Week 13

Hey y'all!

Not much to talk about today since we talked yesterday!  I loved it! Talking to you guys yesterday was the best present I could've gotten! I love the pictures that you sent and I am doing great today! 

I got many letters and packages and I am so thankful to everyone for thinking of me! 

Oh and I bought a ukulele today! hahaha There was one at Marshall's when we went with the other missionaries hahahah. I used the money I got from the Allen's so you can thank them and tell them what they got me hahaha. President said it was a great idea to learn a new talent. 

Plan for today is finish emailing, then go shopping for some necessary foods and then go out and teach. We have 3 lessons tonight and a blessing to give. I forgot to tell you yesterday I have given so many blessings. I love this mission! It is so unbelievable. Like I love every second of it! I can't not get enough of it. I am just eating it up!

Here some pictures for you! The Lego airplane is what I got from Bishop so I built it Christmas morning. It was like I was 5 years old again. :) The the cookies and pudding (grandma sent to me)  and cider was our Christmas Eve party. Then we got our Steelers Christmas and my In n Out shirt, Thanks for the socks too, mom!! The others are at the Christmas conference. We got to watch Finding Dory too! So awesome!!! Sister Hall throwing up the hang loose to photo bomb us! hahaha

Hey I am about to log off! I Love you guys and I will talk to y'all next week! 

Have a safe New Years! It was so amazing talking to you all yesterday and everybody looks so amazing.

 I love it! 

 love Elder McKeon

Week 12

Hey everyone! 
It is Elder McKeon here from good old fashion Houston Texas - where one day it is 100% humidity and I am sweating like none other and then the next day it is 40 degrees and a wind chill that hits my bones!!! hahahaha

Well nothing to exciting this week from the mission. We spent a lot of this week finding and Man, was it a good find. We found some new apartment complexes to find in and this week alone we found 5 or 6 new investigators.
It has been weird talking to people and just asking them what the meaning of Christmas is and them saying I don't know or just saying "Jesus Christ". Then you ask, well what about him and they have no idea. It is such a great teaching opportunity 

But I miss home like crazy! BUT man, do I love being a missionary!!! It is so much fun and stressful and just everything I wanted it to be!! I love it so much! My companions are so great- they make this so much fun!

OH yes 3 months down! How crazy isn't that?? It is so cool! Time just flies while on the mission, It is way cool! There is not enough time in the day to do what we want to do. This P-day, I got up at 5:00 to get all the stuff we needed to get done and we are barely finishing it up. Oh I got my first haircut in the field. Cost me 8 dollars. I got a great cut. It is called The Latino hair salon. They didn't speak English and so I had to get my haircut in Spanish. It was so awesome! Trying to explain what I wanted in Spanish was great and funny!

Well I am signing off for the week!  

I love you so much! Merry Christmas to all of you!

Elder McKeon

Week 11

Hi!!!
Well my first baptism was amazing! I was so pumped! Saul was so awesome! We had a priest from the Ward baptize him so that was way cool. I got to teach the restoration to everyone that was there.  
I taught the whole thing by myself in front of all the people in Spanish. I was nervous but I guess I did a really good job because everyone told me I did. 

This is a picture from the baptism. Saul is the one standing next to me and Paul is the priest that baptized him. 

Well bad news now...
Only bad part about this week is we got in a pretty bad car accident coming home from interviews with President. Nobody was hurt, just really really sore. This guy ran a stop sign and t boned the crap out of us. Totaled the car. Hit me head on. I was sitting next to the door in the back seat. I am fine just crazy sore. Crazy how the Lord protects us though. In all honesty, I should've broken something. My leg, my arm, something!  But it was like the metal of the car just molded to my body. It was honestly the weirdest experience how the metal just looked like it had been molded to fit my body perfectly. The Lord protects us!!
I don't really remember a lot about what happened, but it is unreal how the Lord protected us. Can't say that enough!!!
Next morning woke up soooo sore, but I got up took some Advil and went to work to find those who need this gospel. The Lord protected me during this situation, the least I can do is go out and bring others unto this great gospel. I am also extremely grateful for airbags because you can see in that one picture the airbag over the windows. They deployed and I smacked my head against that. If that wasn't there me and the driver (Elder Brumm) would've gone right through the windows!
Feeling very blessed! I am still crazy sore taking a lot of Advil! but still hitting the streets doing the work! 

I was sitting right there... driver's side back seat!

You can see the metal molded around me! and the airbag smacked me!
I was like Michael Orr protecting LJ in the Blind Side! 

Yikes! That hurt!

I'm ok mama!

We were in a car bcuz we were coming back from interviews with president with the APs.

