Baptism

Pictures below - pic #1- this exhausted girl fell asleep while waiting for someone to meet them. #2 - the baptism #3- a get together at the new chapel with her district

Hola familia!
What a week it has been... oh my goodness. Today is my 2 month anniversary- we had a small fiesta- and in this short time I have learned so many things! One of those simple things is just that some days are good and some days are hard. Sometimes you can´t stop smiling or laughing and other days every person you look at or anything someone says makes you cry. But all is well! ¨All these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good¨. Prayer is the so incredible. What a beautiful thing it is to be able to talk to our Father in Heaven! That is such a blessing. I would not be able to do anything without prayer but I love doing everything with it!

My heart has been broken and healed frequently throughout this week. I love my Savior and the power of His atonement is real in my life, my companion´s and with our investigators. As it says in Preach My Gospel, "as my understanding of the Atonement has increased my desire to share its power has grown significantly and also my ability to do such." At first it seemed hard to tell someone with no legs and no money for food that it´s all going to work out. It is hard to give someone in your ward shots and tell them that she will be healed when they dont have any money to travel or pay a doctor. It is so hard to tell someone whose husband is totally scary that their decision to baptize will be for their family´s good. But when we understand the Atonement, understand the role of the Savior in our lives, and begin living and applying the principles of the gospel- we realize that this is the ONLY way for any of those things to happen. The only way to endure hardships is with the perfect love and compasion of our perfect friend, Jesus Christ. The only way to be healed is in the tender, caring, patient hands of our Master. The only way to mend and strengthen relationships is with the aid of Him who is full of love and full of grace. 

I am so grateful for the ways in which the Savior helped and healed us this week. We went to visit Sayra at the beginning of this week and everything fell apart. The day had already been hard enough with other stuff going on and then we got to her house all excited to finally teach and she was just down. She was not happy and told us that she wasn´t going to do it. I thought about what Mom said about how everyone experiences a trial of their faith before baptism.... Her husband had been rejecting members that were trying to visit her and strengthen her and invite her to family home evening. He told her she couldn´t do it and fulfill all the responsiblities and keep up with everything after baptism. He told her she didn´t have time for this and her family was suffering because of it. She was so discouraged and my heart was sinking with every word.

After quite awhile and many long stories about the terrible things her husband done in the past, my companion shared an experience with an abusive boyfriend she had had for 3 years and they related a lot on that. Then Sayra said ¨so you can see why this is so hard and why I can´t do it.¨ After a bit of silence and 800 million prayers, she turned to me and said ¨pues...¨ and I just looked her right in the eyeballs and with tears in mine said- ¨No. Sayra. You can do it. This is exactly what you need to do for yourself and for your family. It is the way for your marriage to be strengthened. It is how your family can be unified. It is how you will feel valued and worth something in the midst of all discouragment. Satan knows that this is the true church of Jesus Christ and thus he will do everything he can to distract you from it. Remember how you felt during church and during the Sacrament. Remember those stories in the scriptures and the witness you recieved of the Book of Mormon. Remember those songs you love at church and that we sing together every day in your home. These feelings are manifestations from the Spirit of the truth of these things. I promise that if you show your faith in Heavenly Father by being baptized the answers to all these other things will be made known unto you and with the Spirit you will know how to bless your family. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that this is His church and you do too.¨ 

She just looked at me and then at my comp. and said... well then let´s just keep going with these lessons and whatever happens happens. Oh my goodness. I have never said so many prayers of gratitude in my whole life. We started teaching and the Spirit was so strong! She was learning so quickly and it was beautiful. Her autistic son grabbed a full blown dead fish out of the fridge and swung it right in my face. hahahaha they didn´t even react in the slightest and I had to try so so so hard not to laugh so that the spirit could stay. 

The next day we came to teach and her husband was there. I flipped out in my heart with fear but then quickly prayed that it would all work out. When we got to the door he was kind and let us in (I think my bloody knees softened his heart because I had recently fallen down a small mountain... ) he offered us this soup stuff and some brain and tongue on the side...  oh my sickness - but I will do anything for these people.  I love them so much.

Sayra´s baptism was beautiful. Her husband came and I hope his heart is softening. She doesn´t want us to start teaching him yet so we´re just praying for that cute family. She is so faithful! As she came up out of the water I just saw the guilt and burden of sin falling off her back with each drop of water. The Spirit testified to me that this is what is all about. Mmm... such precious moments.

