A great week in Clinton

Hey guys! Thank you so much for the emails that you have sent me. It was a joy reading them! It is so nice to hear about the things happening at home. The weather has been going wonderful. I am loving how perfect it is. What a great week to be a missionary in the Utah Ogden mission!!!! 

Last Wednesday, I was able to give my very first District Meeting as a DL and it was AWESOME! Everything went super great. The Zone Leader said that I did a really good job. I was able to train the missionaries in my District on utilizing scriptures that shows scarcity, confidence, and urgency and why it is important to do that. When we show our investigators how important this whole process is, they always keep the commitments and end up getting baptized (James 4:17). 

After DM, the Zone Leaders wanted to do an exchange so Elder Pitcher came with me to my area and we worked hard. Elder Pitcher is from the Calgary area in Canada and he came out with Elder Kelley. We had a super sick lesson together with the Detar family. The Detar family consists of a single mom, Jennifer (her husband committed suicide and she is a LA.), and two twin daughters, who are not members. Elder Pitcher, and I, along with the fellowshipper, were able to teach them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were super interested and kept asking so many questions. The Plan of Salvation lesson would answer of their questions so that's what Elder Simbeck and I will be sharing this week. I'm looking forward to it. 

Heather Butler, a woman who was projected to get baptized this Saturday, didn't come to church this past Sunday and because of that, we have to push back the baptism...... Grrr... To help her get to church, Elder Simbeck and I have an appointment with her tonight and we have some scriptures, that shows scarcity and urgency, that we are planning on sharing with her. Hopefully, that will solidify her a lot more!

The Cefalos are doing awesome! We finished teaching them everything and we are now planning on the baptism and I can't wait. May 24th is also going to be Ethan's 9th birthday so they are having a barbecue afterwards and we got invited. It is going to be so awesome! 

Elder Simbeck and I was able to give a talk in the 21st ward last Sunday and we were able to speak on the subject of missionary work. I wanted to mess around with Elder Simbeck. I told him that the 21st ward gets the most church attendance of all of the Northern Utah ward. It is the BIGGEST ward too. I also told him that the Stake President as well as the first counselor of the Stake presidency would be there too (That's their home ward so that part is true.). Elder Simbeck, being as gullible he is, believed me and started going into panic mode. It was hilarious and when we got on the seats behind the pulpit, he realized that I was joking. Haha, it was hilarious. Elder Simbeck gives the funniest reactions ever! Elder Simbeck is such a great guy and it is a joy being companions with him. He has taught me so many things and he is such a hard worker. What a great guy!

Last Thursday, the mission had a mission-wide Day of Service. Elder Simbeck and I were able to go to one of the parks located in Syracuse and help plant sod. That included landscaping the dirt and making sure it is flat enough for the sod. The entire Clinton and Clearfield zone participated in that and it was a blast. It was cool seeing some of the missionaries that was in my old zone and ones that I knew pretty well. 

As most of you may know, this past Sunday was Mother's Day and I was able to skype home to my family. That was awesome. I am so glad that everything is going well with them! :) I love you all and I hope you all had a wonderful week! Don't forget to stay strong in the Gospel (2 Nephi 31:21, John 14:18, Helaman 5:12). Love, Elder McGrath

My zone leader. He is awesome!