Hello for the Last Time

Hello for the last time!

Weird huh? How time flies so fast. This last week I was thinking about what I could say in an email to describe my mission. Then I realized that I couldn't. But there is a very popular song that we listen to out here as missionaries called, "The Hardest Thing I've Ever Loved To Do". I am pretty sure I have told you all about it before but it basically how I look back on my mission. I want to go through some of the lyrics (in bold) from that song and relate it to my mission. Go look it up on youtube..its a good one. 

The hardest thing I've ever loved to do, was letting go of everything I ever knew.

Alright lets just be straight up here. Madison McBride has a very know-it-all personality. I had to get some huge slices of humble pie to realize that I really don't know anything. In the MTC, during my mission, even now, I have had to realize that I don't know most things. I had to learn to be humble on my mission. Pride is the root of all evil. And although I am still not perfect at dropping my pride, I have learned to be better. 

The hardest word I've ever loved to say, was goodbye to my mom and walk away.

Man oh man, pulling up to the MTC. That was a trip huh family? Honking the horn, screeming out the window, announcing to the world that I HAD ARRIVED! Although we were stoked, saying goodbye to the ones I loved was so tough for me. Through the struggles and the joy, I wish that each of you could have been right next to me through it all. But I know that I wouldn't have been able to learn the things that I have if it was any other way.

The sweetest song I've ever loved to sing, filled the MTC on angels wings.

Despite the awful food, I will forever be grateful for that spirit prison in Provo, UT. That is where I found my testimony of the Book of Mormon. After days and nights of doubt, I recieved my answer that Joseph Smith really was a prophet of God and that he really did translate the Book of Mormon by the power of God. 

The firmest hand(s) I've ever loved to shake, were my trainers with big grins on their face.

Hermana Jones. Hermana Pierce. You have all heard many times how much these two people have changed my life. I will forever be grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving them to me. I learned so much from them that will forever have an impact on me. But not just my trainers, but to every companion that I have ever had. I know that they were with me for a reason. I ended up having 14 companions. That is a whole lot of learning right there! I have learned so much from each and every one of them and their different gifts and talents. 

The hardest tears I've ever had to cry, came as I opened up my mouth to testify. Between the tiny walls of strangers' living rooms. The spirit told them that my words were true.

There have been countless occasions where I have opened my mouth and the words of the spirit touched an investigator/member/less-active. In those moments, I know that this is HIS work and not mine. In each one of those living rooms, whether it was way to hot or freezing or too small or no furniture, heaven was in those lessons. I will probably never see most of these people again until after this life but I am grateful for each of the hearts that I was able to touch.

The sweetest sound I've ever loved to hear, is the sound of water running in the church. While someone you came to love gets dressed in white, and my eyes see their first glimpse of heavens light.

From Nathalia all the way down to Hollman, I will forever be grateful for the moments that I got to watch someone make that special covenant with God.

The hardest thing I've ever come to see, is a man down on his knees in agony. A drop of blood falls down on olive leaves. And for a moment he suffers there for me. 

The most important thing that I have learned on my mission is The Atonement of Jesus Christ. That sickness and depression that I was in was awful. I hated every minute of it. There were so many moments that I was ready to call it quits. I was done. But then I realized that someone a lot greater than me felt the exact same way. He didn't quit on me and so I didn't quit on him. 

The hardest thing I've ever loved to do, is getting on this plane and coming home to you. In a million ways completely torn apart. Because a land so far away still owns my heart.

Luckily for me, I have kinda already the experience of leaving a mission. I can't really explain what it felt like coming to California from Washington. I was so torn but so grateful for a new start. I know to this day that Heavenly Father needed me here in San Diego. He needed me in Kennewick as well. But God has this way of doing things that sometimes we just don't understand. 

Coming home is a little different because I am getting back to the normal things. Again, I am torn but I am very grateful for this experience that I have had and grateful for the loving arms that I will soon get to hug.

The most sincere prayer I will every pray, I will thank my God for each and every day. For the blessings of the woman that I have come to be. 

In those last moments as a missionary, I will humbly pray to my Heavenly Father for this incredible opportunity that he has given me. I know that I will forever be changed from my mission. It has truly made me who I am today.

I will cherish every single last moment with the name tag on and work until I can't anymore.

I want each of you receiving this email to know, that I know with all of my heart that this is the true church. I am grateful to 3 loving parents who taught it to me as a child but I am also grateful for them loving me and my siblings no matter what. I know that God is loving. He loves each and everyone of us NO MATTER WHAT. I know that The Book of Mormon is the truth. It has all the answers even though we might not understand it all. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he sacrificed his life and time for the restored gospel. I know that we have a living day prophet and he has 12 apostles that hold the priesthood authority here on the earth. Families can be forever. The temple is the house of the Lord. The church is true. The book is blue. And that is my simple testimony. 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your love and support over these last 18 months. 

My mission truly is the hardest thing I have ever loved to do. And I will forever be grateful. 

xoxoxo. be you.

-hermana madison mcbride

(P.S..i totally scored some San Diego zoo tickets for my last p-day from my girl Lupe Garcia..aw yaa :))

Pictures #Flashbacks

Taking It In

HELLO! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SELENA GOMEZ!!!!

