeks 9 & 10

Two more weeks down, 2 months down, only 22 more to go!

Elder McBride has sent to more letters and he still sounds like he is doing really well. He survived the first round of transfers and stayed in the same place with the same companion, so basically, the changes didn't effect him.

Here is a portion of his last letter - he went with his companion to another church and they had to have a security escort.

So I am guessing you want to hear more about my Cross Roads/Security Guard experience... haha :) (mom: lol, kolten told me I shouldn't ever had told you that I have to have a security guard for something - so sorry if that scared you ;)) But anyway... we went into the building (all great and spacious mind you) and everyone was starring at us! Then we met with our security guard - he was really cool with us. He took us into the room where the thing was going to take place (called Generate) the room was bigger than a stadium! as we walked in, everyone started hugging us and telling us we were at "home" lol - a little weird!

Then he sat us down right in front of the speakers. A couple of minutes later a rock band came out called 'Sex Salon" (hummm, ya weird name for a church rock band - i know!) So they started blasting their music for like 40 minutes with everyone singing along, raising their hands and kneeling in prayer - I was a little freaked out. E. Varney said, "we might as well get up and get into it and clap." So we did and I started getting "into it" and he said, "not that much into it!" haha. But I will have to say I liked the music a lot! Might have to look that up on iTunes! haha But really the whole thing was just a concert and advertising - not at all spiritual! (Never thought I would go to a rock concert on my mission lol)

Then after the music they turned the lights to the corner of the room right where we were be and there was a tank full of water there & these guys and girls walked out and baptized their friends - I was like "WOAH, didn't see that one coming!" then this guy came out and gave a speech about sex and was very very ..specific? haha wow - yet another thing I didn't think I would be hearing on my mission.

After the talk and another concert it was done and while we were walking out, this lady fell down the stairs on us and said she was sorry - but she thought she saw Mormons... then she freaked out when she saw our badges and grabbed our hands and was saying how good it was to see us there and that she used to be Mormon and how we need to change and convert like she did. She said we didn't believe in Christ.. we assured her we did, and she said that we did not -but believed in the "Mormon Christ!" hmmmm??? The security guard then pushed her away so we could get out. haha wow what a fun experience!!

Elder McBride also said they have a few baptisms lined up for the end of this month - and has asked us to pray for them!

He got to help out at the library for book-a-paloza day and had to wear a balloon hat, I'm sure he loved it and hopefully we will get some pictures!

Week 7 and 8

Direct quote " I never really thought how much I would miss you all before I left, (hence the non-emotional part.) ;)

HE HE HE - of course he would miss us -who wouldn't?

We've had two more letters from Elder McBride - he sounds really great! He bought a GPS to aid with his directional skills - and he is loving it.

He is teaching quite a few people. He says the spirit is so strong, and from his letters you can tell he genuinely cares for the people. He has his first baptism lined up for March 14th and has asked us to remember the people he is teaching in his prayers.

His companion, Elder Varney, is a district leader, so Patrick has done several exchanges over the past few weeks while Elder Varney does his other duties. He is really enjoying getting to work with some of the other Elders.

Patch also wanted to let us know that last Friday at 1:20 pm he had is first In-and-Out Burger - which he thought was fabulous! (I'm sure he is now excepting gift certificates, although he did not mention this....)

He also mentioned in his last letter that he was pulled over by some cops - (I'm sure he had flash backs of a recent car accident...) But the officers just wanted to give them a name of an ex-con and told them to go teach some Jesus and Joseph to him.

Hopefully he'll send some pictures soon!

6 Week update

(I would love to say that this was the fasted 6 weeks of my life, but truly, it seems like a lot longer than 6 weeks ago that we took Patch to the MTC.... really 6 weeks?)

We heard from Elder McBride this week and he sounds awesome! He says that he is really really busy - they are teaching members, inactive members and nonmembers - the wards he works with focus on missionary work and it seems like they are very supportive. He says he can't believe he's been in California for 3 weeks already, and has already several spritual experiences already and are hopful for their first babtisim.

He is have a bit of trouble with direction skills, and he is getting (loving) teased all the time about finding places. (Nicole suggested giving directions based on the location of the nearest Chili's...).

He is loving the letters and packagaes (so keep them coming... ;).

A letter from Elder McBride

Hey Friends and Family,

Well I am Finally in Riverside! I'm doing great... a little homesick but i'm sure ill do fine :) haha. So my new companion is Elder Varney, he is a pretty good guy who is from Geogia and has been out here for 17 months so i'm sure I can learn a bunch from him!

It has seriously been raining cats and dogs down here! So those of you who were jeleous of me... There is no reason at the moment to be.

Teaching people is so fun! It is awesome to feel the Spirit strongly every day! hah, but really it does feel great. I taught this one part member family and talked about prayer and committed them to comming to church this Sunday.

I gave my first blessing to this really old lady too (sister Henion) whose husband pasted away and has since been depressed. It was a blessing of comfort and it was cool that I could give here those blessings through Gods power and will!!!Life is good though.

I hope all is well with everyone back at home. Love you all, I pray for you daily and hope the same in return. THANKS a bunch.. and LOVE ya even more!

Love Elder McBride

California: Day 1

Elder McBride has arrived in California and is currently serving in Corona California. I have updated his address on the sidebar.

While in Corona he is living with the Teter family, and they have promised to take good care of him!

We are so grateful!

Pictures from the MTC

Elder McBride sent home some pictures this week and asked me to post them on his blog. He wants everyone to know that he is doing well, learning a lot and can't wait to get out to Riverside.

He warns us that he is the only one who smiles at the MTC.






Elders Green, Stevens, Raymond, McBride and Babcock.



Elders: Green, Raymond, Vincint, Whimpey, McBride, Stevens and Jackson.

Elder McBride and his companion Elder Whimpey. (Patch is 6 feet so Elder Whimpey is huge! Good protection for Patch in the MTC - we know how rough that place can be!)

Also, Patrick is expected to leave the MTC early this week. We pray that he will continue to be happy, healthy and diligent in his service to the Lord!