Fishing In Hail Storms, Foggy Mt Rushmore, And Tornado Warnings

HELLO WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!!! Sweet mercy I cant believe that it's already been a week since my last weekly email, time literally flies in front of your eyes!! This week has been SUPER cool and crazy weather filled, but before we get into those juicy medium rare details SPIRITUAL THOUGHT TIME! Some of you may not know but May is the international month of Mental Health awareness, a month solely dedicated to supporting those with mental or emotional challenges as well as raising awareness on the impact of judging and exclusion. Mother Teresa (literally one of my favorite role models) once said that "If we judge someone, we have no time to love them". In a world so polarized with views and beliefs so stark from one another we can begin seeing others in a black and white perspective, of whether we are friends or enemies. This is a very constrictive outlook, because we are failing to appreciate that we are all sons and daughters of an equally loving Heavenly Father. Both in the premortal life and here on earth we are unique and individual, with quirks and traits that make us who we are, so rather than see others in black and white or friend or enemy, see them in color recognizing their divine identity and uniqueness. As we see others in a colored perspective, and I am not talking about race, we will begin to appreciate ourselves and recognize our divine identity and uniqueness. But seeing in a colored perspective is only the surface, as we grow more accustomed to seeing others in a colored perspective we can begin seeing others in a high definition perspective, meaning we always try to see them with God like love and see past their faults. This takes a lifetime to achieve, but luckily we have lifetimes to achieve this eventual high definition thinking. My sweet brother and sisters start today seeing in a colored perspective with the goal of eventually having a high definition outlook on others, I know that as we do so not only will mental health challenges begin to fade away but we will begin to act as an eternal family once again.

 

 

Sooooo... fishing. yah. South Dakota is super cool because once a year they have what they call "free fishing weekend" where anyone with a pole and a bait can go fishing in any of the lakes, rivers, and ponds. Pretty sick right! Well of course this weekend we had the craziest weather ranging from pouring rain, dime sized hail, the most spectacular purple lighting storms, and tornado warnings.  But we were determined to go fishing even if Mother Nature was going to throw a literal tornado at us, and it paid off. In the middle of a pounding rainstorm we were able to catch three rainbow trout and 4 logs. Elder Nielson was the fishing champion with catching two fish, Elder Jue second place with one really fat fish, but I on the other hand was the real winner in successfully wrangling 4 beautiful alder logs (I'm telling ya, you could make some nice deck furniture with these bad boys). But the really funny part was gutting them back at our apartment. Elder Jue and Nielson were great at making the first cut, but a little squeamish and confused on what to do next. They were about to Google it when I grabbed my knife, popped the heads and tails off, cleaned out the guts and deboned the filet in about two minutes.  The look of awe was priceless and all I could think about was how proud Grandpa McMullin was. But anyways, I'm steaming the fish tonight with a lemon, onion and dill infusion for dinner so I'll keep you posted on how the final product turns out!

 

 

We were also able to go up to Mt. Rushmore this week and operated the missionary booth, and it was so much fun, even with it being so crazy foggy! As a companionship we had only one goal: to beat the usual Mt. Rushmore Sister's referral amount, and I am proud to say we doubled it! It was so fun to be able to talk to so many amazing and unique people from all around the world including Poland, Sri Lanka, Russia, Korea and the Philippines. Our Filipino friends were so funny because they got SO excited when they found out Elder Nielson spoke Tagalog that they started speaking rapid fire in Tagalog both to Elder Nielson and Elder Jue and I mean alI I could do was smile and nod. We were able to get a group selfie and send them along their way with pockets full of pass along cards and missionary phone numbers. I am so grateful for the wonderful opportunity to be able to meet all of my new friends on the mountain and even more grateful that we will also be able to go again on Sunday during the same shift. More Filipino friends here we come!!!

 

 

Friend Update!!! Tommy and Lyndas documents have arrived meaning they can finally get married!!!! So excited and happy for them as they make this huge and wonderful next step. Feather and Skeets recently got new jobs so we haven't been able to meet with them much this week, but future updates will hopefully be coming soon. We were also able to make some new  friends this week and they are both literally so cool! So if you remember about two weeks back we got a call from a member of our ward asking if we could help one of his employee's move and while we helped them move we casually brought up the gospel and asked if we could come and share our message with them. They said yes and we were able to go over for dinner on Thursday and visit with Brad and Mckenzie and share the restoration with them. They LOVED it and were super intrigued by the first vision and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. They now have a copy of the Book of Mormon and are meeting with us again on Tuesday!!! Miracles truly haven't ceased!!!!

 

 

Well sweet family and friends I hope you all have literally the best week ever! I know the Lord loves each and everyone of you and wants the very best for you. Please also remember to try and see people in a highly defined color and begin building those family relations we all once had. Love and miss you all so much!!!!

 

 

Love your favorite McM in the NDBM

Elder McMullin :)

 

 

Photo Gallery! 

1-3) Lightning Storm!!!!

4) Our Poor Car after District Council

6-8) Mt. Rushmore Squad!!!

9-10) Fishing Squad!