 This week was crazy service orientated! We has 45 hours of service! To start we went and taught little kids about dental health which was way fun! Then we helped make those bags with the lady that sent you the picture! Then we helped at a garden called the Prairie for a member. That was way way fun! Then remember those bikes we took off those semi trucks, well we went back and put them together and then loaded them back into trucks. Great week of service!I love and miss you Elder McKeon

Elder Roberts is in my zone. One of the coolest guys.
He came out the same time as me and we hit it of immediately!

Last picture!! When it rains, it rains in Texas!!! I am totally wet. Good times on a bike in the rain!

Week 10

Hey!!!

 So our baptism got pushed to This Saturday because he wanted his family to be there and this Saturday worked better for him.  We have his baptism in the books for this Saturday at 11 am. Keep him in your prayers this week please. 

This week has been pretty alright nothing to crazy. Just normal missionary work. Oh, except for it has been raining all weekend. Riding your bike in the rain is the worst. I was drenched all weekend-- just dripping water! It was so funny. Almost bailed so many times from the wet ground. Makes biking so much more interesting. 

  I am so pumped to hear about Austin! One of my companion's girlfriend is serving there right now and he said she loves it! It has not gotten below zero yet, which it will! hahahah So she better be ready for that. I'm so excited for her! Missionary work is the best! Mikey leaves tomorrow. So excited for him too! 

I am in Mosiah chapter 7 right now just finished reading about King Benjamin this morning. I can not get enough of reading the Book or Mormon! I love it so much. 

It is weird not having Christmas lights up or fighting you about putting them up. Max is such a stud in that picture. He looks so good right now!  Both my companions thought those pictures you sent were of me! hahaha. 
Oh, and that snack pack you sent me is so awesome! Thank you! If you want to send another some time next week that would be greatly appreciated! I love Amazon!

I almost forgot to tell you about this service we did! We were at the Houston Texans stadium in like this conference center. We were helping a bike charity called Cycle rewards for at risk kids for their academic efforts. My zone unloaded 5,000 bikes!!! yes 5,000!!!!! It was spread out between 6 different semi trucks! It was so much fun but I was so sore! You can see me in my Hart football shirt -had to represent! :) 

Have a great week! I will keep you posted next Monday about the baptism! Also we have a family in our ward where we will be doing phone calls home on Christmas day!! I don't have much details on that this week, but I will have more next week! But I for sure have guaranteed a place to call home. 

I love and miss you guys! 

Elder McKeon

Community Service - so great! Can you see my head and red shoe??

I'm standing right behind the guy in the white shirt!!

One of the best days! All those boxes are bikes!

The Central, North and Bay area zones at Zone Conference. I'm in the Central zone. 

Week 9

Hey! 

We had dinner at members house on Thanksgiving. It was this great Latin family, Familia Batten. Well it was Hermana first time making turkey and she gave us all the works except for potatoes-- we had rice instead. hahaha!  I ate it like the good boy I am and man let me tell you was that rough. It tasted fine. (I hate Thanksgiving food) :( haha!
My companions really liked it, but I just couldn't say I liked it. I ate it to not be rude. 

Well this week was wild. To start of the week there was a drive by shooting up the street from our apartment and then the next day a trailer park blew up!!! hahaha!! It just lit on fire. It was nuts!!!

 We also gave three blessings this week. One of the three I anointed the oil in Spanish and then the other one, I gave the blessing! It was in English. The funny thing about that blessing was, it was for the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric. He has the same back problem my mom had. So that was cool bcuz he asked me if i would give it before he explained what was wrong and why we were giving him one. So that was an awesome experience. 

Also coming up next Sunday we have our first baptism with this kid named Saul. Our first lesson with him was the second day I got here and so I am so so so pumped for that! He is such a good kid. We taught him about the Word of Wisdom and his only question was "Is it okay if i still drink Soda sometimes?" Like I am so pumped for his baptism. 
Our appointments this week were a lot better. This week flew by. It is nutty. 

I got the Amazon snack box and it is Freaking awesome! I love it! Thank you so much! 

I love and miss you guys

Elder McKeon

Elder Kennedy eating Ramen

So this is my Sunday night! My comp is the District leader so he was making phone calls. I had a rootbeer float with Elder Kennedy and watched a Joseph Smith history video.
It was the best!

 just me and my comp at dinner time - snacking on a pb and j 

Week 8

Hey all!
This week was a rough week. Every appointment canceled on us last minute except for our appointment with Saul. He is the one who is getting baptized on December 3rd and I am so excited for him. He is such a great kid. We taught him about the Word of Wisdom this week and his only concern was about if he was allowed to drink soda! I Love it!!!! 