Yayy!!! I am so happy for this day. I just want to sing and dance. Most people would say that its pretty anti-climatic to turn 21 on a mission but I don't fall into that category. I planned my own birthday party in the backyard of a very wealthy member here in Poway. We are playing sand volleyball and ping pong tournaments for days. On top of that, we celebrated my birthday as basically a ward activity on Saturday. Mom, remember how I have begged you for a pinata every single year and didn't get one? Don't worry, the spanish members got that one covered. They got me a DESPICABLE ME PINATA!!! The night was filled with food and more food and cake and dulces and then to top it off...SPANISH KARAOKE. Too good to be true I tell you. It really sucks knowing that I am leaving soon.

Okay I know my emails are probably boring and redundant at this point and you are all pretty trunky..so I will make it somewhat short. 

HOLLMANS BAPTISM IS THIS WEEKEND! Please keep him in your prayers! :)

Oldtown last week with the crew was SO fun. 

We played chair soccer for a ward activity..I won. How? I have no idea. Maybe because I can speak spanish now, I can therefore play futbol also. 

Interviews with President Schmitt were awesome. I love the guy. He is probs gonna be an apostle one day. 

COOLEST STORY EVER...We were biking and Hermana Hofer's tire popped. We were a little ways from home but we just started walking. Some random dude was on a run and said "Hey Sisters!". He saw that our tire was broken and then went on his marry way. 10 minutes later, he comes running back with a bag in his hand. In the bag was 2 tire tubes and a bike pump. He is visiting from New Zealand and happened to run into our path. I think he was one of the 3 nephites but who knows? hahaha. 

Spiritual Moment: I had my last mission presidents fireside this week. I got to sing a duet with the AP in the mission. We sang if the savior stood beside me. Then I got to sing with a group of the sisters that our leaving. As I looked out into the crowd and saw so many of my favorite people in my mission it was like the world went still. I was able to just take it all in. I can't really explain the feeling it is when you are about to leave a mission. So bittersweet. But I am grateful for the moment I got to just take it all in and give thanks to my heavenly father. 

Funny: So there is a new sister here in Poway from Thailand. She is such a squisher. She is still learning english but ya she is adorable. So this week when her and her companion were doing a practice she said, "Can we come teach your neighbors more?"..then her companion said, "Um...No..I don't think they would listen". Then Sister Saidan screamed, "HEY! GO TO HE%%!!!". Her companion just busted up laughing and said, "hahaha! NO SISTER SAIDAN THATS A BAD WORD!!". She is now famous in the mission for that and so now she says, "GO TO HOME!". So if I ever tell you to GO TO HOME its not a good thing hahaha!

One more of these bad boys left. Thank goodness. Emailing time is the most stressful time of the week. Every RM will agree. 

Loves youu all. 

xoxo. be you.

-Hermana McBride

Finally! A piñata for my birthday! 

Give Up or Get Up + Pics

Hello!!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful mother. I love you and miss your face. Time is winding down so quickly. My next three p-days consist of Old Town with my besties from the mission (today), My birthday party, then the beach, then HOME! Carrrazzyyy. I am super excited to finish here in Poway with Hermana Hofer. She is like one of my besties. We will be good friends for a good while.

 

Last Pday was so much fun. President and his kiddos came and played ball. It was so intense because of course everyone was trying to impress the guy haha. But it was way fun. My basketball skills have really improved ;) hahah...okay not really. I still struggle to make lay-ups but I make it rain when it comes to those 3-pointers. Speaking of basketball...WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME ABOUT LEBRON?! Darl..you officially fail as my sports updater. haha.

 

Hollman passed his interview and is getting baptized on July 26th!!! Nothing like a baptism to send you home huh? We are so excited. He is super pumped too. He wants to go on a mission.

 

We met a really cute family in the English ward. They are half peruvian. She found out I was going home in 3 weeks and is already trying to set me up with her son. There has been a lot of that awkwardness lately (see funny moment..)

 

The fun day of the week was biking on 7/11..mostly because we have 4 different 7/11's in our area. FREE SLURPEES FOR DAYS!!! My tan line is gettin nice and thick haha.

 

The poway zone is good. We are BFF's with our Zone Leaders. There is a bunch of stupid drama with missionaries but we are having lots of fun and staying out of it.

 

Spiritual: This week was sweeeet. I had straight up revelation. I was in an appointment with an investigator and out of nowhere I felt so naucious. I felt SO sick. I didn't know why because I never feel that way unless I have the flu. So we went home and I blacked out on my pillow for a good hour. I woke up so confused and I was more mad than anything. I was thinking.."WHY ME! I am trying my hardest to finish strong. I am doing my best and this happens. Is this God or is this Satan? What am I supposed to learn from this?" Then I sat and thought and prayed to myself. And then it dawned on me. Sickness and any other trial for that matter happens because of human nature (since the fall of adam). The important part is the way we decide to react to trials. We can choose God or the adversary.

 

An example of this that came to my mind is when Jesus Christ was on the ship with his apostles. He fell asleep and was EXHAUSTED. He was a natural man as well and he got tired. He layed down and litteraly slept through a huge storm. That is when his apostles woke him up and asked for his help. In that moment, Jesus had the decision to give up orget up. He got up and calmed the sea and said, "Peace, be still".

 

So everyday we are given trials. We have the choice as well. Will we give up or get up? I am gonna get up and fight until August 5th and I am hugging each of your squishy little faces.

 

Funny: So..we overlap with a YSA at church. There are some babes..not going to lie. So as we were walking out, I was talking to this english member and she was like "wow! you only have 3 weeks left?!" Then one of the YSA guys was like "Ya sister poulson do you have any young nephews or cousins?"