A Pillow Fight To End All Pillow Fights

HELLLLLOOOO AMAZING FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!! I hope you all have had just as fantastic as a week as I have had, so many wonderful memories and miracles! BUT before we get into all those juicy details, it’s time. Time for what? Time for another spiritual thought with Elder McMullin!!!! For starters I need to make a public apology, for the longest time I thought Family History and genealogy work was the most mind numbing and boring work on the planet. I also believed that it was a part of the role of being a senior citizen to do Family History, along with the responsibilities of taking endless pictures of grand kids and drinking V8 prune juice. SWEET MOTHER OF PEARL WAS I WRONG (cue my overly energetic grandma jumping up and down with excitement while yelling “he’s caught the vision” in spirit paradise)!  I have started doing family history as well as reading journal entries for many of my answers and I can honestly say heaven has never felt closer. Throughout the years in both the voice of the prophets and apostles as well as the proclamation of the family we learn that the “family is the center of life [and] is the key to eternal happiness” (L. Tom Perry). I believed that at an elementary surface level, but by starting family history and learning about my ancestors who paved my life up to this point brought a real immersive feeling that the family is the singular most impressive and important creation that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with. Not only does it allow us to find and connect with our ancestors, but allow us to find ourselves through the powerful memories and impacts of our eternal family line. I can testify that I have been able to break down my different attributes both on a personality and intellect level and see the wonderful impact that family has placed on me. So my invitation to you all is to not take my word for the power that lies in family history, but to try it for yourself. Look past the stigma and dive in a treasure the wonderful spirit that encompasses you as you do so. I can promise you all that there is life after death and that families really can be together forever.

 

 

This week was transfers and Elder Neilson and I got our new companion that we both love and know so well (his name is Elder Jue) and missionary life has literally been a non-stop party. Just on our second night together right after we said our companionship prayer Elder Jue and Nielson grabbed their pillows and yelled “attack the cougar” because I’m the only BYU fan and they are both passionate Utes. Needless to say this led to one of the most epic pillow fights ever featuring mattress body slams, bathroom lock picking with a butter knife, and so much laughing we were throwing up. It's so awesome to see the amazing friendships you make in the service of the Lord. Love both of these Elders so much!

 

 

MIRACLE TIME!!! Literally this week has been so jammed packed with miracles that it was practically bursting at the seams. We got a call from one of the High-Councilors in our Stake asking if we could help one of his non-member friends move super last minute. It was super fun and cool to help them move, but the best part was at the end when McKenzie (the girl we were helping move) started asking questions about the Church as well as what we as missionaries do. We now have an appointment with both her and her husband teaching them what makes our Church different from other religions, and they are also making us homemade curry so that’s also a huge win! But if that wasn’t already fantastic enough we got a call from Tommy and Lynda that their ID’s needed to be married are almost here AND that they have a friend staying with them for the week that they wanted us to meet and teach about the Church. His name is John Polken and is literally so elect because he told us that he wants to be happy in life and has never seen a missionary or member of the “Mormon Church'' look sad or depressed, and he wanted that same peace and joy. We taught him the message of the restoration while he was sipping a beer and smoking on the patio of Tommy and Lyndas porch (Tommy and Lynda were like little angels sipping their cream sodas and not smoking-Word of Wisdom powers activate)! John absolutely  loved the message and said he wanted to come to Church on Sunday and sure enough he came walking in on Sunday with Tommy and Lynda with a clean shirt and combed hair. The Lord is so aware of all and truly provides exceptional miracles when we try our hardest to follow him and invite others to come unto Him as well.

 

 

FRIEND UPDATE!!! I don’t think I have ever been in an area where I love the people and members as much. Feather and Skeets are still consistently coming to Church and thinking about their baptismal date and are now currently working on the Word of Wisdom (they were so relieved to hear that they can still drink Red Bulls and other energy drinks). Leonards baptismal date is being moved back also because of Word of Wisdom issues, but said he will think about it because he really does want to follow Jesus Christ the best he can, even if that does mean giving up coffee. Tommy and Lynda are doing awesome as well, spreading the gospel wherever they go and helping members weed their gardens and spring clean their garages (we often joke that they are more involved in the ward than the members). Shona and Royce are also doing well and enjoy our missionary visits and are currently praying together if the Book of Mormon truly is scripture. It would mean so much to us all if you could keep all of our fantastic friends in your prayers that they will find answers to their various questions and continue to have strength to keep commitments.

 

 

Well absolutely awesome friends and family that’s about it for my weekly report of the missionary happenings in Rapid City. Know that I love you all so much and pray for you all each and every day. You all have assisted in one way or another in getting me to this point and I wish I could individually thank you all for really everything you have done for me. With that I LOVE you all so much and hope that this upcoming week is filled with wonderful blessings and miracles! HAPPY SUMMER and GRADUATION!!!

 

 

Sincerely your favorite McM in the NDBM 

Elder McMullin :-)

 

 

Photo Gallery!!!

1-4) Photo Booth at night after Zone Zoom Meeting

5-6) District Pictures!!! Love all these people!

