Week 2- Cruisin Right On Through

Hey Fam & Friends!

Week numero dos is in the books and we are doing just fine! Some quick items of business: 1) Mom and Dad, could you put jfajardo, james, chase, blake, jordan, and dallas on the email list. I love reading their emails each week and so I want them to get mine as well! 2) Thank you all who have sent me some DearElder.com letters because they rock and mail is always one of the most exciting parts of the day. Also, thanks to those who have sent me packages with goodies. I love them and so do my roommates!

So my branch presidency (leaders of my zone) are awesome. There is President Wilkins who is a professor at BYU and served as a mission president in Argentina 5 years ago, then Brother Willes who is a spiritual giant and probably one the nicest guys you'll ever meet, and finally there is Brother Monson who served his mission inChile and now lives in Provo. So Brother Monson is President Thomas S. Monson's nephew and they are like the same person!!! So when he talks and tells us stories, I feel like its the prophet b/c they are so very alike. But he is awesome and eats lunch with us on Sundays so we always get to hear cool stories about his family and occasionally, Uncle Tom aka President Monson haha its awesome. Anywho, our district has two teachers Hermano Reading and Hermano Weist. Both of them are seriously the best in the MTC. We are very blessed. Also, our (mock) investigator Silvio agreed to be baptized last week and now we are teaching him about the commandments and preparing him for his baptism. It is difficult in Spanish, but its getting easier each day. We're also learning how much more important it is to simply love those you are teaching and you help them feel it. Sometimes, people don't know that they have a Father in heaven who loves them so much more than any earthly father could. We have to help them recognize that love by showing them we love them and care about them and every aspect of their life. Life is a gift, it is meant to be lived full of happiness and joy. Certainly, we will be tested and tried with hard circumstances or difficulted. We must realize that this isnt b/c Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ don't love us or forget about us, rather they are giving us experience so that we can truly learn and grow and come to recognize that only through pain and sorrow do we come to know true happiness and peace, for there must needs be opposition in all things (2 Nephi 2:11). I love you all and pray for you daily. Please don't worry about me, though, because I am being well taken care of by the Lord. He is my shepard and He knows His sheep, even more His sheep know His voice. I pray for all of you to better your connection with Christ and our Heavenly Father. Love you and miss you.

--

Elder Seth McGinn

MTC Mailbox #216

IA-DMOIN 1114

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604

Week 1 is done!

Whats up family and friends??!

Week 1 is over and yes, today is my Preparation Day so its kind of funny b/c I havent talked to anybody in a week!

Me and Elder Pena (pronounced Penya)

So my companion is Elder Pena from Layton, Utah and he is an awesome guy! He has actually been living in Japan for the last 2 years b/c his dad has a job in connection with the Air Force. But he went to the U for 2 semesters and he was pretty excited when some students from BYU told us how Utah beat BYU when BYU had a couple chances to win it at the end. Anywho, thats besides anything that I have been doing this week. They keep us super busy which is great, but crazy. 
The Spanish is coming along great. I can understand it so well all the time, but speaking it is a little
bit harder. We have already started to teach a mock investigator named Silvio though from Argentina. Basically, we teach a guy who is a teacher here at the MTC, but he acts in full character as someone that he taught on his mission.  Its great practice! We are doing well with him and have already got him to start reading the Book of Mormon, especially 2 Nefi 31, which talks about la doctrina de Cristo (the Doctrine of Christ) which is la fe (faith), el arrepentimiento (repentance), el bautismo (baptism) and so on. We play to ask him to be baptized tonight! He likes to play soccer so I use soccer as a reference to teach the gospel because he doesn't have much of a religious background. 
But the MTC is great so far, our teacher, Hermano (brother) Reading is the best! I am learning so much everyday and am growing to learn the importance of a simple testimony about the restoration of
the gospel through Joseph Smith. That is what makes this church the true church on the Earth. Other churches believe in Jesus Christ, in the sacrament, in health codes, tithing, and special temples or synagogues. But our message is that of the restoration of the original Church that Christ established on the Earth, with the proper priesthood authority (right to act in the name of Jesus Christ). This is the message of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and all of our credibility as a religion hinges on the experiences in the early 1800's. Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ,
did appear to Joseph Smith. Through him, they restored the authority to act in his name, the same authority he gave to Peter, James, and John in the New Testament. And most importantly, they had a work for Joseph Smith to do, to translate the Book of Mormon which contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm excited to teach people this great message and to ask them to grow closer to their Father in Heaven and His Son! 
I love you all and miss you. Mom- I put On-Guard on my feet every night and that unique smell reminds me so much of you all. I love you and take care.
Cuidese mucho. (take care).
-Elder McGinn
ps Thanks for the letters and DearElders!

Me and Elder DallasTeshima

Me and Elder Dallin Cutler

 

Called to Serve

Seth received his call to serve in the Iowa Des Moines (Spanish Speaking) Mission on Friday June 8th, 2012.  He received his Endowment shortly thereafter at the Las Vegas, Nevada Temple on Saturday June 16th, 2012.   He also was able to visit multiple temples before heading into the MTC, including Las Vegas, NV, St. George, UT, Mount Timpanogos, UT, Provo, UT, and Salt Lake City, UT.

Seth and his Mom and Dad at the Las Vegas, NV temple on June 16th.

During the summer he enjoyed hanging out with friends and family, and working with President Tanner and the Dave Francis Law Firm. 

Trevor, Elder Dallin Cutler and Seth at Dallin's Farewell on August 26th.

 

Seth and President Tanner in Parowan, Utah.

September 7, 2012

Seth Jared McGinn and President Kurt Teshima.  

On September 7th, 2012, Seth was set apart to be a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and will be known as Elder McGinn for the next two years.

September 8, 2012

Elder Seth McGinn was surrounded by friends and family to wish him farewell at an open house.  Tons of people came to show their support.

September 9, 2012

Elder McGinn packed the house to give his "Farewell" talk in the Palmyra Ward.

Elder McGinn and Trevor Montgomery.

Aunt Jill and Uncle Charlie

Lindsay and Ian

Lindsay, Ian, Mom, Dad, Elder McGinn, Layne, Ellie, Tom, Adam

 

Elder McGinn headed up to Utah on Monday the 10th of September with his mom and dad.

September 11, 2012

First, they made a pit stop to Mr. Mac.

Trying on the 3 in 1 coat to keep him nice and warm in Iowa.

Elder McGinn getting "suited up" at Mr. Mac. 

Next, they visited the Conference Center and the Salt Lake Temple.

This is on the roof of the Conference Center.  Pretty fitting right!

Looking good in front of the Salt Lake City Temple.

September 12, 2012

Putting on the "Missionary Mom" pin.

Of course, had to stop at J Dawg's for his last meal before the MTC to get a polish dog with everything and an Apple Beer.

Visiting the Provo, Utah temple.

Last walk with dad before heading into the Missionary Training Center.

Elder Seth McGinn was able to be greeted by one of his best friends, Elder Dallas Teshima, as he arrived at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. 

We look forward to many more photos and hearing from Elder McGinn through many of his letters over the next two years.