Me, being awkward and completely oblivious, didn't realize that he was asking FOR me. haha. I say, "Why?..haha". He was like.."Well..you get home..just trying to help get you set up ya know?". Then sister poulson says, "Why are you asking about my cousins?! Why don't YOU get Sister McBrides phone number..?". I slowly just walked away awkwardly and said.."No...you realllly don't have to do that...byyye!!". I am so awkward. He was a babe. But ya know..I ain't ready for that dating life yet hahaha.

 

Love you guys.

Have a good week. Email me on my birthday..#SoIKnowItsReal

xoxo. be you.

 

-hermana mcbride

 

1. THE columbian hot dog..its insane. I will make you one when i get home.

2. BIKES!!!

3.  Ballin with President Schmitt

4. It is safe to say that you are a Sister Missionary when you wear this skirt in public..hahahaha. don't worry it only lasted a good 4 hours.

 

 

It Is Getting Late - July 8, 2014

Hey Hey Hey:

July..I still can't believe it is July. I can feel it because I am sweating all the time but it doesn't feel like I am about to go home. Speaking of heat, Hermana Hofer and I had this wild idea of biking to zone meeting yesterday for fun. It took a good 10-12 miles on an incline and it was 90 degrees. No big deal. I am loving the bikes though. They are super fun!

It was so fun to see Lena and the boys this week. Its insane how big the boys are. I am so obsessed! 

Okay so highlight of the week..MY NEW MISSION PRESIDENT/FAMILY IS AMAZING. He is only 40 and he has 4 kids who are the biggest squishers on the planet. I am already planning on setting Cassidy up with their oldest son. I just am so grateful for the amazing leadership I have seen on my misison. President Schmitt is so cool. He is coming to play basketball with us today for P-day! Haha! SO LEGIT. Hermana Hofer and I decided to make them a little welcome card (see picture) with a little treat (sticky chexmix..yum). The other missionaries called us a bunch of brown-nosers and that is alright by me. Cuz they love us! We saw them at the Mormon Batallion and they both came up and thanked us for the card. I am super pumped that they are so personal because I was a little sad that I wouldn't get to know them before I left..but all is well! We are homies!

The 4th of July was good. We worked at the family history center booth at a big community event. Just a word for the wise...people interested in family history who aren't LDS can be a little bit odd sometimes. This one lady talked to us about reincarnation and how this is the 3rd life that she has lived. Then she looked into my eyes and went silent and said, "yes..your eyes. I can see it. We were friends in another generation of time. We know each other..". Man..I was trying so hard not to bust out laughing. After, we went and had a BBQ with our district and our ward mission leader's family. It was way fun!

Satan has been attacking my health lately. What else is new? haha. I have some random disease on my legs right now that is causing a bunch of red dots. Basically, my hair follicles are inflamed. I am on an anti-biotic and steroid cream. Also, me and Hofer were in and out of bead with sinus problems this week. Not fun. I am just annoyed that my health is slowing me down right now. But we are getting better so time to go hard before i go home. 

The wedding/ward activity has been called off. I am just bummed because I was stoked to listen to the ward clerk sing John Legend haha. 

I got to see Hermana Flandro this sunday. She was visiting from SLC!

I gave my departing testimony yesterday. That was weird. It is all just flying by and I partly just want time to stop. But life is all about learning and having new experiences. So I am okay about coming home but I know I will really miss being a missionary.

Funny: So, our ward mission leader's daughter (Sydney, 8yrs) is a hoot. The other day me and Elder Hunt, my district leader, were just chatting and Sydney ran up to my companion and said, "I CAN SEE IT NOW!!! <3 THEY ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED! hahahahaha! So now her biggest quest in life is to make sure that it happens haha. I have a quote in my planner that says, "Choose your love and love your choice". Sydney added, "..and your choice is ELDER HUNT". I love kids. They are so great haha. Don't worry I am not planning on marrying Elder Hunt (or anyone for that matter haha). 

Spiritual: This morning I was reading one of my favorite talks by Jeffery R. Holland called "Laborers in my Vineyard". I invite you all to read it..its pretty much mind-blowing and amazing. He talks about the parable in Matthew when there were Laborers who came to work for this man and they all got chosen to work at different hours of the day. But at the end of the day, they all received the same amount of money. Elder Holland talks about 3 concepts of this parable.

#1-  "Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live...Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those."

On my mission, I have realized many of my weaknesses. One of them that is still VERY apparent is that I have a hard time rejoicing in other people's successes. I love that Elder Holland says that the only race we are in is against that of sin. 

#2- He talks about how the Laborers who worked at the beginning just complained later because they had to stay in the hot sun all day. We must not dwell on things of the past. He says, "The formula of faith is to hold on, work on, see it through, and let the distress of earlier hours—real or imagined—fall away in the abundance of the final reward."

#3- This parable isn't about laborers or wages, it is about the atonement of Jesus Christ and his grace towards all men. No matter who, what or when..his grace is sufficient. He closes by saying, " His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there..So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time...Don’t delay. It’s getting late."

I add my testimony to Elder Holland's. The atonement is incredible and perfect. Don't delay. It is getting late. 

Sorry this email was lengthy. I hope I didn't bore you all to tears. Only 3 more of these bad boys! I am just trying to get it all our while I can ;)

I gotta go ball up against my mission president now. I love you all oh so much!

xoxo. be you.