Spanish is rough. I sit through church not knowing what is going on! I pick up little pieces but it is hard. I am trying my best to speak it, but it is hard making so many mistakes and then having my companions just speak it. It is hard but I am trying. My bike broke again! Same problem- the pedal fell off. Elder Burke took it to the bike shop to get it looked at and fixed. It has been there since Saturday and it isn't done yet. I have been borrowing a bike. 

Update: we did get food and that was a blessing. :)
We already finished all of the stuff we needed to do today P-day! Sending some pictures! Also have a awesome Thanksgiving this week! I love and miss you all so much! 
Elder McKeon

My companion Elder Thompson was not impressed with the fact that at the zoo they had a crow in the cage.

If you read the sign, that's what my companion does when he is angry at me! hahaha  

Me feeding a giraffe at the zoo! way cool and funny hahah

Asleep on the floor after nightly planning!

Here is a pic of me and both my companions and Elder Burke! He does all our bike stuff!

Week 7 - First week in the field!

hey! This week has been crazy!!!! First full week out here and it is nuts!! I am in a tripanionship again and my trainer's name is Elder Thompson. He went to school with Cassidy! 
We have been running around all week teaching so many people! We are teaching this kid named Saul and he is getting baptized on DEC 3! I am so pumped! 
The language is rough! I understand very little which is really hard :( 
I am in a biking only mission so I am killing it on my bike! My bike has broken twice since I have been here. One night my pedal broke off and then another night my front tire just fell off, it has been wild. I got some sweet battler wounds from crashes because I have almost been hit by cars several times! 
This week has been so stressful. Don't have a lot of time to email cuz we spent our p-day at the zoo with a family from our ward. I didn't really wanna go bcuz we had so much to do this first p-day, but it was great! We have been awake since 4am bcuz we had to get up early to do our laundry.
 My apartment is a piece of garbage compared to other apartments in our mission. I am in  the second most ghetto part of our mission and I love it. I am serving in Bellaire Texas; hahaha! how funny is that. :)
 My area is really weird, kinda of reminds me of home cuz going down one street and you are in the hood, go down the next street and you are in really nice area. Except for the hood is really ghetto and the nice areas are really, really nice. It is really funny. 
We haven't had any food in our apartment for the last week, so we have been eating whatever we have. It is rough!  Now after we send our quick emails, we have to go to the grocery store on bikes... no idea how that is gonna go, kind of nervous! 
 We just found a car to go get groceries but we only have like 50 minutes to go shop cuz we have a lesson at 6, a lesson at 7, and a lesson at 8 tonight. Mission is stressful but I am loving it so far! Hopefully it only gets better! I haven't stopped sweating since i got here. :(
 My trainer has been out for 10 months and he speaks the language so well. My other companion has been out 5 months and he can't speak it or understand it at all, which makes me nervous too! My bike got fixed! Everything with that is all good! We're so busy it is unreal! My legs are so sore from my bike... oh my goodness! We ride so many miles a day. I think this week we did like 40 miles, maybe more! It is unrealI.
 love and miss you guys so much! 
Elder McKeon

Houston Arrival! Week 6

Elder McKeon arrived in Houston today! We were able to talk to him this morning. He was tired but ready for the field! So happy for this boy!

His mission has a Facebook page!  Sis Hall taped their arrival at the airport!

https://www.facebook.com/THETHSM/

New Arrivals to the Texas Houston South Mission Nov. 7, 2016

President and Sis Hall with Elder McKeon

Letter we received from Pres Hall today!

Dear Missionary Family and Friends,

Hello from the Texas Houston South Mission, the best mission in the world!  We were blessed to have your missionary arrive safe and sound to Houston today.  After we welcomed them at the airport, we had the blessing of getting to know them better and hosted them for lunch at the mission home.  At this very hour your missionary has already been assigned to their new companion and is working in the field.  We love them and we know they will do excellent work.  They are well prepared to serve the Lord and we expect great things from them.  We also know you will support and encourage them to become the best missionary they can be.  

Sister Hall and I feel so blessed to serve with your missionary.  We will love them, support them, and help them become powerful missionaries that are committed to find, teach, and bring others unto Christ.    We love this work and we know you and your family will be blessed through this wonderful experience. 

President & Sister Hall

Week 5 (no Week 4)

Hey everyone! Last week in the MTC! I'm sorry for no email last week. I was in the ER with my companion. Don't worry everything is okay! 

Well I leave for Houston Monday morning and then I am straight out into the field that night! Lots of nerves going through me but I know the Lord will guide me! So many new experiences coming my way and I can not wait! 

