Its getting warmer... :)

Dear Famlia,

Right now I think the Lords trying to teach me a leccion about the importance of the temple.  Before coming here going to the temple was about one of the easiest things to do at home.  Jump in the car and 5 min. later ya esta.  But even with such a big blessing, I really didnit make the effort to go that I should have.

Now as a missionary I would love to go every P-day possible and the temple is still only 5 min from where I´m at.  But as a mission we only go every 6 months.  And on top of that we had our date to go to the temple moved back to October instead of September.  The temple is the house of the Lord!  We have an incredible privilege to have them so close to us.  I thank the Lord for helping me see a little better the importance and the urgency of going to the temple. Take care of all the opportunities that you have to go to that holy house.

(And think of a poor temple deprived Elder while your at it.  Who is also very excited to go next month!!!)

Have a good one!

Elder McShinsky

I Can't Wait To Go To The Temple

Dear Family,

This week was interesting for me.  We have been trying to teach more lessons, teach better, and really find God's chosen children.  But Last Monday we spent our entire P-day helping our bishop paint his house.  For me it was an incredible experience. We began painting with the intention in the morning to help him out just a little.  But as the morning passed we both had found a great desire and felt like we should just keep painting.  We spent all the time we could at his house before our lessons that night.  By the time we got home we were quite tired, but as part of our planning we decided to call the Bishop again and ask if we could come over the next day to keep helping him and his family prepare their house.

So we went the next day and kept helping them in any way we could.  Once again we went home tired but full of an energy at the same time.  I really learned this week about how really when we are in the service of our fellow men, we truly are in the service of our God.  I know it, and I know that God knew it.  Maybe that's why even with taking so much time away from actual proselyting we still past our goals for the week, and as a companionship taught more lessons together then we have in any other week together here in Sajonia.  We did our part and God blessed us.

If you got 80 pictures, maybe you could send me some...

Elder McShinsky

P.s. Speaking of Jessie, tell here I still haven't got the cookies she said she was going to send... Oh and tell her Hi.

P.s.s.  You just kind of made me wonder who's dancing with who now a days.  That would be kind of nice to know.
P.s.s.s.  Love you.

Welcome To Fall

Dear Family,

Wow that's a lot of apples.  Sorry I don't have a lot of time today to write because we spent the whole day painting a members house.  I´ll send you pictures of it next week.

I hope your all doing really great!  We´re all working hard down here.

Lots of L.O.V.E.

Elder McShinsky

P.S. Sorry for the short letter, but we´re really busy and have to go. (I´ll write a longer one next week.) (With pictures.)

¿Stuffed piraña? Not yet, i still haven´t goon fishing for them... :(

Dear Family,

Sounds like the progression on the whole house thing has come a long way.  (I still think that you should build the dance floor downstairs in Grandpa's little shop place at the end of the little sidewalk.)  That's great that you are all feeling such great blessings from the Lord in los asuntos temporales.  The truth is that he has promised us everyone of those blessing if we just keep the commandments.  But too many times we think it really doesn't matter to God or that it is something we can do on our own.  But if we let God take over even in the little things, we are then also giving him the permission to help us in the desperate moments of our lives when we cry out for his love.

Message to all McShinsky dancers.  Make good use of your time!

That's a lot of Honey.  Wow. Just to let Stan know, I finished your honey, and ever since, I've been buying honey trying to find more like yours.  I still cant find it.  Hasta ahora su miel esta ganando todo la miel de Paraguay.  ¡Bien Hecho!

This week we found a new investigator. His name is Carlos.  While we were teaching one of his friends, he happened to pass by.  We invited him into the lesson and he quickly responded that he really wanted us to visit him more.  We went to his house the next day and began teaching him and his mom.  Very quickly we came to find out that he has more addictions then I knew one person could have.  The next day we took him to church, and for me it is amazing how fast the gospel of Jesus Christ can help every one of us.  From when he met with us on Sunday for the rest of the night he didn't smoke a single cigarette, joint of marijuana, or other drug, and promised us that he´s going to fix it all as soon as possible.

When he understood the concept of bautizmo, He immediately tried to convince us to do it that day.  As well as all the other topics that we taught to him.  The gospel of Christ is AMAZING!  And now a question, I think I remember the Brother M knew a lot about how to help people get over addictions.  If you could maybe ask him a little about ideas he has to help people get over their problems, that would be greatly appreciated. (So he knows, Carlos is addicted to about everything I can think of.  From crack to prescription drugs, to alcohol, pornography, to breaking the law of chastity, to pretty much everythin' else as well.) (And he has connections to the Paraguayan mafia) (Your prayers in his behalf would be greatly appriciated!) 

With Love,

Elder McShinsky

P.S.  Birthdays in the mission are awesome!  Eat cake with companion, Eat cake with member family, Eat cake at a surprise missionary birthday party, Eat cake with investigator family (And invite all of their friends over to eat cake as well, then while eating cake sharing the gospel.) (That was a great!), Then a week later have a family home evening with member family and eat more birthday cake! (That part is tonight...)