-hermana mcbride

Pictures:

1. Me and the President's kids 

2. Me and my Match-Maker Sydney

3. Lena and the boys

4. WELCOME LA FAMILIA SCHMITT (yes we spelt their name wrong..#embarrassing haha)

Happy July 7th - July 1, 2014

Hello Hola Konichiwa:

SOOOO much can happen in one week. Alright so #1...last week, like i said, we didn't get the transfer call. I thought that was SO weird that they were keeping a trio together for 2 transfers. Jones was writing me and told me that same thing happened to her so they called the Assitants to confirm and they made a mistake. So..I decided to text Elder Garner JUST IN CASE. And what do ya know? They made a mistake. Hermana Sanchez was transferred to Chula Vista (my old area) on Wednesday. It was super sad but we were all expecting it anyway. 

So with one less hermana...#2 we decided to add a little fun to my last transfer...BIKES. Yes. Bikes. We got some bikes that some sisters weren't using and we now can bike or drive a car whenever we would like. Our area is pretty big but we are mostly working in one part of it right now and so we hop on our bikes with our swagged out helmets and go go go! My booty hurts real nice and I have a sweet farmers tan but its all worth it. SO MUCH FUN! And we get honked at by members all the time now. I finally feel like a real missionary hahaha. 

#3..We got a new mission president!!! I haven't met him yet but I am super stoked. 

The biking is just bringing miracles 4 days. Yesterday was our first full bike day and here is the story. So we made it a goal to try to 1. ask for more referrals from EVERYONE and 2. Master the art of street contacting on a bike (its so awkward). So we make a goal that if we ask for 5 referrals we would get to reward ourselves with a tacobell slushy during happy hour. So we went out and we saw this 17 year old girl with a bike but she was just walking it. So we stopped and said, "Hey! Do you know anyone who knows how to fix a bike? Our chain is struggling." She said.."Ya! My dad. He worked in a bike shop for 10 years. Just follow me to my house." We thought her house was just around the corner..No. 3 Miles later we got to her house, her dad fixed our bike, we got a referral, and we added their neighbor as an investigator! Then we went to our appointment and ended up biking 8 miles and with a big giant slushy from Taco Bell. IT WAS SWEET. My arms are SO burnt hahaha (see picture). 

In other news, our strive for ward activities is actually happening! When I got here they only did one activity every 2 months and I was soooo annoyed. Me and my companions worked really hard to change that and we are now having an activity every wednesday night. SO LEGIT. There are 2 members of our ward who are getting married and it has been like the center of the universe in the branch haha. Her wedding is being considered the ward activity of the month. BAHAHA! #SpanishBranchProblemas

Our investigator Holman is doing awesome. He is progressing a ton and has a baptismal date for July still. Whoop whoop! I am pumped to hopefully watch a baptism before I go home. 

Spiritual Momento: This moment is brought to you from an email I got today. I have been really trying hard to stay focused and bang this last transfer out. Today I got an email that clicked right into that sports-minded head of mine:

"Don't just finish.  Go hard til the final whistle. Leave it all out on the floor. And make them carry you out on a stretcher."

If that doesn't get you pumped, I don't know what does. Its clutch time. Time to go hard or go home. 5 weeks to get things done!

Funny Momento: 1. My companion ran into a trash can on her bike yesterday hahaha. 

2. We were visiting one of my favorite members here in Poway and we were planning a trip to go to the mormon batallion to show our investigator. 

Us: How about we go on monday night?

Him: No hermanas! It won't be open..right?

Us: umm...why not?

Him: Its JULY 7th!!! America Day!!!

Us: Hermano...thats the 4th...

Him: DANG IT HERMANAS! I AM NEVER GOING TO PASS MY CITIZENSHIP TEST!!! 

bahahahahhaha!!!Too good. HAPPY 7TH OF JULY!! #GodBlessAmerica

Love you all so much!

xoxo. be you. 

-hermana mcbride

Pictures:

1. Helmet Hair..lets go.

2. TACO BELL FREEZES! :)

3. Farmers tan.

Posted Up With Angels - June 24, 2014

Good Mornin' Sunshines!

 

Another transfer call today. I AM STAYING! We are all staying in a trio which is super rare. Yay!! No more anxiety of transfer calls. My next transfer will be to the Salt Lake City airport. Wheeew! We made it team. We at the finish line. These next few weeks are going to fly. It is soooo weird. We have something (meeting or event) every week this transfer. Oh and its my birthday month...cough cough ;)

 

Anyway, I am planning on doing what is called a "40 day fast". It resembles the 40 day fast that Christ did. But i will eat food don't worry. hahaha. I have picked about 5 different things that I want to fast from and do them. For example, I am going to actually make my bed every morning for 40 days. haha. You would think I would have learned that by now...nope...sorry parents. I am also going to speak spanish for at least half of the day. I am also going to finish Jesus The Christ #pray4me #NoEntiendo hahaha. So if any of y'all want to do the 40 day fast with me, it starts tomorrow! 40 more days! Weiiiirrrd.

 

It was fun to see Aunt Wendy this week. It reminded me that world hasn't changed one bit. Just that everyone and their dog is married.

 

We had the coolest miracle this week. One of my favorite member families here brought their cousin, Hollman, to church and he loved it and now we are teaching him. He just got out of Jail and wants to change his life around. He already read the entire Book of Mormon in jail. He has a baptismal date for July 12th! WHOO!

 

We got to go help out at an english ward activity and they had a giant water balloon fight. That was super fun..except when the elders got a hold of the balloons. #SOAKED

 

As you know, my companion is from El Salvador and so this week we went to a members house and made Papusas. YUM!

