Saturday. Best.

It was freezing. This is what I wore for study that morning.
(still doing her hair in crazy buns)

The wedding. They are the best.

More children to love

Mi hermosa familia!

This week was so wonderful. Saturday held some of the most powerful and wonderful experiences yet on my mission. First, we woke up at 4:45 and hopped on a bus to Xela. We had a meeting with the entire mission and it was so incredible. So fun to see the missionaries I have come to know and love. Then we all gathered together and stood as Elder Quentin L. Cook walked in with his wife, and Elder and Sister Duncan from the area presidency. It was one of the most powerful meetings I have ever been in. We each got to pass by them and shake their hands. As I walked up to Elder Cook, he stopped me and held onto my hand. He looked me in the eyes and said, ¨Here she is. Here is Sister McGill. Now let me tell you everyone, I was companions with her grandpa, Jim Richards, in England when I was a young missionary. He is a good man.¨ And in the midst of that, Sister Cook grabbed my other hand and said ¨Oh Sister McGill, I have this bright pink paper with your name on it and I just love you and need to give you a hug from your mom and your grandma!¨ Okay. I was speechless. I legitimately did not know what to say. I just thanked them so much and try to keep the tears back. Apparently mom had given her the pink paper at stake conference... wow. That was the most unbelievable experience. His eyes, her eyes... the spirit. It was so powerful. I am grateful for the faithful examples of my family and the powerful experiences that we have been able to share together. Thanks Papa for your righteousness, your service as a missionary, and for the foundation you have set for our family in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And thanks Grandpa John for being so humble and patient and changing your entire life and heart so that my Dad could be in the gospel, too. I am eternally grateful for these two men in my life.

I learned so much from the talks of Elder Duncan and Elder Cook and wish I could just share it all with you! They taught about the Resoration and the importance of gainging a testimony of Joseph Smith´s prophetic minestry and the truth found in each page of the Book of Mormon. I loved it all and I am so excited to continue studying and applying their teachings. The most powerful part was the blessing that Elder Cook left upon us at the end, along with his testimony. As he said ¨I know the Savior. I know His voice.¨- I was overcome by the Spirit and felt tears rolling down my cheeks. It was incredible to be in the presence of an Apostle of the Lord. I know that this is His church. There is nothing more important in this entire world to me.

After we got home from the conference we ran to Ashly´s house. She told us that she has been praying and reading the Book of Mormon. She said that her life keeps getting harder and harder, the more she keeps trying to follow Jesus Christ. But then she said ¨I know that this is because God wants to see if I really will keep choosing Him even when it gets harder.¨ She said that she feels that this is all true, and part of God´s plan for her. She wants to be baptized. We are working to put a fecha fija with her. She is amazing. I love her. I love the Spirit that the testimony bears to each of our hearts. I love the power the Atonement places in our hearts and minds. It gives us perspective for the future, peace in our trials, and strength to keep choosing the right. If she keeps relying on the Savior, it will all be well. Everything in her life will fall into place. She is such an example to me.

From there we ran to Alex and Danissa´s wedding. It was so beautiful. It was at a place called Monte Alto. Haven´t been to a place that nice in a long time... but there were lights all wrapped around the trees and music and tables and candles... it was awesome. They had us speak and it all worked out. Hermana Call was stressing about it but she did such a great job. She spoke about the power that love has in our lives and shared some scriptures in Romans 8. Then I spoke a little bit about the Family Proclamation and gave them a nice copy of it. I talked about the purpose of the family in the plan of our Heavenly Father and the power that lies in the priesthood and His temples to seal us together for all of eternity. They came and sat by us after the ceremony after and said ¨And now just one more year until we can be sealed!¨ It was great. Danissa´s mom got up after and said some words and then turned to us and said ¨I just want to thanks the hermanas for all their help in guiding these two towards this step of faith. They could haven´t done it without you. But because of the gospel and the message you brought they are setting Celestial goals together and there is nothing that is more important than that.¨ It was so powerful! I love that concept of Celestial goals. What a great thing for all of us to focus on. 

Her dad talked about all the marriages he has performed as a lawyer here but how this one was just different. He got pretty teary and also talked about the temple. I have loved watching this family grow in love for the Lord and for each other. They are fully active now and Alex will be baptized on Saturday. What a blessing and miracle this has all been. We are so excited to teach Alex about family history and all about temple work. Both of his parents and his grandpa have passed away and he will have the opportunity to help them recieve all the ordinances that they need. What a precious blessing that is! There were also a lot of friends at the wedding so hopefully they will now all go home and listen to the missionaries!

So much to tell and not enough time to tell it all :) That is what the rest of our lives are for though! Telling the stories and living the principles we learn from them. What a blessing and miracle it is to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. It is worth every sacrifice we could ever pay. I love my Father in Heaven. I am so grateful to know that I am His daughter. He holds me in His hands and I am just trying to make my hands, His. I love doing His work. Dedication. Patience. Hard work. Prayer. We have the truth and we must share it with all those we can. That is the purpose of this life. Living our Heavenly Father´s plan, and teaching all those around us about it. And there is nothing that could ever bring greater joy!

I love my family! You are my joy. I pray for you always. 

Hermana Jane McGill

PS- I itched my throat this week... and Hermana Call told me that I sound like baby pigs she births at the pig farms in Minersville.