11-23

Dearest Family & Friends, Crazy to say by this time last year we were scampering all around to buy my mission clothes and get me ready for my two year cruise over to California! I have learned so much already and can't wait for more ahead! I am so greatful for everything my Heavely Father has given me. In Prayers we always say the rote "thankyou for everything that Thou has given me..." but do we really mean it? I have been trying to have meaningful prayers to my Father in Heaven and I have learned so much from doing so & how greatful I am for the many blessings which he chooses to bless my life with.I am greatful for a restoration of our Heaveny Fathers Gospel. Being born in the church, blessed, baptized @ 8, receiving the priesthood at 12 - I don't think I really stopped to smell how lucky the roses I have are. And sadly I think if I would have not gone on my mission I might have been wearing a blind fold all my life. Actually seeing and teaching people that don't have the happiness of the Gospel in their lives and then bringing it to them and seeing that change in their countenance has changed my perspective. How greatful I am for my testimony! I know with a surety that God is living and that his Son is Jesus Christ and that they answered prayers and gave revelation in the past with love and is forever going to answer prayers and give that revelation to His children in these days because of His LOVE. I know that with all my heart we have a prophet today who is Thomas S. Monson and that he loves each and everyone of us dearly and that his holy mantle was restored back to this earth to give the world His truth.I am thankful for my family. There was a talk that I believe that Jeffery R. Holland gave and he spoke about a relationship between a man and wife and how it is eternal. 'Not just because they learned to like and love each other and got cozy on earth, but it is much more than that - it is an eternal bind.' I am so greatful that me and my family are sealed together forever. That if I choose to be with them by following my promises to God - I CAN. A family is more than getting cozy - it is a bind! And there is no one else that I would love to be bound to then to my family right now and mine in the future.I am thankful for my friends that I have. "Everything happens for a reason" A term which is a little cliche - but is true. Not always has life been easy but it gives experience and "experience worketh hope and faith". I am thankful for the friends I have that have kept me going, that have given me happiness (& laughs) and that have given me a good example :)I am greatful for food... well I am :)The coming of our Savior is close at hand, It is so cool to see it too. When people come to you and want to get baptized and learn more. We tracted into a 21 year old (Justin Underwood) and we taught the first lesson on the doorstep and commited him to be baptized - and after a couple of weeks I got to baptize him yesterday. Yesterday a guy came into church saying that he had a girlfriend 4 years ago and remembered her saying that she was mormon. He said right out "I want to be baptized mormon - can you make that happen?" Today I sat down in my chair to type this message and a guy came to me Named Juan Carbs [haha funny last name] and said that he wanted us in his house to teach his family - that his boy needed God and so did he and his family. The Gospel is true and the time is getting so close!I have never been in the actual presence of a prophet, apostle, or 70 and shook their hand... and then on Saturday one came to our mission - Elder Kenneth Johnson. It was amazing! The spirit was so strong when he spoke! He spoke on how we could better ourselves as missionaries in our teaching. That it is not us that converts, it's the spirit - and that sometimes we stand in the way of the spirit getting to our investigators - when really we need to step back and let the spirit work. I will have to tell you more later about what I learned... but again, I am so greatful for a restoration of my Heavenly Fathers church, to know the simple truths He wishes to give us - all through prophets, seers, and revelators.I love you all so much! You all mean the world to me. Stay safe. "keep the faith". Love always and be Thankful!Love Elder McBride