 

Spiritual: We sang my favorite song (Abide with Me) in church this week. I love being reminded of the beautiful lyrics to that song but I love it more in spanish. It says (translated):

 

Come, Lord, the night is already here.

Everything is dark and it gives me fear.

There is no peace; A lot of bad in sight

In the darkness, accompany me.

 

Always grace, I want to have

Who else could defeat Satan?

Only in you I will find my guide

In the sun and shadow, accompany me.

 

gooodddd stuff.

 

Funny: We were teaching our recent converty Kevin yesterday. He is 19 or something and we are homies cuz he is our neighbor too. Well, yesterday we were teaching him more about the priesthood from D&C 84. He was like..kay this is confusing and I don't really understand. So this is what I say to help him understand.."Kay kevin, there were some O.G's that were posted up in the olden days like before Jesus. They got the priesthood. Now you have it and if you used it right then angels will be posted up around you. Jesus Christ is like your number 1 amigo, ride or die, wingman. So use your priesthood right and he will blow your mind with blessings." hahaha. He understood PERFECTLY. And that is when you know that you were called for your own personality #McBreezyIsBack.

 

Love you all!

Have a fabulous week.

 

xoxo. be you.

-hermana mcbride

 

1.Bowling with some of my besties :)

2. Me and Aunt Wendy

 

 

The Broken-Hearted - June 17, 2014

iBuenos dias!

 

Last P-day ended with me chillin on the pier of Ocean Beach. Not bad eh? Then I ended up with a really nasty looking farmers tan but oh well. I hope you had a wonderful fathers day daddy! I still don't understand why they don't just let us give you a phone call too. I am just doing fabulous. Life is good. No complaints.

 

Fathers day was quite non-climatic. We had dinner at the church though so that was fun. I am enjoying being in a branch again because I can get to know pretty much everyone haha.

 

We had zone conference yesterday and it was amazing. It was President Clayton's last zone conference and it was super sad. I gave him a big hug and thanked him for all that he has done for me while I have been here. I am so grateful that I was able to finish my mission here in California. Although I don't always understand why, I know God had people here for me.

 

We met an awesome lady yesterday who is ready to learn. Her name is Raffa. She is the housecleaner for some members. The members just got home from being mission presidents in Iowa and were recently called as the new temple presidents. Whooo..No break. I am greatful that they never took off that title of being a missionary though. I got super pumped to share the gospel with Nora (dads housecleaner) and mom's lanscaper. I think it should be fun :)

 

Spiritual: We went on exchanges this week with Hermana Hess. She is my homie. I love her so so much. We had a heart to heart on life and how the mission is going. She told me something that she has learned in the last few weeks and it has really helped me look at things differently...

My success as the Lord's missionary is not based on how many baptisms I get or how many lessons I teach, how many new investigators I find, or many rules I break or keep. My success is determined by how many broken hearts I have had. How many times that my heart broke when my investigator didn't read or come to church. How many times I watched someone choose something that wasn't right. How many times I cried because I felt alone. Failed baptisms. Switching missions. Depression. Sickness.

It was in those times, when I had to turn to The Savior. Jesus taught us that, "he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted". Our success in this life will be determined by how well we understand the atonement and use it. That is why my success as a missionary is determined on my broken-heart.

 

Funny: We are now eating with 2 english people a week. That is always either way fun or just a culture shock. This week we were calling to confirm dinner and the man answered "HELLO! This is Brother Walt! And Im a mormon! How can I help you?". Welp, I about peed my pants and I thought this would probably be the weirdest family in the ward. Quite the opposite. They are actually way cool he is just freaking hilarious. We were asking them if they had any pass-along cards and he said.."ya i think so..Is it the one with a picture of a dude with a hoodie on?.."

I said, "um..no..I don't think so?". He brings over the card with Jesus in his robe. BAHAHA! Jesus in a hoodie. I will never look at that picture the same.

 

Time is windin down my friends. I would ask you for your prayers even more than before. I am gonna need it for this last transfer to stay focused and to transition back into the world.

 

Love you so much kiddos.

xoxo. be you.

 

-hermana mcbride

 

Picture time:

 

1. We put coconut oil in our hair every night...#swag

2.Saying bye to President and Sister Clayton

3.Exchanges with Hessykins

4. Lets go to the beach beach..lets go get away!

 

 

 

Final Countdown - June 10, 2014

Yolaaaa Familia y Amigos:

Hows it going? I usually kind of plan out what I am going to write in these emails the night before writing but I was feeling a little bit lazy last night. Sorry bout it. First and foremost..HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASS!!! I can't believe i left when you were 12 and now you are 14. That is just weird. Also, Happy Birthday to momma Jones. She is a boss. 

So this week...I have been really trying to eat healthy...like really..not cheating. And I gained 3 pounds. I blame it on the "water weight" and all of that running and working out. Maybe its all that muscle i am getting. Who knows? I just give up hahahaha. 

Temptations are rising with the NBA playoffs and the world cup. My companion is obsessed with soccer and I am obsessed with basketball. Going into houses with a wide-screen TV is always a tough one. But I am trying haha. Sunday we walked in with 1 minute left of the Miami vs. Spurs game. Woof. That was a doozy. But I have great companions who keep me in check haha. 

I am starting to have random spaz attacks about going home. Its like you talk about August your whole mission and how that is when you go home. It seems peachy and rosy and then BOOM...Its June and your freaking out because real life just looks awful. 