Another one of our investigators pulled us over on the side of the road as he was coming past on his dirtbike... he is this huge dude and I love him. He asked why we had slid El Libro de Mormon and El Evangelio de Jesucristo pamphlet under his door when we knew he already had one. And we said we didn´t have any idea who had done that because it was not us. He then with tears in his eyes related this experience of the most sincere heartfelt prayer he had said the night before and many nights proceeding trying to figure out which church was true... then he woke up and that was slid under his door. No members live around there. We have no idea who did it (well some ministering angel but I don´t know which) and he said ¨this is my answer. I know it is true.¨ Ah! I love it. Now we are just working on the divorce papers... all the fun stuff.

The stars were gorgeous this week!!! We have little weekly ward gatherings and this week it was at a home that doesn´t have much but we sat under the stars, in a wide open field, with the tinest bit of light coming from a single bulb in the house. I had to give the thought and I was just filled with the Spirit the whole time. There is an incredible work going on on both sides of the veil. So many things going on up in those stars that we have yet to learn about.
I love Mosiah 3:19- For the ^anatural ^bman is an ^cenemy to God, and has been from the ^dfall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he ^eyields to the enticings of the ^fHoly Spirit, and ^gputteth off the^hnatural man and becometh a ⁱsaint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a ^jchild,^ksubmissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

This gospel is amazing. It´s purpose truly is to make bad men good (or put off the natural man) and good men better (becometh a Saint). There is such power in the Book of Mormon and in the doctrines of the gospel. They apply to each of us in every stage of life and in every situation.

Me encanta la obra misional! Ah... mi corazon esta lleno con gozo y amor por mi Padra Celestial, por el Evangelio de Jesucristo, y por el pueblo de Guatemala. Yo se que Jesucristo vive. El es mi Salvador, mi Redentor, y mi Rey. Estoy muy agradecida por esta opportunidad para servir mi Salvador por un poco tiempo.

Los amo mucho!!! Praying for you always.

Hermana McGill

Mountains to Climb

Picture 1 - where I eat and plan and do all my things
Picture 2- a favorite family we are working with. Party for the little girl who is one of my main Spanish teachers. So grateful for the children who help me learn Spanish
Picture 3- a volcano view from my area

Wow... another week. Time is the weirdest concept. The days feel like years and the weeks feel like days. And some minutes feel like hours when your investigators are telling you stories about seeing spirits and you can only understand 3 words that don't even make sense in the same sentence. Life is so good. I am loving this area and the people are wonderful! I made a huge pancake and egg breakfast this morning for my comp and blasted MoTab while I did it. We have a 2 burner portable stove and the pan is totally bent so it was tipping off the whole time and I was flipping pancakes with a spoon... haha but it all worked out ;) We had a good laugh eating it together.My comp and I sang in Sacrament Meeting. Nobody plays the piano so it was aCapella which was interesting. A few things I have learned here...

1. All dogs have rabies.

2. All buses would rather reach their destination in 10 minutes than have their passagers alive and well.

3. Most people live together and very few married.

4. I love washing machines because the rivers and wash tubs are sketchy and washing your clothes with you in the shower is hard. hahaha living the dream :) I love it so much.

So this week... so many things happened. I don't remember If I told you this part last week but we hiked straight uphill for 2 miles to reach the upper portion of our area, Terror Alto, and I have never been so hot and tired in my life. Seriously. No idea how these tiny, suntanned ladies do that walk every single day with an 800 pound basket of goods balanced on their heads. But the view from the top was so beautiful! We sang How Great Thou Art in the tiny little room of Griselda. She doesnt have a door so we were overlooking the whole valley and I just had tears in my eyes looking at this tiny woman, with no husband, a rock floor, a board with a blanket on it, and a picture of the Savior hanging next to her as she holds her little Book of Mormon in her precious hands. Ah! She is so beautiful. The Spirit was so strong. She is less active but came to church this week which was so fun! The Lord blessed our barrio with many investigators and less actives this week and it was beautiful. 

