His Grace Is Sufficient

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

Another week down! The weeks are starting to feel longer, not going to lie haha. We're really just praying COVID goes away. We're REALLY praying. Yesterday we had the opportunity to go to church though which was amazing! We even got to go TWICE because I was asked to play the piano in both of the meetings our ward was holding. It felt so good to be able to put some names to faces. Or I guess half faces since everyone was wearing masks. Either way, it was so so good.

Got my new companion! Hija #2 because Hermana Parker will never be replaced even if we only had 2 weeks together in Argentina hahaha. My new comp is named Hermana Skinner (McKin & Skin) and she's from Mesa, Arizona. We still live with my old old comp, Hermana Clark and her two companions so try and imagine 5 sister missionaries sharing 1 bathroom and that's what life has been like in a nutshell. But Hermana Skinner is great. Trying to learn Spanish, the lessons, and how to be a missionary during COVID. She's a trooper.

Had some good lessons this week! We've started teaching a girl named Emily who is actually the daughter of an old investigator. She's awesome. I was really worried she would be overwhelmed with information after we taught her about the Restoration and Christ's New Testament church but she really liked talking with us and we were able to teach her about the Plan of Salvation the next day! We teach in English which is sort of fun but I probably end up saying way more than I need to hahaha. I tend to talk too much. Oh well. Glad the Spirit carries the message and not the missionary.

Also had a guy totally flip out on us the other day. He wasn't mad, at least I don't think so, just very passionate about how we worship Joseph Smith..................wait, we don't. The only reason he thinks we worship Joseph Smith (once again, we don't) is because "we preserve his home and property back east".....................................wait, we don't. His argument was because we don't preserve Moses' or Paul's or Jesus' homes (like what?), we shouldn't offer tours of Joseph's..................which.........we don't. It was pretty funny. I guess I should refer Jesus to the missionaries for the Community of Christ church if he wants to talk about Joseph Smith's home becauuuuuusssseeee, last time for the people in the back!, we don't own it hahahaha. There was more after that part but I'll leave it at that. Jesus kept it exciting.

I've been trying to study (like REALLY study) the Atonement, grace, and how they work together. I feel like I understand the Atonement, and I understand grace, but the more I learn the more I realize how profound and truly infinite Christ's Atonement is. I've been studying the BYU Devotional "His Grace Is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox and it has helped me put everything into perspective. Here are some things I wrote down in my study journal:

•Grace is not about filling gaps, it's about filling US. Jesus paid our debt in full, it is finished. What is left to be determined by us, is our obedience.

•Our actions, or "works", are how we show our GRATITUDE for what the Savior did. Repentance is NOT repayment, it's purpose is CHANGE.

•"We are not EARNING Heaven, we are LEARNING heaven."

•lots of people ask, "Have you been saved by grace?!" Yes. Of course we have. Gratefully. The response, "Have you been CHANGED by grace?"

•Moroni 7:48 - grace is about becoming like the Savior. He suffered so we could CHANGE and GROW and LEARN.

•No unchanged thing will even want to dwell with God.

•"Heaven will not be Heaven for those who choose to not be heavenly." !!!!!!

•if Christ did not require faith or covenants ("works"), there would be no need to CHANGE.

•piano analogy, if Jesus did not require practice, we would not become pianists

•grace is NOT a booster engine that kicks in after our fuel energy is exhausted. It IS our energy source. Grace is NOT the light at the end of the tunnel. It IS the light that carries us through the tunnel. "It is not the finishing touch, but the Finisher's." !!!!!!!

The devotional is one of my favorites and you should definitely read/listen to it. Everyone should. Members of the Church or not. It's one of those things you sit and listen to and just think, "wow." The Atonement and what is provides for each one of us as children of God is beautiful. I am forever grateful for my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

I am so happy to be a missionary right now. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to study and share the gospel, with EVERYONE I love and care about. COVID stinks, but it has allowed me to teach people from all over the world! Friends, family, old investigators, etc. Hit me up if you want to hear about the gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ! Ask me all of your questions!!! I would LOVE that! Just a video call away...... ;)

Well, I love you all. Thank you for the prayers and support and packages and voice memos and pictures and emails and everything else. I'm lucky.

Love love loveeeee,

Hermana McKinlay

I was lousy on getting pics this week....

1. Ask questions

2. Grateful

3. 2 people and 1 thing I miss

4. Grateful

5. My favorite gif but also me ending the phone call with Jesus