The trio is going just fabulous. I really do love my companions and although we can get under each other's skin, it is a partay most of the time.

We have been super busy filing down our teaching pool to the most solid investigators which is sometimes hard. Its hard to add people but its hard to drop them as well because maybe they were the ONE. 

President Clayton's time is winding down and there is kind of a sad ambiance in the air but I went through the whole mission president change in Washington and I know how cool it is to see that the Lord knows exactly what this mission needs. The new mission president will get here at the end of June. He is a dad of 4 youngish kids and he is only 40 years old. I am pretty excited to meet him.

Sorry if this email is quite lame. 

Spiritual:We had a super cool zone meeting. We walked in and on the table each of us had a giant envelope with our names on them. We opened them and it was a "re-commitment" mission call. I was mostly excited since I never got a real mission letter call for San Diego. It was written the exact same as our original call but it said how much time we had left. I read that letter and started to weep. 2 month left to completely 100% serve the Lord with all of my time. That was an eye-opener. We all promised to re-commit ourselves to the work. It was so cool and the spirit was so strong.

Later in the zone meeting some of the sisters talked about how we keep our covenants and promises with the Lord because of our family. Then they invited us to be the missionary that our family thinks we are. I have had that invitation once in the past and it really was cool to think about. But this time I really thought about the people who looked up to me the most. Who is the person who thinks missionary work is for only the best people in the world? Who thinks missionary work is going to a foreign place to wear a name tag. The person who thinks I work until I sweat and keep on working after. The person who talks about me to every single person that they meet. Who is this person? Lexi McBride. I committed myself to be the missonary that Lexi McBride thinks that I am. She has the most simple mind and that is how I want to live out the rest of my mission. 

Funny: We ended up teaching our neighbor Preston yesterday. Preston is 9 years old. His older brother (Kevin, 19) just got baptized. We started chatting with him on the grass about why he thinks God wants to go to church and get baptized. He said, "Well..cuz like God wants us to follow rules ya know?". It was cute. He doesn't really like going to church though because he said its boring. Then this other neighbor hood boy came over (we are homies with all of the neighborhood kids). This boy is named Jared. He is 11 years old but acts like he is 40. He talks a lot like the rich boy who dates Darla in Little Rascals (not alfalfa). Anyway here is the conversation..

Jared: Hey guys! Can I join you?

Us: Ya sure! We are talking about God and stuff.

Jared: Sweet!! Wait...are you guys christians? (yes) Okay..whoo...good!

Us: We are just teaching Preston why church is important. What do you think Jared?

Jared (keep in mind that he is 11): Personally...I LOVE church. I mean...its like you get to go to a place and feel the love of god. Like who doesn't love that?! And plus..I am the kind of person who really likes to trust in God so like it really helps me. In fact, I talked to my Pasteur about getting baptized and that's like my biggest goal right now.

Preston: Dang...he beat me. That was a good answer..

HAHAHAHHAA! I am obsessed with small children..in a non-creepy way.

Anywayyyy...

I hope y'all have a good week. I am off to the beach! WOO!!!!

Cassidy don't go to crayy. 14 going on 30. geezman. 

xoxo. be you.

-hermana mcbride

Pictures:

1. Karen and Abby's Baptism!!

2. The ballin bowlers of Poway.

Summa Time - June 3, 2014

Hey. Yo. Whatup.

I am trying to keep my introductions of my email new and fresh. Its getting kinda hard. Can you believe it is June?! What the crap? How is that even a thing? Summer is in the air and so is my sister missionary tan line. 

This week was a good one. First of all, I got to go be a coach for MTE's. I basically got to go to Chula Vista and be in a trio with some sisters down there and we do a 24 hour exchange to learn more. I didn't get to go to Chula 4th but I got to go to Rio Otay/ San Ysidro which is literally 1 mile from the mexican border. That was a good time. I went with some cute sisters and I learned a lot. 

I got to eat breakfast with Sisters Hess, Barnes, and Pendleton the following morning and it was fun to just reflect on all the good times that we had in Chula.

Then Saturday came...KAREN AND ABBY WERE BAPTIZED!!!! Freaking miracle. It was by far one of the coolest baptisms. Their Mom came and sat on the side of the font with us. By the end of the baptism, their mom asked us how she could be baptized. The sisters are now teaching her the lessons. It was such a testimony to me about how our example effects the lives of others. I remember making a bold statement to them promising that their mom would support them and it was so cool to see that it was not me talking but the spirit. And that is what happened. YAY! Words can't really explain how amazing that moment was. I have so many cute pictures but I left my camera at home :/ So..next week.

The branch is doing good. I came here and I wanted to change the vibe a little because there is a little bit of a negative vibe of missionaries calling Poway "the hard area". I like to make things happen and change that. So we started with visiting more members and presenting a plan of activities every Wednesday. We are getting the ball rolling and I am PUMPED!

Spiritual:

1. I had a really cool realization this week. My patriarchal blessing talks about how I will be a leader and teacher to particularly the Young Women of the church. I counted and realized that 6 of my 11 converts have been young women. That was pretty cool.

2. I was going to share this poem with you and i forgot it last week. So here it is..basically sums it all up..

You're on a mission and things seem tough'

Doors are slammed with voices gruff;

Your companion refused to do his share

You feel discouraged and even despair.

You question your testimony and belief in God;

You wonder about the path you've trod;

Memories of pleasure dance in your brain;

a siren's song, an old refrain;

"The work is hard," and with a taunt,

Whispers, "Not as He wills but as you want."