I feel like so much of mission is going to be with recent converts and less actives. Oh man... they are so great and have once felt the power of the gospel and the purfying power of baptism but their minds are distracted from these things for a time... It is so great to bring them with investigators though and have them testify of the things they know. What a powerful experience it is to watch these people become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We taught 3 people this week who have lost their legs. I cannot wait for the Ressurecion and for these people to be healed of all these things! People suffer so much pain and affliction and work hard to do what the Lord wants! The people here serve all day every day. The church is not just a Sunday thing for them. We had a huge stake correlation this week and it was awesome. We received 24 names of people that have come to church with their families and stuff or are part active but have just never been baptized so we are working a lot with those. We don't have a bishop which is a little bit difficult but hopefully we will get one soon.

More miracles this week... so we had the baptismal date scheduled with Dulce and we were so pumped for that and working hard with her. Then all the sudden she stopped answering our calls and we couldnt get a hold of her. She didnt show up for our lesson and we didnt have her address beacuse her Dad wouldnt allow it. We were getting all worried and working hard through prayer to find this sweet girl. 

Then one day we had been hiking around for hours and we were so tired and I wanted to go back to our casa so bad. Then I thought to myself, would the Savior be too tired to walk up this hill and seek out those that need help and love. No, He would never stop walking and searching and seeking out those in need. He gave every single minute of his time, in thought and action, to those in His midst. He gave His very life for thier salvation. I can walk a little more and try a little harder to seek out those whom I can lead towards that blessed Messiah and Redeemer of our souls.

So we walked up another hill. My comp was talking to the member that was with us and I was just pondering many things in my heart. I had the strongest impression to knock on this one door we had passed so I told me comp we needed to. She said we dont normally knock doors we dont know because it is not as productive but if you want to we can knock this one that is closer. I said  "we need to go back down the hill and knock on that door." So we did. I knocked and 3 minutes later... Dulce answered the door. It was her house. Oh my goodness. I almost jumped on top of her when I saw her face! And she was so excited too! Apparently she lost her phone or something and got a knew number... all the excuses and tactics of Satan... but all was well. We had found Dulce again and we were able to teach more.

We had some powerful lessons and testimonies shared... and then in one lesson she expressed some deep concerns for how her strong Catholic and Evangelical family would react to her baptism. We read a lot of scriptures and testified and she felt the power. She said she knew this was what she was supossed to do and she knows it is right but it is hard. She is so smart and knows all about the gospel. She is so strong and ready but her Dad took her away on a trip and I just hope that when she returns today or tomorrow she will still be on track for her baptism and still feeling the truth of the gospel.

Oh man... the Spirit is real. Revelation is real. We must follow the promptings we recieve.

Also, that darling Saira we found last week is being baptized this Saturday at 6pm. Ah! She is gold! When I was inviting her to be baptized she was knodding her head the whole time and just kept saying yes yes yes this is exactly what I want to do. I want to change my life. I want to show God that I love Him. Oh she is so great.

So we do these things called Noches de Juegos where we have members host it and they invite their non member neighbors and then we get references and its so awesome. Its the plan of Elder Duncan, the Seventy here, for the members to help and the investigators to make friends. The first night is only games and then we set up a second visit to teach. So we planned one with this family and they invited their neighbors. We show up for the activity and the cute mom that doesnt speak any spanish because she speaks Conjobal had made these huge pots of Incaparina over the fire, for us to drink after the games. It was pouring rain and the rain was dripping of their tin roof into a bucket that flitered into a pipe and drained in the well. That{s one way to get water... haha but we were waiting and waiting and they didnt show. We were so sad and so was the cute mom and the members. So we went and invited some of other investigators that were close by and they said they might stop by later. So we went back and were just going to play with the family to strengthen their faith and have fun together. I was praying so hard that this night would be of help to someone and not a waste. I started teaching a few games and right before we started, the neighbors showed up! And then the other investigators we had invited. So then we had 9 investigators there and just played and laughed and ate and talked... oh is was so wonderful. I was so grateful that Heavenly Father led them there and we could share that night in this tiny hut that couldnt even fit us. I shared a scripture at the end a bore testimony about it. One of the guys loved it so much and asked for a Book of Mormon so he could read that scipture again. We set up another appointment and will teach them this week. So excited. Love the games and the good times and the spirit that we can share.

These people have such great faith. I am so grateful to be part of this work. Alma 26:12- for with His strength, we can do all things. We can find those who need the gospel, we can walk up hills no matter how long and hot they are, we can serve faithfully in callings, we can respond to the Saviors commands with a cheerful heart and willing hands, we can repent, we can change, we can become more like our Savior Jesus Christ... we are never alone. He is in our midst. This is His church and His work. Oh how I love my Savior. And oh how He loves us. 