I have taught an amazing investigator these last couple of weeks named Marco and I had an amazing experience with him.  So last week I had a dream about sharing the hymn I Love to see the Temple with our investigator Marco because we were teaching him about temples. so I told my companions about the dream and they said I needed to share it with him. I printed it out in Spanish and we went into the lesson and it was a great lesson.  I started to share with him the hymn and I felt the spirit like something I had never felt before. After our lesson he goes, Elders wait walk me out and so we start to walk him out and he looks and me says, guys I have something to tell you and he begins to tell us how the night before our lesson he had a dream of 3 missionaries sharing with him a hymn and he didn't know who the 3 missionaries were and he didn't know the hymn. Then he says but as soon as you started reading me that hymn I knew that, that was the song that was shared with me in my dream and you were the 3 elders in it. So then I told him about my dream and it was so amazing and a spiritual experience. He accepted our baptismal invitation and he literally is the coolest guy ever! Literally one of the coolest things I've experienced! 

President Russel M. Nelson came and gave a devotional on Tuesday night and I got to sing in the choir for him. That was way awesome too! so many cool things going down making me so excited to get to the field! I miss everyone and hope everyone is doing great.

yo oró por ustedes mucho Te amó 

Elder McKeon

Elder Beckstead the night before he left. He's good friends with my cousin! Small world!Yes I am in a lava lava! We have a Samoan Elder in our district and he gave it to me!!

 Me, Elder Hall, and Elder Gress with our investigator Marco. I have great stories about Marco.

picture is a drawing Elder McDonald drew for me. Its moby dick jumping over a boat! Nice!

Throwing up some blue steel! 

All the guys in the district. Left to right: Elder Hall, Hickman, Me, Gress and McDonald

Week 3 - MTC

Hola mis amigos Elder McKeon here 

This week has probably been the best week in the MTC for me. My spanish has started to click and I am speaking more and more everyday. It is one of the best feelings! This week we taught a real investigator in the MTC and Man, was that an experience! His name is Marco and he is from Peru and now lives here in Provo. He is one of the coolest guys ever. During the lesson the Spirit was so strong. It was amazing. The lesson was only suppose to be a 20 minute lesson, but it turned into a 45 minute lesson. The entire 45 minutes we were talking in Spanish. We had prepared a lesson to teach him, but when we got into the lesson the Spirit took us a whole other direction than what we had planned for.  My companions and my Spanish was great! We all just flowed off of each other on the lesson. He even accepted our offer for a baptismal date on the first lesson! I know that the investigator was in the MTC but the Spirit I felt after that lesson made me so much more excited to get out into the mission field and teach the people of Houston Texas. I only have about 2 and a half weeks left which is such a weird feeling.  It feels like I have been at the MTC for a year but it is also going by so quickly. This past week has made me honestly so grateful for this oppurtunity to serve the Lord. I miss all of you and pray for everyone back home. I love you all!

Peace out 

Elder McKeon

Week 1 MTC

Hey y'all week one in the mtc is done! This has been a crazy week but an amazing one! MY companion is named elder Ludwig, and he is a great guy he knows the scriptures like the back of his hand. My district is amazing! The guys in my district are Elder Hickman, McDonald, Gress, and Hall. We all have the same sense of humor and we all just make each other bust out laughing. They are all athletes and played either football or wrestling in high school so we all just clicked and became friends like we have known eachother our entire lives! The Hermana's keep us all in check though. I have already taught 3 lessons in spanish which were hard but extremely spiritual! My spanish is coming along okay. I understand more when people talk to me and i can speak but not as well as i can understand it. The food here is okay nothing compared to sharkys or my mom's sunday dinners but its okay. We had a small miracle in my district, On Monday we had a district fast and so we were all starving and when we showed up for dinner we had chick fila catered to the mtc small miracles hahaha, I pray and read my scriptures in spanish which is really fun. I love and miss you all! Love Elder McKeon 

Week 2 MTC

Hey everyone Elder McKeon here! 
Week 2 down! 
A lot of crazy things going on! My companion is going home so I have become part of a tripanionship! Teaching is becoming more frequent and a lot less class time. Spanish is coming along okay. A lot days really frustrating because in the lessons you know what you want to say, but you can't say it in Spanish, so you just get so frustrated.  It's coming along piece by piece. My district just keeps making me laugh. In the MTC you are just tired all the time, so any free time you have you just kind of fall asleep. I couldn't tell you how many times I've fallen asleep in a white shirt and tie! hahaha! The food hasn't improved since last week and the Caffeine Free Diet Coke tastes like cough syrup. hahaha! But, You eat it! They also have chocolate milk on tap, so thats amazing!! Also, Elder Bednard came and talked to us on our Tuesday night devotional. It was amazing! He talked about conference and reading, diving into and rereading talks. It was such a cool experience. I love the work and I'm happy to be here. Love and miss you all! Elder McKeon 

At the temple this Morning

Not sure what's up with the Sunglasses! :)