You tire of rules and feet worn to the bone,

And suddenly decide you want to go home.

You'll never know if you say goodbye,

What might happen if you stay and try,

To follow the rules and do your best,

To serve the Lord and pass your test.

Where do you think that you would be,

If Christ, In the Garden of Gethsemane;

His soul in torment, a trial of fire

Had selected not duty before desire?

He set the pattern for you and me,

To meet our own Gethsemane.

From boy, to man, to Elder with fire,

Comes only when duty can master desire.

Funny:

1. Question...Why is it acceptable for Hispanics to name children Jesus but that would be completely weird in English? Just a thought..

2. You know your a spanish missionary when you are writing Senior (as in a senior in high school) and you write Señor.

3. That awkward moment when you are at a meeting and they ask you to read your scriptures before starting and so you flip open and act like your reading...then you realize that you are in the Topical Guide...then you realize that it is under the term nakedness #EPICFAIL

Love you all so much its ridiculous. Have a FAB week. Do something crazy and change someones life.

xoxo. be you.

hermana mcbride

1. Our laundry room...

2. Lupitas yummmm!

Sista's Fireburnin' - May 27, 2014

Dear Family & Friends (and any other of my stalkers out there):

Hows it goin? we doing good? I am doing just peachy. We just got home from the temple which is always just great. Today was a good week filled with all sorts of excitement. But we can get to that later. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY. Shout out to Grandpa Dippo for fighting for this beautiful country. I love you and I was thinking about you lots yesterday.  Also, congrats Mckelly for graduating high school! We were all so worried that it wouldn't happen ;)

First of all, CHRISLEEN GOT BAPTIZED! Whoo!! The baptism was amazing. She was so excited and she just glowed. It was cool cuz this little 8 year old was totally like the pioneer for her family and she brought about 15 non member to her little baptism. YAY!

Karen and Abby are getting baptized this week. WHOO! 

What else? hmm...We have been finding a lot of cool people. I really do like Poway. It is kinda known as the "hard" area of the mission because it is richer but I really do like it. Our trio is becoming lots of fun. We are working through the kinks but it is actually super fun.

The running thing every morning is a doozy but besides the shin-splints and knee pain, I am starting to see some results. We also do companionship pushups and situps every night haha. 

So the fun part of the week...

Funny/Scary/Worse/Best Moment of the week: 

Sunday night, 3 little tired missionaries went to their beds to sleep. They dreamed about baptisms and princesses in the temple and carne asada and cotton candy when all of a sudden (4:30am) they heard, BAM BAM BAM on the window. Sister McBride jumped under her bed thinking it was an earthquake. Sister Hofer started to quiver. Hermana Sanchez screamed! They ran to the door to see what was the ruckus. They heard a very loud voice yelling, "POLICE DEPARTMENT, WAKE UP! WAKE UP! THERE IS A FIRE!". We opened the door and the man said, "Hurry! you need to evacuate! The laundry room (that is 5 feet away) is on fire!". Well, Sister McBride was still shaking. Couldn't really tell if the whole thing was a dream or not. Then the policeman said, "HURRY! GO PUT SOME PANTS ON AND EVACUATE!" bahahaha! (We had forgotten that it was a little hot the night before and we were just in our garment bottoms). Anyway, we grabbed our journals, backpacks, and cameras and booked it outside. The apartment was very close to catching fire because of all the trees that surround us but the firemen were able to put it out. The Sisters got back into their apartments safe and sound and were pretty much terrified to go back to sleep. The End. 

Spiritual Moment: As I was in the celestial room in the temple, I was thinking a lot about the whole fire incident. We were caught completely off-guard. We were not prepared and we didn't know how to deal with the whole situation. I flipped open to Alma 5: 28 which says:  Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.

Thats when I got thinking, I AM SO NOT READY to meet the Savior yet. Most of us are full of pride. If we learn to be humble and drop our pride, we will be more happy and more prepared for the day that our Savior comes. 

I love you all so much. Have a good week. 

xoxo. be you.

hermana mcbride

Picture Time:

1. Chrisleens Baptism

2. Mommy Daughter Date! Elotes 4 DAYZ

3. Firemen for dayz

4. Family Pictures!

Livin' La Vida - May 6, 2014

Hola Holaaa:

Happy Mothers Day to every single mother that I have out there (Mom, Ange, Pierce, Jones, Lena, Gma etc.) I love you all and hope to one day be the woman that you all are. I am pumped to see the fam on skype this week!

This week has been really good. Just another week but another great week. We put on a Noche de Talentos (talent show) and it was so funny! I sang a song by the Justin Bieber of Mexico on the uke and the members LOVED it haha.

Anyway..I remember getting emails from family and friends from their missions and I would usually skip the whole updates on investigators part haha. And so because there is nothing crazy to report, i will skip the whole thing for you. Free pass...only this week though ;). Miracles for days are coming in hot next week. So be ready.

Spiritual: Well..I guess the highlight of the week had to have been shaking the hands of an Apostle of the Lord. As most of you know, my mission mom is Elder Ballard's daughter. So.. Elder Ballard came to visit our mission yesterday and just boosted us up. Apparently he came last year and told the missionaries to do more and to work harder and stuff and so that is what I was expecting. It was quite the opposite. He just told us how grateful he was for our service and just talked to us about how our success as missionaries is not determined by numbers. I want to share a few cool things that I wrote down.