My family... you are so precious to me. I love you guys with my whole heart and I pray for you always.

Con mucho amor,

Hermana McGill

Huehue down in Guata

HOLA! Ah! Mi familia!!!!

Los amo mucho! Guate es mucho muy bonito y mi area nuevo es Huehuetenango. All the missionaries say this is their favorite and I agree. The warmer the place the warmer the people and it´s gorgeous here! Hermana Castaneda is from Belize and she is a gem! I am blessed. Speaks english and spanish fluently.  What a life. I don´t really ever know what is going on but it is so great! I am learning so much and my heart is bursting with love for these people and the gospel. 

Leaving the CCM in Guate felt like leaving my family again. I just cried and cried as I said goodbye to all those people! Ah! Why is it so hard for me to leave people... but I am grateful to be where I am. Presidente and Hermana Bautista are the absolute best things ever! They are 100% kindness. Sister Bautista is hilarious. Always laughing and smiling and the perfect cute grandma with glasses on her nose and the tiniest voice. Presidente is so kind and full of knowledge. We had a tiny training and then hopped on the craziest bus I´ve ever been on to go up to Huehue. It was about 2.5 hours, up winding roads and hills, and in the pouring rain! I was so grateful to get off that bus. They pack 20000 people on them along with every other sort of thing you could imagine and our suitcases were just chilling on top of the bus sloshing everywhere. Hahahaha I love it! 

This area is gorgeous. I love Guate. The part that I am serving in is pretty rural. The people are so humble. Daddy didn´t think I´d be teaching in homes with dirt floors... ha Im grateful to find a home with a door and a floor! Mmm... the people are amazing. Half the time I can´t understand what people say and I was getting a little discouraged about spanish but then I realized that they aren´t even speaking spanish!!! They speak a ton of languages here but luckily everyone knows at least a little spanish so I´m just focusing on that. We teach all kinds of people. Old ladies with no teeth, 15 year olds that are married, families, singles, 80 year old men in the street that reach my shoulder because they are so short, kids playing marbles in the dirt... classic. Oh man... Heavenly Father has a lot of children. The women here are so beautiful! Everyone reminds me of mom too. Haha it´s so great. Mom would be best friends with all these women. They are so tan and the hardest workers and only care about their families. There is also a darling little lady named Hermana Bettita that is so hilarious and she reminds me of Grandma Kay so much! She always asks us about boys... I love it. The food is great. Our first night of planning I asked my comp what time dinner was and she just laughed and said... we dont eat dinner. Awesome. But the rest of the food is muy rico! I just dont ask what it is and its all good. The people here always ask where I studied spanish before and when I tell them I didnt they are all impressed. I know its just a tender mercy from Heavenly Father and them being nice because yeah right can I say anything I want to. Mom was right... my biggest motivation for learning is that I want to know what is going on, what people are saying, and I want to laugh and express all the love and things in my heart! Ah... spanish. The most humbling thing but so great.

So they just dedciated this gorgeous new chapel right by our house and I could not be more grateful for it. They dedicated it the week before I got here and it has really upped the church attendance because it is so much closer now. The church is the same wherever you go... love it.  We sat down in Sacrament with a few of our investigators and they started doing announcements and saying the hymns and speakers... all the sudden I heard my name and had a small panic attack as I realized that they had just asked me to speak. hahah so awesome. I just bore testimony of the Savior and the power the gospel has in our lives...

Oh my goodness. This church is SO SO SO true! There is nothing more beautiful and more powerful than feeling your testimony grow through tender mercies and spiritual experiences. We see miracles here. I am so grateful for miracles. I don´t know how to say much in Spanish but I just tell Heavenly Father to put words in my mind and heart and then I say whatever comes. Satan does not want us to work. The second Genisis decides to come to youth night after us begging, her dog runs away with literally 7 other scary chuchos and we go chasing it for 200 hours up in the jungle. I stopped and in my little spanish asked if we could pray. I said a little prayer and poured my heart out to Heavenly Father to help us find that dog and strengthen this darling girl´s faith so she could come to Young Womens. We searched and searched and no sign of it... went back to the house. Sat on the porch and with tears in my eyes said out loud- Heavenly Father we need a miracle and this girl needs faith. My comp utter the same tender little words of her own and then we turned around and sure enough that blessed dog came running up the hill. I have never been more grateful. Heavenly Father loves His children, and Young Womens, and our prayers.

