Week 101: Elder McMinn is coming home!!

 

We had another opportunity to set a baptism date with someone. Brandie Wright is now planning on being baptized on June 29th! She came to the realization on her own that baptism is the correct choice for her and she wants her brother, who is a convert to the church. We had a lesson with Victor Ewing this week too and he brought a friend along who he wants to start looking into the Book of Mormon. His name is David! We had a really great lesson with Megan and Memphis yesterday too! Megan is really pumped about her baptism on July 4th. Those two are my favorite!

The mission was one of the most incredible experiences that I have ever had in my life! There have been so many instances where I have learned to rely on the Lord and recognize that he is in my life on a daily basis! I have come to love the Book of Mormon and ask the teachings in it. I also really love the Bible and the messages that it holds of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ! I know this church is Christ's church and that the restoration is continuing to process!

Elder McMinn

Well done thou good and faithful servant. We love our missionary! Welcome home Kyle!

"When you help another up a mountain, you are a little nearer to the top yourself."

-President Thomas S. Monson

Week 100: 9 days to go and no slowing down

We had an opportunity to have a new baptism date this week. Megan Tripp decided that she wants to be baptized and to follow the example of her little sister. 

We had a few really good lessons this week. We had Brandie Wright come to church too with her brother who is a member in Tulsa. She is the coolest lady. We are planning to put her on baptism date soon too. We have 9 days out here we have 10 lessons set up for later. Things are going to be great this week. 

"May we see the light of Christ in others constantly and help them see it in themselves."

-Elder Bragg

Elder McMinn

Week 99: No email just a few pictures

I think that he spent most of his time talking on the phone today because we didn't get a group email. He is doing great and there is a lot of work happening in Shawnee right now but he is also getting excited to come home in a few weeks too. I can't believe we made it!! We sure love him!

God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams just as he always has but he can't if you don't pray and he can't if you don't dream, in short, he can't if you don't believe.

- Jeffrey R. Holland

Rely on the Lord, for only he can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into a triumph, and what's broken into something beautiful.

-Zandra Vranes

Week 98: Lots of Potential

We had such a fun week. We were stuck in Shawnee Monday for a big tornado warning so that was fun. We had a really cool experience when we gave the survey to a couple. One of them was a state representative and they are both super nice! We set a great return appointment with them. We had quite a few good lessons this week and we found 9 potentials and had return appointments for all of them! It was a great week. 

Elder McMinn

 "Joy has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives."

-Russell M. Nelson

Week 97: President Eyring Visits Oklahoma

Monday we had a Tri-zone all day p day! We went up to Edmond and spent most of the day at Mitch Park with a large group of missionaries playing games like basketball and capture flag. That evening we went to a church building in downtown OKC and had past for dinner. Then we had a testimony meeting and played zone family feud. This was not one of the most exciting activities I had been a part of but I think I had the most fun at this one because of the group of missionaries that were there and the awesome friends I have made out here. 

Tuesday we were trying potentials for the majority of the day with little luck. It was about 5 in the evening at the point where we had a break in visits and we had the thought to go tracting in a neighborhood that we had seen the Saturday before. We had picked a street to start knocking and went after it. The first house we knocked at the man told us he would like to help us out and visit with us but he was really busy so we moved on to the next one.

Wednesday we drove up and spent the night in Stillwater so that we could participate in volunteering at the Special Olympics. On the drive up there we were taking a highway that took us through the country roads of Oklahoma. I found one little beauty of this state that isn't seen usually back home. There were fireflies flickering on both sides of us. I spent about 20 minutes in silence just staring out the window watching the flickering and admiring it. 

President Eyring came to Oklahoma to rededicate the Oklahoma City Temple. We had a really cool opportunity to shake hands with him! During the temple dedication, he came over to us and visited with the missionaries in our mission. He spoke to us! It was one of the coolest experiences! 

Elder McMinn

"It is in the temple that we remember who we really are and see with clarity who we really can become."

-Jean A. Stevens

Week 96: Staying busy but getting close

This week on Tuesday we had a Catholic monk give us a tour of the monastery again since Elder Spillman had not seen it. We had a really good discussion with him about the Book of Mormon afterward too. 

Wednesday was our zone conference and it was President and Sister Mansell's last one so they went all out and gave us so much information to look at and a lot of really cool information which was fun to learn. It went from about 9 AM to about 7 PM. I never thought that I would be able to sit and listen to gospel information for that long and not get tired of it. 

Thursday was really cool. When I was in Moore I had the opportunity to meet a guy named JT and his whole family. They are some of my favorite people. They moved into an area that was close to where we were on exchanges in Edmond I was able to go visit them! It was the coolest thing. I love the Alvarado family. Friday and Saturday were back to all the daily things that missionaries do. It was cool to be able to have a lot of lessons still happen even with such little time that we had in our own area.

Elder McMinn

"Ask the missionaries, they can help you!"

President Russell M. Nelson

Week 95: Temple Service

This was another good week. Tuesday was a day that was filled with a lot of trying new people to see how interested they may be. We found this new girl named Gabby. Missionaries have stopped by her in the past. They even gave her a book of Mormon but we were unaware of that. She seemed super interested in what we had to say. Then we stopped by to see her next-door neighbor, Jacory. We tried the survey with him and he let us right in and he accepted a book of Mormon and told us that he will read it by the time we come to see him next.

Wednesday we had the opportunity to go to the temple and help and participate in the keen house activities. This time, we did the parking duties. It was the most fun job I could do there. They allowed us the chance to go through the Temple tour and see the changes. It was beautiful.

We had a fun activity this week. On Saturday we participated in an event called Sound the Alarm. It is an event where we install fire alarms into homes who do not have them and teach a little short thing about fire safety. It was a lot of fun and we were well received. 

Elder McMinn