-"If you have confidence, you will be a different kind of missionary finder. You will talk to everyone because you will want to. You will have the spirit. You will have the words to say." I love that because sometimes I feel like I have a good testimony but that doesn't mean that I am always confident. I am going to try harder to be confident and share with the world one of the most important things in my life, the gospel.

-In the spirit world, all of us members of the church are going to be doing missionary work. So why are we waiting til we die to do the work? LETS JUST DO IT NOW AND GET GOOD AT IT! haha. 

-At a conference of 100+ recent converts, I asked the question of when they all knew the church was true. Every single one of them that stood up said the words "I FELT". That is because the feeling comes from the holy ghost. I want to invite each of you reading this email to remember a time when you FELT that holy ghost.

-Funny moment with Elder Ballard: He was talking about how much his wife misses Holly (our mission mom) and how she is always counting down when they will be finished with their missions in June. A month ago or so, Elder Ballard's son was called as a mission president. As Elder Ballard and Sister Ballard ate there morning breakfast, Sister Ballard found out that her son would be leaving on a mission and said "Honey...STOP SENDING MY KIDS AWAY!..." He looked at her and said.."Hey! It wasn't me..call Russel Nelson..He is Chairman of the Missionary Department". Bahahaha! 

Funny Moment: So..last night after teaching an amazing lesson with Karen and Abby, we realized it was getting late and we tried to rap up the lesson but it just kept going. Finally we left and we had to take our member home too. We ended up hitting a ton of red lights and rolled into the apartment at about 9:45. We felt so bad and disobedient haha. So we pulled in..and just some info about where we live..we live in an apartment with 6 other companionships of elders that are all either Zone Leaders and the AP's (Assistants to the President). So we were gonna sneak our way back into the apartment. No. Not possible. We pulled up and we see some lights about 10 feet away..the AP's. We both just started screaming..."OH SHOOT!!!!!".  We tried hiding behind a sketchy white van  and then Elder AP Garner yelled "Hey what up Apostate Sacs!" hahahahhaa. We lost it. We all just laughed and ran inside. Good stuff.

Les Quiero Muchisimo.

Tengan Buena Semana. See you on Sunday!

xoxo. be you.

-Hermana McBride

Pictures:

1. 2. Madison Avenue has been in every area that i have served. Even in Washington. REPRESENT

2. Me and Hermana Hyde...reunited. (Elder Ballard was 10 feet behind us but we still got the swag face on)

3. RayBan Swagggg.

The Distance - Apr 29, 2014

Hola Hola:

Wow..overload of a week huh? First of all...CONGRATS to Mckelly for making the UVU dance team and Cassidy for the bonneville cheer team. I am so proud of you both. Next..Shout out to 2 of my best friends, Chaleh and Haley, who will be married this week. That is so weird to me and I wish I could be there but I love you both so much. Also, congrats to my cousin Cam for his wedding this weekend. Hmmm....I just found out that Ms. Nohemi (my first convert) is working on her mission papers. PROUD MISSIONARY MOMENT. Jonesy and Pierce are online writing me right now. That just makes me happy. Man oh man..today is a good day. 

This week we had an activity for "el dia de nino". It was super fun. I love that holiday. Probably because I know that I am still so immature hahaha. Still a little nino.

So..last week we got to go to the temple. The temple always makes everything better. Then we found the nearest noodles and company. A group of some of friends, noodles, and the temple...what more can you ask for?

 

Marlen is doing awesome. She really wants to change and is trying her hardest to mold her life. 

My homegirl Mitsy is finally putting her papers in this week. I AM SO EXCITED! yaaayaaa.

I am super pumped for this week. Elder Ballard is coming to speak to us! Whoo!! My first apostle sighting on my mission. 

I also heard a little rumor that we might be able to skype for mothers day! WHOO!! Its not for sure yet so don't get the hopes up too high.

Sorry this email is just so random.

Spiritual: This morning as I was getting ready, my ipod was shuffling and "I Can Go The Distance" from Hercules came on. I have never even seen that movie before and I usually just skip the song. Well, I was too lazy to go press skip and so I listened to this song. It was so cool to see how much this song applies to me right now. 

I have often dreamed of a far off place

where a great warm welcome will be waiting for me

The crowds will cheer when they see my face

And the voice keeps saying this is where I am meant to be

I am on my way, I can go the distance

I'll be there someday, somehow I'll be strong

I know every mile, will be worth my while

I will go most anywhere to find where I belong

I am at my last 100 days and I will go the distance. I will need lots of prayers but I am going to sprint my way home.

Funny: Two "madi" words were used my mexicans this week.

 1st: we were doing a puppet show for el dia de los ninos and the narrator was explaining something and said ESQUISHY. Word for the wise: add an E to the beginning of any word and it becomes spanish. My whole district just busted out laughing and yelled SOOO THQUISHYYYYY!.

2nd: We were in primary and they held up a picture and the teacher said "Who is this??" and a little mexican boy yelled out "UNAA LAAAADYYYY!" bahhaha. Again, all of the missionaries just busted out laughing.

I love you and I am so proud of everyone of you. 

you are amazing. I am so grateful for the people I have in my life.

Have a good week.

xoxo. be you.

-hermana mcbride

1. This is my ward mission leader. he is like 70 years old. And he did the peace sign haha.

2. BBQ with the english elders

3. Elotes for days..best thing ever :)

4. Alma (primary chorister) and Me (primary piano player) We make a good team :)