We found this family to teach that are so prepared. They were a reference from a man we met on the street who wasnt interested but gave us his sisters address. The mom, Saira has had the hardest life. Watched her brother get killed, had no friends, her husband was doing terrible stuff, and has this darling little autistic boy who is my favorite. We visited with them and two candle lit, rain pouring in the house, hours later we had commited them to church and reading the Book of Mormon. They came to church. It was beautiful. We are setting a baptismal date with them tonight. Another girl, Dulce is 21 and gorgeous. We had set up an appointment to give her a tour of the new church and she wasnt showing... my comp was mad and ready to leave but no. I knew she would come. I prayed, prayed, prayed and sure enough when I turned aroud she was there. We gave the tour, ended in the chapel, talked about the Santa Cena (the sacrament) and testified of the Savior. The Spirit was bursting through the walls and my heart was pounding. Her baptism date is the 27 de Julio and I could not be more excited. She is prepared. It amazing to feel the difference in the eyes and hearts and words of the people whom the Lord really is preparing. I love it SO much!

I was reading in Jacob 5 today and I just had tears running down my face. Verses 61 to the end basically but 61-62 and 71-72 just touched my heart so much because that is us! These truly are the last days and I have been chosen by the Lord to be here in Guate right now. The entire first 60 verses of this chapter the Master is working so hard and doing all He can and it is so frustrating! It is unfruitful sometimes but Ï will spare it a little longer, for it greiveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard.¨ He is so patient! He is so kind! He wants nothing more than our success and happiness and for every single of us to return to the Father. D&C 50:40-44: and none of them that the Father hath given me shall be lost.

These souls are precious. Every single one. My own, my companions, my family, investigators, inactives, members.... The Savior has already paid the price for them all. I am here to represent the best missionary that has ever lived, Jesus Christ, and to offer these weary hearts and burdened bodies so much joy and peace and purpose and the promise of salvation! Eternal life with our families! Ah! If nothing else this mission is teaching me how much I adore my family! I am in love with you guys!!! I am so grateful for parents who set such an example so that when I testify of families and the proclamation and scriptures and prayer I have experience with them and can truly testify with all my heart of the blessings that will come! I so grateful for your prayers for this feeble little missionary that is full of faith and a desire to serve my Savior and Father in Heaven. I am only homesick for Heaven :) Can´t wait to be there with you all and with all of Guatemala because I´m bringing them with me.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to ¨labor for some short day for Jesus the crucified.¨. Such joy ahead... ¨If ye labor with your might ye shall have joy in the fruits which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.¨ (Jacob 5:71) The day is coming. We are preparing the world for the Savior. When I give these little children those stickers, watch them put them on their shirts and hands and books, and then look into their eyes and testify ¨Dios es nuestro Padre Celestial y Dios nos ama.¨ I can´t help but have tears pour down my cheeks. I love those children´s eyes because I see the Savior in them. He lives. I testify that He lives. I have seen Him with my heart and in the eyes of these people. Their is nothing greater in life than the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is complete joy, complete peace, and complete happiness. The Book of Mormon is true and holds the key to salvation. It answers all of our questions and brings us so close to the Savior. Oh man... I love this gospel and I love my family. We´re doing this together. Always.

All my love, all my faith, and all my prayers.

Hermana McGill.

One Week Left

Familia!!!

Oh my goodness. One week left and I am out in the field... that is so crazy! I cannot believe that it is the 4th of July this week! Enjoy that Hebgen sun and Grandma´s food for me. Mmm... best thing ever.

This week has been full of learning and growing and becoming so many things. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ! I LOVE repentance. I love love love it. If you want the Spirit just kneel down and repent and you will be filled with an abundance of the Savior´s love and heavenly help. I testify that that is true because it happens to me every single day. I have never repented so much in my life and I am so grateful for the Atonement and the way it liberates us from sin. Not only does it remove the sin from our soul but it cleanses the stain from our heart, tambien. It is so amazing to feel the purifying power of the Atonement and to then use that experience to testify of it´s powers.

Remember how I came to the field not knowing a SINGLE word of spanish? Well, that was rather difficult. From the second we got here everyone spoke only in Spanish. Every minute of every day and in every setting. It was so hard to understand what was going on. I tried to learn and listen and pray but I was humbled. I testify that the gift of tongues is real! It is SO cool! I can teach all of the lessons in spanish, I can pray, bear testimony, share personal experience, answer questions, and just talk to these blessed people!