7) Elder Jue and I crashed at 9pm after moving all of Mackenzie's stuff

Gangsters Are Actually Super Nice

HELLLLLOOOOO ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!! For starters I just wanted to apologize for not writing to you all for a hot second (and by hot second I mean like three weeks) life has been so crazy awesome down here in Rapid City and I just kept running out of time to write to you all. Anyways let's not dwell on the past, but instead focus on the wonder and amazement of the gospel with a short spiritual thought from Elder McMullin!!! How do you see yourself? When you look in the mirror do you look for favorable attributes or flaws? Do you see a divine child of God or a lost and confused homosapien? The world so often tries to sell us short through media, insecurities, and self judgment that happiness is unfathomable and can only be temporarily held by use of stimulated or polarized peer acceptance. This is truly the mother of all lies. You are all a divine Son or Daughter of God that posses an infinite amount of potential. Evidence of this is in each breath you take with a glorious body that houses your truly priceless spirit. Granted these spiritual homes aren’t perfect, but luckily home improvement projects are a thing. My sweet Brothers and Sisters, remember who you are and don’t sell yourself short. Everyone makes mistakes, fights with insecurities, and doubts their divine identity, but if you let both God and Jesus Christ prevail in your life and focus on them first and then on yourself, I promise you miracles will happen and divine changes will occur. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). 

 

 

So literally this week has been one of the most crazy miracle filled weeks I have EVER seen as a missionary! On Tuesday Elder Neilson and I were so pumped because we had five lessons with our friends, but by the time 2pm rolled around they literally all canceled. It was super disappointing, but we began thinking that maybe our lessons fell through because the Lord needed us to find someone. We decided to call all 158 people in our area book, both those currently being taught, as well as those who were previously taught. Immediately people who we were never able to get in touch with started answering our calls and texts and all together we were able to set up 15 appointments for that week and this upcoming week. One of the coolest contacts we were able to make was a super less active Sister in our ward who recently moved from Mexico who asked if we could help her set up a trampoline she recently purchased for her four unbaptized children. This was such a wonderful reminder to me that everything happens for a reason and that there is always a bright side to things.

 

 

So about the caption…gangsters are like crazy nice and surprisingly very family oriented. We just got done visiting a people we called in our miracle mass call session when both Elder Nielson and I felt that very strong impression that there was someone else here in the neighborhood that has been prepared for the gospel. We said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help us find this person we should be looking for and that we could do so quickly because the son was starting to set and we’re not allowed to be on the streets after dark. As soon as we said amen cars immediately started driving into the neighborhood, people began walking around and talking to their neighbors, and gangsters started flashing the Crips Gang Sign to us from the windows. We started giving stickers to everyone and started asking them if they knew anyone that could benefit from a message about Jesus Christ. While doing so some pretty sketch guys with tear drop tattoos started walking towards us,  a little nervous we started walking in the opposite direction. They then started to yell at us if we were the boys giving out stickers. We hesitantly said we were and they smiled and said could we get some for our kids and nephews, they see all the other neighborhood kids with them and would like some too. Shocked, we started giving them “I am a child of God” stickers with our phone number and Facebook page listed on the back. They sincerely thanked us and gave us pretty solid handshakes and told us we were welcome to come back and preach about Jesus, just as long as we don’t wear red (Elder McMullin was wearing red which is the color of the rival gang the bloods). Immediately after we said our goodbyes to our new gangster friends a lady opened her window asking if we were Mormons. We asked if she would like to hear our message, too, in which she said she didn’t believe in God, but that her neighbor from across the street who is a tattoo artist would probably like a message about God. Lets just say that we knocked on the tattoo artist's door, prayed with her, and have a return appointment for Wednesday. The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways.

 

 

FRIEND UPDATE!!!! What more can I say except that I love all the people we are teaching SO much and see the wonderful potential that I know God sees in all of us. Feather, Skeets, and their two sons are on date for baptism for June 1st and feel confident that now is the time to begin raising and nurturing both themselves and their kids in the gospel. Tommy and Lynda are so close to baptism and literally attend stake service projects and volunteer to help members of the ward with any yard work (as long as you can get them a ride). We are still working on getting them married and baptized in the upcoming weeks. Finally we were able to meet just two weeks ago our dear friend Leonard who is a retired chef and NYPD officer, who has decided that he wants to become Christian and that our Church is the right Church. I kid you not we gave him the Book of Mormon to start reading last week and he is on page 135 and still cruising along saying that “he feels like he’s home” when he reads it. Leonard is also on date for baptism for May 29th. Please keep all of our wonderful friends and future fellow members of the Church in your prayers, remarkable changes are happening in their lives.

 

 

Sweet family and friends I love you all so much and know that this gospel is true and the root of all happiness. I have met so many people and seen the miraculous changes occur in their lives as they recognize who they are and the divine destiny they have if they will let the Lord prevail in their lives. Love and miss you all so much, and a very special thank you to everyone that wished me a happy birthday!!! Without all of your love and support I know I wouldn’t be where I am today. LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

 

 

Your favorite McM in the NDBM

Elder McMullin :)

 

 

Pictures!

1) A Cake I baked for a widower in our ward for his Birthday (Tommy and Lynda are also in the photo)