One of the investigators we´ve been teaching here has been super receptive to our teachings and the doctrines but was lacking a firm belief in the Book of Mormon. At the beginning of each lesson I would ask him ¨How is your study of the Book of Mormon? What are you learning? Do you have any questions? Can we read some together? Have you prayed about the things you are reading, have you felt the Spirit bear witness to your soul, do you know it is true?¨And this has continued on for many lessons. Every time he tells us good things he has learned and that it is a good book but he doesn´t know if it´s true and thus cannot act on anything... This week in our lesson we said a prayer before hand and asked for the spirit to be with us to testify that the Book of Mormon is true. We went in and talked with him for awhile and asked about reading- then as if the words just jumped out of my mouth I stopped and looked him straight in the eyes and said ¨I love the Book of Mormon. It is the word of God and contains his gospel. I know that it is true. Do you?¨ He looked me in the eyes waiting for a minute, and said ¨yes, I believe these things and that it is true.¨ Oh my goodness. I have never felt so much joy in my whole life. I was filled with the Spirit and smiled so big, almost jumping out of my chair and said ¨Yes!!! It is true! I testify that Jesus Christ lives and he wants you to come unto Him! He wants you to continue reading this book, and praying, and He wants you to be baptized!¨ Ah... the Spirit is amazing. I am so grateful that the Holy Ghost testifies to the hearts of these people and bears witness with us of the truth. I love it. I love it with my whole entire heart. I cannot express to you the power that is in the Book of Mormon. Sometimes I read it while other people are finishing getting ready for bed and they just laugh at me because I am smiling the whole time I read it. I don´t even know what half of the spanish words say but I feel the power. I know it is true. I hold it physically close to my heart while I testify of it in lessons. Sometimes I even fall asleep holding it against my body because I never want to let go of it. I am so grateful for Joseph Smith and for my the testimony he lived of the reality of the gospel. I am so grateful for the testimony of my parents and the sacred expreiences we have shared reading the Book of Mormon together in our little family room. Mmmm... best :)

We do this thing called CRE (it is like the TRC at the Provo MTC) and we teach people that live close by. There are of all ages and life styles. Sometimes they are members, sometimes not, sometimes inactive... and most of the time they speak SO fast and it is rather difficult to understand them. But this week we had this blessed little man whose children were all inactive. He had a very thick accent and didn´t really move his mouth when he spoke but I prayed so hard to be able to understand the things he was saying so that we could teach him. My ears and my mind were opened and I understood everything this man said. He was amazing. He was small. His clothes were worn. His hair a little crazy and his face tired by the sun and his life´s work. But you could see an incredible spirit in his eyes. He was filled with light and life. The Spirit lived inside of him. He spoke of his darling family and his desire for them to return to the gospel. We started teaching a lesson and about 1 minute into it he interrupted and started bearing his testimony. He testified of the Book of Mormon and the keystone that it is. He told of Joseph Smith and the amazing prophet and example he is for the church. He testified of our Savior, Jesus Christ. That He lives. That He knows these people. And that all we need to do is testify of Him and the people will feel the power of our testimony and hear the familiar sound of this message and be converted. He went on for 10 solid minutes and I have never listened so intently in my life. I could feel the spirit of his words and the power behind his beautiful testimony. I could feel the faith that he had. I could see the trials and things he has been through in his eyes. I was able to understand all he said, verbally and nonverbally, through the power of the Holy Ghost. The testimonies of the members here are so strong that they can´t even wait to bear their testimonies! I LOVE these people. And it is my prayer that through that love, the people of Guatemala will know that we are disciples of Jesus Christ. His representatives, come to bring them the truthfulness of the gospel.

As is talks about in John 13:

 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye ^alove one another; as I have loved you, that ye also ^blove one another.
 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have ^alove one to another.
If you love God and love the people, they will know you are from God because God is love. I love my Father in Heaven. I love serving His children. What an incredible opportunity and blessing it is to be here. Complete joy and total peace. It is my prayer that I can learn how to be more like Him and bring many souls unto Him. Our work begins on our knees and the miracles are manifest the second we begin working. ¨That I may labor for one short day for Jesus the Crucified¨. I love my Savior. He lives. He is with us. Seek Him often.
All my love and prayers,
Hermana McGill.